We’ll see.
Grinding my teeth, I set my drink down and stalk away, determined to stop the disaster that is about to happen.
16
CALLUM
I changemy mind as soon as I reach the house.
It’s not wise to follow him inside and get involved in some story that might blow up in my face.
Reaching the top stairs, I pull to a halt and run a tense hand through my hair, a strained breath flowing into my lungs.
Fuck it.
My chest is tight, my frame dense. Of all nights, why does it have to be tonight?
It was my idea to invite Paxton to her party.
I’ve always enjoyed the veneer of legitimacy his presence confers me.
So much for that.
Slowly, I turn around and scan the crowd. The guests are clustered around the food tables or at the bar.
The music plays in the background, soft and mellow like a lazy Sunday morning in a beach house.
Nothing in the house hints at something nefarious happening, yet I can’t suppress the foreboding feeling pulsing in my chest.
I doubt they’ve reached a deal tonight.
None of the men they had invited to her party seemed interested in getting hitched, and, more importantly, in having Giorgio Gallo as their father-in-law.
If anything, my own experience might have served as a fair warning to them.
Under different circumstances, Bianca would’ve been quite a catch for the right man, which wasn’t me.
Her looks weren’t her problem. The streak of madness was.
I don’t know what it is with these Gallo women.
They’re easy on the eyes, but hard to control.
And believe me, I’m not in the controlling business, especially when it comes to women, but in this kind of life, controlling them is quintessential to keeping people alive.
Point in case: Bianca’s death.
One of my men notices my wandering stare and makes a beeline for me.
Cosimo saved my life more than once, so I consider him one of my most loyal men.
“Things all right, Boss?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
He notices my stern eyes moving over the crowd.
“Who are we looking for?”
