“Fuck. Fine.”
Dave says in a warning tone, “Gio. No.”
“I have to! It’s mymom.”
A series of rapid knocks on the door interrupts us. Before I can, Sofia looks at my phone and says, “It’s Knight. And it looks like Wraith, Jester, and Houdini behind him. Plus—” She frowns in confusion. “The guy from downstairs? The reception guy? Edwin?”
Oh, shit.
I jump up and hurry to the door. Opening it, I tell my friends, “Thanks. We had some unwelcome visitors tonight.”
Knight lifts his chin at me. “Of course.”
Jester glances at the three men on the floor. “You didn’t save any of the fun for us?”
Houdini looks over at Sofia. “You alright?”
She nods at him. “Yeah. I think Nico’s mad because I didn’t stay in the closet like he told me to.”
“I’m not mad,” I tell her. “But when I wake up tomorrow with fully gray hair, it’ll be your fault.”
Wraith drags Edwin inside along with them. Edwin looks about two seconds from passing out or peeing himself. “We found this one lurking in the hallway. Right below an open vent cover.”
Fury ignites.“Edwin.”
“He let us in,” Gio adds helpfully. “Showed us where to get into the ductwork and told us where to go to get to your place.”
Sofia turns to Edwin, her shock evident. “But. You were so nice. And you told me about the diner—” Her mouth drops. Horror fills her gaze. “You set me up.”
“Not exactly,” he replies. “They were already looking for you. I just… helped.”
“I’m going to kill you,” I grit out. “You fucking piece of shit. You knew. And you sent her out there. Then you had the fucking nerve to tell me about it?”
Wraith gives Edwin a hard shake. “Don’t lie,” Wraith snarls.
Edwin winces. “I couldn’t have you thinking I was involved. When it didn’t work. I needed to cover my tracks.”
I’m going to kill him. I don’t care if I go to prison. It would be worth it.
“Do we know who sent them?” Houdini asks.
Tamping down my rage, I reply, “Not yet. Gio was about to tell me. And then he’s going to convince his piece of shit boss to come here to explain himself.”
Gio looks up at me. “And you promise not to hurt?—”
“I won’t. I promise. Now. Tell. Me.”
He sighs. “It’s Luca Caruso. He’s the one who sent us.”
“What?”I couldn’t be more shocked. “Theheadof the Cosa Nostra?”
“The Don,” he agrees. “And yes. We came on his orders.”
Ah, fuck, this is bad.
TheCosa Nostrawants Sofia? The fuckingDon? Luca Caruso, one of the most feared men in all of Manhattan, wantsmySofia?
Not that I’m backing down. It doesn’t matter who he is. I’m putting an end to this bullshit. Once and for all.
