“Either her people either already knew, or she lied.” I wince as Rossi continues his work.
Tommy is quiet for a moment. “Why would she want you dead?”
“She didn’t want to marry me. Getting rid of me means that’s no longer an issue. And if her family knew the engagement was off, she may have needed to do something to get back in their good graces.”
“There’s a difference between not wanting to marry someone and wanting them blown up at their father’s funeral,” Matti points out.
I shrug one shoulder, and Rossi groans. “Find her. Don’t touch her. Just find Ashlyn and keep eyes on her. Watch where she goes, who she talks to, what she does.”
Matti nods.
“Pull the security footage from the morning,” I say. “All of it. The dock, the perimeter, the pavilion.”
“Already done,” Tommy says.
I look at Matti. “Sophie will be staying here, but just in case, I need a team on her, her own detail at all times. People sheknows, if possible, so she doesn’t feel like a prisoner.”
Matti’s expression shifts slightly. “She’s staying? Does she want to stay?”
“She’s staying.”
He nods once and makes a note.
“And sweep the property,” I say. “The kitchen, the grounds. I want all hemlock removed. Every plant, every dried bundle, every cutting.” I pause, thinking. ”Check Lucia’s quarters as well.”
Both of them look at me.
“What?” Matti says.
“You heard me. And don’t say anything to Lucia. Just do it quietly and report back to me.”
Tommy is looking at me quizzically, when something occurs to me.
“The funeral,” I say.
Matti blinks. “What about it?”
“We never did it.” I look at him. “The whole point of today was to bury my father, and officially become boss. The bomb prevented that from happening, and Aurelio’s casket is still fucking above ground.”
Tommy closes his eyes briefly.
“Fuck. We’re going to have to plan it again,” he says.
I groan as Rossi removes another fragment, more irritated by the fact that I can’t get my father out of my life for good than the surgery.
“He has been dead for over a year,” I finally say. “I’m finally ready to do the damn funeral, and then this. I need him buried and out of my life.”
“He was always a fucking asshole,” Matti says.
“Yes, he was,” Tommy agrees. “We’ll get it done, Vin. Might be a little smaller this time, but we’re going to get it done.”
I close my eyes and let Rossi finish his work.
39
SOPHIE
I’ve been cooking since I left Vin with Matti and Tommy, prepping meals for Vin to eat over the next few days like I did last time. Anything to distract me from worrying about him or thinking too much about my second bombing in less than two years.
