Acreaking sound sends my head shooting up. I’ve been sitting here for hours, watching Cat toss and turn in her sleep on the couch. I should wake her up, get her to bed, but I don’t have the heart, not when she’s running herself into the fucking ground.
And now this.
Il bacio della morte.
The Kiss of Death. Rarely given, and never escaped. Not in my lifetime, at least.
Slowly, I ease myself to my feet. I’m not worried about them getting in. But there are four Crows out in that clearing, and if they’ve made it past all four, then either my men are dead or this is someone with more skill than just a made man trying to make a name for himself by taking out the Corvo heir.
Not on my fucking watch.
My gun is solid in my hand as I tread softly to the door. I know every inch of this place, tested the floors myself, and my stepsare silent as I pull out my phone, opening up the security app for Caterina’s apartment and flicking through the cameras as a text from Danny pops up.
Cursing, I pull the door open. “Jesus fuckingChrist, V’Arezzo. You’re just begging me to put a bullet in your head at this point.”
Dante’s head is tilted back against the railing, his eyes closed and legs out in front of him. The Glock he favors sits in his lap. “Always a pleasure, Rossi.”
“This is not the time,” I keep my voice low, not wanting to disturb her. “In case you hadn’t noticed, we have a situation here.”
His eyes open slowly. “I know. I had a front-row ticket to that little shitshow.”
Something in the sarcastic comment doesn’t fit. After a moment, I kick at his legs. “Move over.”
It takes him a moment, but I settle myself opposite him. There’s a whistle from the trees, and I whistle back. “Tell me why I shouldn’t whip the fucking lot of them for letting you past.”
He huffs. “I’m not giving them a free pass. My men wouldn’t let you within twenty meters of my door.”
“Would the same apply to Cat?”
He sighs at the implicit question. “Like I said before, Rossi. Regardless of your highly personal and quite franklyoffensiveopinion of me, we do have similar priorities. I have no wish to see Caterina taken out because of her father’s actions.”
“So what?” I ask, staring at him. His eyes gleam in the darkness. “You offering yourself up for bodyguard duty?”
His jaw tightens, and even I can see the frustration on his face. “I’m limited in what I can do. Not all of us have the freedom to follow our own path. But I won’t hurt her, Domenico. And I can give the time I have. You try and cover her twenty-four seven and you’ll make mistakes. She can’t afford any fucking mistakes.”
My head tilts. “And would this be a Corvo-V’Arezzo alliance? I don’t have the authority to sign off on that shit.”
“No.” His voice is hard. “Consider this a personal offer. My father and Carlo Fusco are close.”
Slowly, I nod. “I see.”
His tone is bitter, and I can understand why.
“You love her.”
He gives me a disbelieving look. “The fuck? You really do braid each other’s hair, don’t you?”
But he doesn’t deny it. After a minute, he sighs.
“That’s the issue, isn’t it? We all fucking love her. Me. You. Even Luciano has started sniffing around. That woman is a ball of fire and fury, and we’re all drawn to it like moths to a flame. But none of us can have her.”
“Speak for yourself,” I mutter. My attention is caught by the mention of Morelli, but then Dante laughs, low and sarcastic.
“Joseph Corvo willneverlet you near her.” His words are swift, brutal. “Caterina Corvo will not be given to a mere enforcer, Rossi. And you damn well know it. One day, you’ll have to stand back and watch as he gives her to someone else. Wrapped up in a pretty bow. She’s a golden opportunity for him, and who the fuck wouldn’t give up a piece of their empire for the chance to own her?”
I stay silent.
“Unless… Caterina takes over sooner rather than later.” He eyes me, but I’m not giving away a single thing. “Then it’ll be up to her who she takes on. As a husband… or a lover.”
