Page 97 of Of Lies and Shadows

“Please.” I smirk. “We both know you’re a mutt.”

His glare is instant. “Well, I may be a mutt, but at least your wife enjoys my company.”

I step closer, lowering my voice to something darker. “Yoursister…” I draw the word out, letting it land between us like a warning, “enjoys mine too. In very specific circumstances. Trust me.”

His eyes narrow, and I smile. That’s my cue.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I should head straight home. I want to. But first, I need to do what I came here to do—plant the seed of doubt in Vito’s mind and prepare the ground for Bruno’s introduction tomorrow.

Do I trust him? Not entirely. Not enough to stand shoulder to shoulder in a firefight. But I trust his loyalty to Francesca. And for now, that’s the only kind of loyalty that matters.

By the time I return, irritation is simmering beneath my skin. I can’t let it show. Not yet.

Vito is waiting in the office, casual as ever, flipping through a stack of reports.

“So?” he asks, not looking up. “Did whatever you had to do go your way?”

“More or less.” I lean against the desk, folding my arms. “Are the guys in place at the gambling fronts?”

He nods. “Same rotations. Nothing’s changed. Why?”

I wave a hand vaguely. “Just making sure we’re covered. Bruno’s coming in to work with us tomorrow.”

That gets his attention. Vito’s head lifts, his brows pinching together. “Bruno? Isn’t he supposed to be guarding Francesca and the kids?”

“Fulvio’s handling that now.”

Vito frowns deeper, setting down the papers. “Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Fulvio’s not just a guard. He earned his place here.”

“And?” I arch a brow. “You think guarding my familyis beneath him?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It’s what you implied.” My voice stays even, but there’s an edge to it. “There’s nothing more important than protecting my family. You, of all people, should know that.”

He pauses, then exhales slowly. “I’m just saying… bringing a Vescari into our fold, people will talk.”

I offer a thin smile. “What people think doesn’t interest me,” I reply, keeping my voice level. “Bruno isn’t a Vescari. Not really. And more importantly, he’s loyal to Francesca.”

Vito lifts a brow, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re bringing him in because of her?”

I shrug, playing the role of the indifferent boss, the man who still makes decisions with cold logic. “I trust her judgement. And he has skills we can use.”

He doesn’t respond right away. He studies me instead, just a second too long. Then he picks up the stack of papers he was reviewing before I came in.

“You’re making changes.”

“I am,” I say. “Problem?”

“Only if they come back to bite us.” He flicks through a page like he didn’t just issue a veiled threat.

I step closer and fold my arms across my chest. “If something bites us, I’ll know exactly where to look first.”

That gets his attention, and his gaze snaps up. There it is, that flicker of something buried beneath his usual calm. Not fear. Not guilt. But wariness. A hesitation I wouldn’t have noticed before. Now? It’s a fucking beacon.

He clears his throat. “Just saying. Don’t let your feelings cloud your judgment. We’ve seen what that does to men inthis business.”

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