Page 153 of A Bond Beyond Blood

I motioned for him to continue.If the information gathering mission was successful, proving that both of Jack’s suitors were worthy, we had nothing to hide.And I doubted Gannon would run back to Vincenzo to tattle on me.No, his loyalty was to the girl.

Of course, should the news reflect poorly on Vincenzo, I had no doubt that the boy might use that to up his advantage, moving him forward in their delicate little game.

Entertaining to watch, no doubt.

“Ricci is connected.”

My eyebrows crept up my forehead.“Is he now?”

Sam nodded.“Donati family.His father and Carmine were...”He paused, eyes narrowing, as Gannon cursed softly in the foyer.A muscle in his jaw ticked.

I rolled my eyes and waved a dismissive hand.

“Ricci pays his dues every week.Saturday mornings to be exact.”

I nodded.

“It could be a debt, something Donati holds over Ricci’s head.I’ll continue to look into it.”

“Of course.We don’t want to jump to conclusions.”

Hands clenched into fists at his sides, the lieutenant jerked his head toward the foyer.“May I?”

I waved him on.“By all means.”

He was gone in a blink, just a flash of black fatigues as he surprised Gannon, followed by a startled yelp.

“I’m sorry!”Gannon shrieked.“Come on, man—” His words were cut off by a slap of flesh against flesh.

“Eavesdropping will get you killed,” Lieutenant Sam growled.

“That’s quite enough,” I called.“The girl enjoys that face you’re bloodying.”

Lieutenant Sam grunted, then Gannon stumbled into the room, fangs bared and blood dripping from multiple cuts in his face.

“You’re going to let him do that to me?”he snapped.

I raised my eyebrows.“Dear boy, people have been killed for far less.”With a sigh, I motioned to Gannon.“Jack is fond of you, but my patience only goes so far.Let this be the single warning I give you.Eavesdropping, on a king no less, is grounds for far more than a few punches.When your king asks you to do something, you do it without whining, and you do it immediately.I say jump, you don’t even bother looking before you leap.Understand?”

“I just—”

I raised my hand and the lieutenant grabbed Gannon by the collar, slamming him against the wall and resting his forearm against the boy’s throat.

“Your king asked you a question.”Gannon’s mouth moved but no sound escaped his lips.“Blink twice if you understand.”

Gannon blinked twice, then focused on me, eyes imploring.

I rolled my own, shaking my head.“You know you don’t need to breathe anymore, correct?”

His eyes widened, but then he blinked twice.

“That’s enough, Lieutenant.”

Sam stepped back, returning to his usual stance.Feet shoulders’ width apart, hands behind his back.Chin tilted proudly.

The hard lines of his face gave nothing away.

“Gannon,” I said on a sigh.“What did you hear?”

---