Page 66 of Angelo's Vengeance

“Well, let’s roll it up here then. Call the pilot.” Conall began gathering the files as he spoke. “The sooner we get in the air the sooner we can get this shite over with. I want to get home to Frankie.” He gave us a shy smile. “She’s agreed to a baby.”

“Are you serious? That’s exciting news.” I clapped him into a hug. “I can’t wait to be an uncle.” Most of all, I was glad that Frankie had come to terms with whatever had been holding her back. She had never told me, but I think she’d been worried that she’d be like our parents. She hadn’t wanted a life like that for a child. We’d always wondered if we were defective somehow.

Together, we cleaned up and gathered ourselves before I stepped away to call Theo.She answered on the second ring. Her voice was warm and sleepy.

“Hey,” she said. “Still alive?”

“Barely. How’s my fiancée?”

She laughed. “Sketching my wedding dress. Drinking tea. Missing you.”

That last part settled in my chest like fire. “I’ll be home soon,” I promised.

“You better be. I have design ideas to show you.”

I smiled, even as my hand curled tighter around the photograph of the Romanian compound. The war wasn’t over, but we were close.

For Theo, I’d burn the world down.

And for Carlotta? I’d start with her empire.

Brick by bloody brick, so my family would finally be free.

CHAPTER 37

THEODOSIA

I should’ve known.Anytime Frankie Santelli-O’Kelly got that edge in her voice—the hinted at,I have a plan—something deliciously chaotic was about to happen. Although she usually said that about me.

The brownstone was suspiciously quiet when I padded down to the kitchen in fuzzy leopard-print slippers, one of Angelo’s oversized black T-shirts, and a pair of boxer shorts. I had been in a design fugue since sunrise, sketching ideas for my bridal gown that ranged from Grecian goddess to 1930s flapper. There had been an idea in my head when Angelo slipped the ring on my finger, but now I had so many wayward thoughts sliding awayfrom me that I finally had to call for reinforcements.

I had barely poured myself a cup of coffee when the front bell rang like a death knell of calm. “I’ve brought backup!” Frankie’s voice boomed from the doorway.

Behind her trailed Cora, radiant as ever despite holding a very opinionated infant with a fluffy lion pacifier clipped to his onesie.

“I thought this was acasualbrainstorm,” I muttered as one of the guards pulled the door open wider, ushering them inside, looking apologetic. Maybe I should have gotten dressed? It was Norris’s morning off, so I figured I could get away with it.

Frankie breezed past me like she still lived here. “Casual? Theo, please. You’re marrying my brother, and you’re my best friend. I’ve seen you naked.”

“True. We’ll probably traumatize Cora.”

“Nah,” Cora grinned. “And we’ve brought snacks.” She inclined her head towards her guard, Finn, who was toting around not only what looked like scrumptious trays of three kinds of hummus, warm pita triangles stacked like Jenga, a cheese board that could fund a semester at FIT, and little phyllo cups filledwith spiced feta and honey. Was that olive tapenade? “Where should Finn put those? Living room?”

“Yeah, let’s set up there.” Frankie clapped her hands together, gesturing to Finn, who looked all kinds of fed up.

“Sure, lead the way. I’m just here to carry everything,” he mumbled. “God help us if we got attacked in the street. My hands would be full.”

“You could always throw a rosemary sprig at them,” I suggested.

“That’d always do it.” Cora winked at him even as he rolled his eyes.

Finn was one of Conall’s top guys and had been assigned to Frankie for a while now. Given the upheaval involving Carlotta and Salvatore, it was understandable that she still required protection. Seeing her make him schlepp appetizers and baby gear made me laugh, although it was a legitimate concern that he couldn’t reach his weapon if needed. However, if I knew Conall O’Kelly, two other men were outside. Finn was just close protection.

“I figured we deserved proper provisions for plotting,” Cora added, setting baby Vasilyinto a padded portable rocker that had appeared in the living room. Evidently, Norris had unearthed it just for the occasion. Even on his morning off, the guy was omniscient.

“I love Norris,” I whispered, bending to coo at Vasily. He was adorable, and the urge to snatch him up was almost unbearable, but he was still fast asleep. “Look how prepared he is.”

Finn motioned to get Frankie’s attention as he sidled towards the doorway. “I’ll just be over in the kitchen, ladies.”

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