“Why?”
I could tell he’d put a lot of thought into the question. “Who is Giovanni Pollizi to you?”
“My godfather and the man my father worked for. He’s retired.”
“Yes, that much I know. Would your father tell the Don about our relationship?”
His question should surprise me, but it didn’t. “My father would sell his soul if it meant getting richer.”
“Would he tell anyone else?”
My mind was so muddled I shook my head. Then a memory popped in. “Wait. One night after I’d gone to see you, my father was in his office with Marco and another man, someone I didn’t recognize. They were enjoying a drink, talking about upcoming business.”
“What else?”
I closed my eyes, trying to remember. “Something about business overseas. America. I don’t ever remember them doing much outside of Europe.” I could tell from the instant tension in him that I’d struck a chord.
“Could you recognize the visitor if you saw him again?”
“Unfortunately, no. I was looking in through a window, only able to see a portion of his face, but he had a laugh I’ll never forget. Pure evil.”
Kazimir took a deep breath while lifting his glass. The way he was staring out the window was an indication that the rage I’d witnessed before was only increasing. I nursed the champagne, completely uncertain of what to say. When I touched his arm, while the same overwhelming sensations I’d had before remained, I could tell he was formulating a level of revenge I wasn’t certain anyone could survive.
But did that include me?
“You once told me years ago you were finished with being a victim, determined to take control of your life. Does that still stand?” He slowly turned his head toward me. His eyes pinnedon mine, his eyebrows hitched in curiosity about the answer. I almost felt as if this was a test.
But I was very much up to the task.
“Absolutely.”
He drained his glass, laughing softly to himself. “Good.”
I allowed him to take the flute from my fingers, placing both on the nightstand. As he eased me back onto the soft comforter, covering my body with his, I was once again breathless.
“What do you have in mind?”
“You’re getting married, which is what I suspect your father desires.”
“To whom?” I wiggled under him even as he pulled one arm over my head then the other. He brushed his lip across my jaw before lifting his head.
Just before he captured my mouth, his eyes flashed. “To me.”
CHAPTER 26
Kazimir
Another goddamn storm.
A barrage of lightning electrified the sky, so much so for a few seconds I was blinded by Mother Nature’s display of fury. It matched my own at this point. Why? Because an unsettling feeling had hit rock bottom in my stomach, and the churning sweep of sensations wouldn’t allow me even a few moments of sleep.
I was wired even after switching from champagne to scotch, hoping to dull my rage. That seemed impossible. Even with Golden Angel having followed me into the living room, now sleeping by my feet, I couldn’t calm down. Even after stroking her fur, which I’d seen Rafaela do several times to calm her nerves, I remained on edge.
Why?
Because my instinct was telling me a story that my mind didn’t want to hear. Betrayal was nothing new. My father had beenbetrayed by his best friend years before, almost losing his life in a horrible car explosion.
Much like the one our mother had been killed in. My father had constantly had a target on his back, the Petrovs in a long line of enemies. However, they were bottom feeders, which meant they’d been paying close attention to what had occurred, taking measured steps when deciding to strike. And why wait three years after my supposed demise?
