“I know. I sent all my vendor contacts to Sophia for this baby shower. Didn’t want to leave anything as important as the treats to chance.”
I chew and swallow. “Did you really oversee the planning of your own baby shower?”
“Of course. I’m the event planner in this family.” She mindlessly rubs her belly. “Which reminds me, I’m so sorry that your wedding has to be right on top of my maternity leave, otherwise I would have been happy to plan it for you.”
My stomach sours at the mention of my upcoming nuptials—hopefully ones that won’t happen. But I can’t tell her that. Only Ravenna knows the truth about how I feel. No one else needs my drama ruining their day.
“It’s really okay. Miss Jensen, the planner, is doing a fine job. She’s taken care of everything, all I have left to do is find a dress.”
Arianna gasps. “You don’t have adressyet? The wedding’s in less than a month!”
All conversation stops as everyone turns their attention on us.
I wave them off. “I know. It will be fine. I’m?—”
“Oh no, that’s unacceptable.” She angles toward me and lowers her voice. “I know you’re working on a short timeline, but you should already have a dress. But don’t worry about it. I know just where to get one and you’re going to love it.”
“Really? From where?”
“Skye Adair Couture, of course. She’s a brilliant designer and a personal friend. I’ll schedule you an appointment ASAP.”
I gape at her. “You can do that?”
Skye Adair is the most coveted designer in all of New York City. She’s booked out months, if not for the entire year.
“I can. Besides, my own cousin has to get married in the best of the best. Nothing else will do. Don’t you agree?”
Despite myself, I smile. The very idea of being draped in one of Skye’s creations has me nearly swooning—never mind the reason I would be wearing her dress. Though it does seem like a waste since I’ll never wear the dress because my wedding will never happen.
CHAPTER 24
Maximo
Sitting in my home office, I read more of Elena’s book on my computer. I’m almost finished with what she has uploaded to the publishing app that I took offline, and I’m so hooked that I know once I reach the end, I’ll be begging her for the rest of the story. The heroine has just been dealt a huge betrayal from those closest to her and I’m nearing the end. This story can’t end like this. I thought this was a damn romance—where’s the happy ending?
My cell rings, jolting me out of fantasy land and back to reality. I answer it with a sharp, “Hello?”
“The team’s finished reviewing what footage we have of the attack. The hit looks like it was for the both of you. They weren’t exactly trying to spare anyone’s lives.” Lazaro delivers the news in his usual casual manner. No matter if he’s talking about the weather or assassination attempts, he uses the same tone. I often wonder if anything gets under his skin.
“Where did it come from? Who’s trying to take us out?” I hate the fact that the hit included Elena as a target. Even though I was the one to tell her how being a mafia princess in New York put a target on her back. I was trying to scare her at the time, so she’d behave and accept my protection, not predict her future.
If I can help it, I’ll never put her in danger like that again. Her guard has been doubled, I’ve reinforced security measures on this building, and everyone’s on high alert until we find and eradicate this threat.
“We don’t know for sure,” Lazaro drawls. “Never got a look at their faces. No license plates. I bet it’s the Irish. Those Monahans are new and trying to take over more of our turf. I guarantee they’re the ones who did this.”
I have my doubts, but I don’t want to argue with my underboss right now.
“Keep an open mind, and let me know of any developments.”
“Yes, sir.” He hangs up, leaving me to ponder the situation.
Trouble’s been lurking around every corner for a while now. But an attempt on my and Elena’s lives is far more extreme than missing shipments of counterfeit luxury items. First they went after Enzo, and now us. Who’s next?
Since whoever’s behind this is targeting the dons’ families, I can only assume it’s an outside threat with insider information. We’ll find the traitor. I have no doubt about that.
In the meantime, I can start by ruling out one suspect. Scrolling through my contacts I find Damien Monahan’s number and tap it. The phone rings three times before he finally answers.
“What?”
