"Not a specific name but we have confirmation that someone is definitely giving orders. Luca and Dante are monitoring all known Irish businesses for activity and trying to trace the command structure. Their operations are back to full capacity, so someone competent has assumed control."
Vito runs his hands through his hair and leans back in his chair. We discuss additional business matters—our own operations, security protocols, shipments that need oversight. After about forty-five minutes, Vito stands.
"Let's join the others for breakfast."
I have a brief private conversation with Rafa about the additional information I need regarding Elio, then sit down at the table. Elena walks around and sits next to me. She doesn't look at me but I can see the corner of her mouth lift in a small smile.
Vito's warning echoes in my head. She's family. She's off limits.
But as I watch Elena laugh with Sofia and Gianna, her face bright with genuine happiness, all I can think is that staying away from her is going to be the hardest thing I've ever done.
CHAPTER 13
Marco
Rafa hasn't beenable to find shit on Elena's dad. The guy's like a ghost, popping up randomly over the years with a credit card purchase here, an apartment lease there. Nothing consistent, nothing that makes sense. Most people use their credit cards for everything—gas, groceries, coffee. This asshole only uses his a few times a year, and his apartment leases are month-to-month in different cities and states.
Where the hell is he living? Working? Elena mentioned she talks to him a few times a year, so maybe she'd know something useful. Though getting information out of her is like pulling teeth.
I've been doing my own research, following every lead, and I'm coming up empty on all fronts. Every avenue I take to look into Elena's secret meetings hits a dead end. It's pissing me off. I'm the best tracker in the organization. How is she slipping through my surveillance?
She hasn't met with anyone since Ronan, which tells me that encounter rattled her more than she's letting on. Good. Maybe she'll think twice before pulling another disappearing act. She's been pleasant around the apartment these last few days, tellingme daily that her wounds are healing nicely. I'm glad she's not in pain anymore, but she wouldn't need to heal if she was smarter about the company she keeps.
Now we're sitting at the table, eating the dinner she made. The domesticity of it should feel weird, but it doesn't. She's humming while she eats, this unconscious thing she does when she's relaxed. Content.
"This is really good," I tell her, gesturing to the pasta.
"Thanks." She smiles. "It's my mom's recipe. One of the few things I remember her teaching me."
There's no sadness in her voice when she mentions her mother. Just warmth. Like the memory itself is enough.
We eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. I watch her twirl pasta around her fork, the way she tucks her hair behind her ear when it falls forward. These little details I've been cataloging without meaning to.
"I've been meaning to ask..." I pause, watching her expression shift to cautious. "How did you escape your detail at the cafe two weeks ago?"
She sets her fork down and that mischievous glint sparks in her eyes. "How do you think I did it?"
I set my own fork down and tap my finger against my lips, pretending to think hard about it. "You drugged him, then walked out like nothing happened."
She shakes her head, still smiling.
"You bribed him to let you escape?"
Another head shake.
"You're secretly best friends with Rafa and he manipulated the video footage to cover your ass from my wrath?" I glare at her playfully.
She bursts out laughing. "You've figured us out."
The sound does something to my chest. Makes it tight in a way that has nothing to do with anger or frustration.
We pick up our forks and continue eating, stealing glances at each other like a couple of teenagers with crushes. When did this become my life?
"The door," she says suddenly.
I look at her, confused. "What?"
"I was behind the door. When he opened it, he didn't look behind it and walked straight into the stall. I snuck out undetected."
