At least another hour passes before we hear a door opening in the distance behind us. Neither of us has turned our heads to look around that much. High heels clack against the concrete floor followed by a man’s heavier tread. My mind races to what woman would target me. Who knows what previous sexual partners Alejandro has who’d go allSingle White FemaleorFatal Attractionon him.
I wait with bated breath.
If I weren’t bound to the chair, I’d fall off my seat.
“ZiaCosima?”
Alejandro’s head whips around to stare at me for a moment before shifting his focus back to the stunning woman before us. I’ve seen her baby photos. She came out gorgeous, so her name—beauty—has always fit. She’s my mother’s sister. I cannot for the life of me fathom why she’d be involved in this.
I mean, she’s cold-blooded as the day is long, but we’ve always been super close. I don’t know why she’d target Alejandro, but if she has, and she hired someone to kill him, I wouldn’t put it past her to punish failure. However, I can’t imagine her choosing torture or murder over me. I can think of other ways to handle me for not completing the job.
“Caio, Vittoria. Hai un aspetto di merda.” Hello, Vittoria. You look like shit.
“Anche a me fa piacere vederti, zia.” Pleasure to see you too, Aunt.
I only look like shit because your goons attacked me.
That might be a bit confrontational.
I watch her wander over to Alejandro as though she hasn’t a care in the world. My claws are ready to unsheathe when she grips his chin and tries to turn his head from side to side.
Don’t motherfucking touch my man.
Years of training kick in as I control my reaction. I keep my heart rate from spiking, breathing even, and temper in check. I know she’s antagonizing me as much as she’s insulting Alejandro. I won’t take the bait—at least, I won’t let her see me take it.
Don’t lose your shit.
There must be a reason—even if it’s shitty—for what’s happening.
“You had a simple job to do, Vittoria.”
I guess we switched to English, so Alejandro can understand—more likely to taunt him.
“You hired me?”
“I’m aware of who hired you.”
“Papà?”
“No.”
“Don Piero?”
“No.”
Are we going to go through the list ofMala del Brentamen? This will take a while. Then again, it could’ve been anyone who hired me, but myziabroughtMalamen. Her husband is a seniorcapo, but he’s the definition of pussy whipped.
When myziasays jump, he apologizes for not already hopping like a fucking bunny. So, if she wanted to bring some of his men, he couldn’t stop her. I doubt he’d even put up much of a fight. He has far more of a backbone dealing with his don andconsigliere. My father doesn’t respect him, and neither do I. But I love myzia—or I did.
“Did Alejandro wrong a Mancinelli, so the Torettas told Don Piero, and you took it upon yourself to help the Mancinellis?”
“No, but good guess.”
“Did Alejandro do something to our family?” She knows I include the Carosis in that.
“Not directly.”
“Zia, are we going to go around and around?”
