Page 66 of Cavaliere

“We’re literally blood, Gio. It wouldn’t matter if you were a ride-or-die or not,” I sigh. “Why would Christos want to cut my brakes?”

“You’re the head of the Adduci family. That title alone comes with an automatic target on your back. You know that,” Cain answers as Gio and Alessio grunt in agreement. “The Greeks targeting you doesn’t really raise any red flags for me. Nicholas has always been a power-hungry bastard. Wanting territory that he knows he doesn’t have the manpower to control. I’ve told my brothers from day one that it’s going to be his downfall.”

“I remember when he went after the Russians. Got his shit rocked. Even though I fucking hate them both, I was impressed by the amount of blood I saw on the ground,” Gio says, a dreamy look taking over his face at the memory. There’s something seriously fucking wrong with him. We’re all a little bloodthirsty. You have to be if you’re in this life. But Gio takes everything to a whole new level.

“That was some shit.” Cain leans back in his chair, scratching his beard in thought. “How did he know you were even out our way? The clubhouse is on the outskirts of Ravenna Heights. No one comes out here unless they’re either leaving the city or coming to us.”

“I have no clue. I’ve been trying to rack my brain around it for months.”

“You ever figure out what Wren was doing running way out here?” Alessio asks. “It seems weird when she can just run around the city.”

“She runs out to the clubhouse and back sometimes. Or she did.” Cain’s eyes slide to mine. “One of the guys is usually around and tails her back. Most people know she works for us and is off-limits. At least, I thought so.” Cain’s eyes grow dark. “If you get your hands on him first, I want a piece. No one fucks with the Dirty Devils.”

Gio lets out a low growl. “Get in line.”

“If there’s anything left by the time I’m done, you guys can have at it.” As much as Cain’s reputation precedes him, I’m not sure he’s a match for Gio. Cain is a scary motherfucker, but Gio is a borderline sociopath. “How far out do your cameras go?”

“Just around our compound, mine and Evan’s house, and the lane that connects. I think one of them may get a small view down the road, but that’s it.”

“That’s all?” Alessio snorts. “It sounds like this place is stacked.”

“Wiz likes to install cameras when he’s bored.” Cain smirks. “Kind of works out in our favor.

“Except this time. Wren told me that when she was waiting for Alessio, someone in an older black town car drove by slowly but didn’t stop.” And that doesn’t sit right with me. If I came upon any sort of accident where there was only a woman and a man on the scene, I wouldn’t just drive by slowly to scope it out. I’d get out and try to fucking help.

Cain’s hand pauses, bringing the cigar back up to his mouth. “You think he was out here waiting for it to happen?”

“That’s exactly what I think.”

“Who all knew you were coming out here?”

“Just my men and yours.” I don’t think any of them would rat on me, but… Rob’s behavior today has me questioning things. He’s been part of the crew for almost a decade now, and I’ve never seen him let his guard down. I didn’t even think the word ‘relax’ was in the guy's vocabulary.

A tense silence settles over us as we think it over the rest of the cigars.

“What aren’t you saying?” Alessio asks, looking directly at me.

All eyes are on me as I contemplate how I want to tell them. I know Gio is going to want to storm out of here and cut his balls off, but that’s not what I need right now. Rob was already sweating in his seat when I confronted him last night. I kind of want him to think I just gave him a slap on the wrist.

“Rob is the reason Wren was able to get out last night.”

“What the fuck?” Alessio and Gio ask at the same time.

“I have a feeling this conversation calls for a little more.” Cain pulls the cork out of the bottle of whiskey. The pop echoes throughout the room, cutting through the tension that has set in. He tops both of our glasses off, raising an eyebrow in waiting at Alessio and Gio, with the fifth paused in the air.

“Fill it up,” Gio grunts as he outstretches his hand that holds the glass. Cain is barely done pouring before Gio rips the glass away and throws the whole thing back. “Okay, I’m ready. Hit me with it.”

My eyes are glued to Gio’s fists, clenching and unclenching. This isn’t going to go over well. Any sort of slacking on the job Gio views as disloyal. Don’t get me wrong, I do too, but only to a certain extent. Gio takes it to a whole new level.

“Wren wanted to go get more of her stuff. Rob told her no because, obviously, we were already in the process of moving her out. Rob claims he forgot to set the alarms when they came inside for the night. And on top of that, he was watching a baseball game and not really paying attention to what Wren was doing around the house.” I obviously don’t want him watching her in our bedroom, but keeping an eye on her as she moves throughout the house isn’t too much to fucking ask for.

“He forgot?” Alessio asks in disbelief. “What the fuck do you mean he forgot? His job is to guard her. Step one of that would be to set the fucking alarms.”

“I’ll kill him,” Gio says, his aggression rising.

“You think he didn’t set it on purpose, don’t you?” Cain asks, ignoring Gio.

“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out.” And if I’m right, I’m going to fucking kill him.