Page 6 of Dangerous Vows

I nod slowly. “He was an asshole; of course, I remember him. He ran with the Morettis before we wiped Vincenzu off the map. Why do you ask?” I glance at my brother, and it still catches me off guard how much we look alike. The same dark hair, the same chiseled jaw. We’re a reflection split down different paths.

Matteo exhales through his nose, and his jaw tightens. “His body washed up this morning. East River. Someone wanted him to suffer before they dumped him.”

I tilt my head. My interest is now piqued. “Tortured?”

Damn, that’s a tough way to go. I glance around me and notice Niccolò keeps his gaze on Matteo, but his voice is heavy when he says, “More than that. Cut up. Disfigured. Someone wanted to send a message.”

I run a hand down my face, exhaling. There are only two possibilities. “Was it Petrovic or Moretti?”

Silence answers me, which confirms that I’m on the correct path. Obviously, they are wondering the same thing.

“Trey was in business with Vincenzu Morretti, so it makes sense it’s payback, but then again, the Serbs are tough fuckers. Vincenzu was shot and killed by his wife. After that, a stereotypical power vacuum inevitably emerged. We thought Santino’s younger brother, Stefano, was too weak to take control. Apparently, we were wrong. I’m sure he’s a psycho just like his father and brother,” Matteo adds, successfully giving me a recap of the family tree.

“One more asshole died. I hate the Morettis!” I speak of what I know because we all grew up on the same island. An island that’s not large enough to encompass both our families.

Renalto shakes his head. “We’re not sure. That’s the conundrum. We don’t have proof to implicate either one. Both families have a beef with him. But Trey was one of the only guys left from that human trafficking fiasco, and he had ties to Morettis since he was laundering their money. If Stefano wantedto clean up loose ends after his brother’s death, Trey would be on that list. But then again, Petrovic is trying to salvage his trafficking ring, and after we exposed his operation, he went underground. He moved, and Julia hasn’t been able to pick up the chatter.”

Julia is our back-hat ace in the hole who does cyber stalking and fixing. Matteo developed an encrypted messenger application that has been released for use. It has a back door that allows us to spy on and manipulate data. It’s not foolproof, but it gives us an advantage over our enemies. And every advantage helps.

Electronic devices are the downfall of many who underestimate their power. Even those who are keen on anonymity often forget the fact that they leave a huge digital footprint. No matter how small an infraction, it can be fatal.

“I’m sure Trey was an easy target. He was society-born and bred. And if Petrovic is going down the road of blame, the Morettis would be at the top of his list.” I shrug. “The Serbs don’t mess around,” I add.

“Are we expecting anything from this to reach us?” Renalto asks.

He has a right to be concerned because it’s naïve to think the rift is over. He hit Vincenzu hard, and it stirred all up the ensuing shit show we now face.

But we’ve got a code: protect women and children, no matter the cost. This time, it cost us more than we wanted to give.

But we sleep better at night knowing that we saved innocent lives. That’s how we roll.

The silence inside the Hummer is deafening. What are we getting ourselves into this time? I guess this is the question on everyone’s mind.

With the wedding coming up, it’s the worst time to be sucked into old grievances. But, in our world, they tend to fester. And in our world, retribution runs deep, and no family, no matter how powerful, is immune.

The criminal world doesn’t rest. It feeds on grudges, thrives on blood debts, and every so often, it throws us a bone—a fragile alliance. Andthat gives us just enough time to fuck and enjoy a peaceful night of sleep before it all begins again.

I drum my fingers against my knee. “So Petrovic wants revenge on us? Now? That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?” I pause, my eyes narrowing. “I know the Morettis have every reason to be pissed over our alliance with the Russians. But I thought you had a truce with him after that mess and that Abigail was off-limits. So, tell me, what’s the status of Abigail?”

Renalto stiffens at the mention of his fiancée. “She’s safe.” Renalto nervously runs his hand over the stubble on his chin. I’m sure he’s a mess with this news breaking before his wedding day.

Matteo lets out a dark chuckle. “For now.”

Renalto glares at him, but I know Matteo isn’t just being a bastard for fun. He’s reminding us all that safety is an illusion in our world. Stefano Moretti isn’t just taking over what’s left of his family’s empire. He’s making moves and burning through anyone who might stand in his way. It’s the right move if Petrovic is waging a war with him. He’s flexing his muscles to stave off an attack. But if Abigail becomes a target, there might not be a wedding to celebrate.

Damn, there’s never a dull moment. I stepped off the plane in a sea of tranquility, and now I’m tossed into the fray.

Gio pulls onto an exit ramp, and in minutes, we’re winding over worn roads, and the landscape changes from cityscapes to suburbia as we make our way toward the Borrelli estate on Long Island. It’s a sprawling property behind iron gates, and it’s set off the main road and away from prying eyes and unwanted questions.

“The problem is, we don’t know Morettis endgame, or Petrovics for that matter. In fact, if the Morettis are at odds with him, it would weaken them, and we could take some of their territory. It’s still unclear if they fucked each other hard and made up or if Petrovic is still on the warpath. So far, we don’t have any trustworthy intel. But, then again, perhaps the Morettis are making new alliances, and we don’t know who they’ve aligned with,” Matteo states.

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I doubt the Irishwant to get in the middle of that. But we need to find out. What can I do to help?”

Matteo grins— the sharp, dangerous kind that means he’s already five steps ahead. “Already working on it.”

And that is why Matteo is the head of the family. The man is calculating, like our father, but he’s not evil, and that’s why we love and trust him. He keeps his emotions on ice and makes decisions that benefit the family.

I, for one, know how easy it is to make an emotional decision, which is why I’ve remained unattached. I’m the family’s lone wolf by choice. Because when you’re emotional, you tend to act on impulse, and that’s a luxury we don’t have. Every move means something. And sometimes, the consequences can take months, even years, to materialize. Every word, every choice—hell, even every feeling—comes with a price.

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