said he couldn’t interfere in the meet without it looking suspicious, but she was totally safe. Didn’t turn his back for a second. Said she left after telling them she was heading to the airport.” He raised a hand before Gabriel could curse. “Made no specific mention of Seattle, but Stefano seemed to get this was where she was heading. Asked about a lover. Start to finish, it lasted less than ten minutes.” Alek sat back in his chair. “Guess the question is, how does he know about her?”
Gabriel answered it. “He still has eyes on me.” Staring blindly at an article written in the Seattle Times about a large function being held at the Crown Jewel tomorrow night, he ignored the urge to hammer his fist on the top of his desk. Disgust at his carelessness attempted to rise up, but he slapped it away. It returned to press home the fact that if he hadn’t been so distracted by a killer body and a flawless face, he’d have paid more attention to the things going on around them. And if he’d paid more attention to what was going on around them, he’d have nailed the peeping fuck—whoever he was—and cut off the reports making their way back to New York. “Does V have a lead on where Stefano is getting his information?”
“He said they were seeing a private investigator today that he thinks might be our guy.” Alek’s tone was hopeful. “And I agree. Stefano’s visit today was about recon. He was fishing. If he was already convinced you were sleeping with her, he’d have played it smarter and not brought Vincente with him, my cousin would be dead, and Paynne would be tagged as the murderer.”
Harsh, but all true. Stefano had gotten close enough today to kill Eva in the same violent and sadistic way he’d taken the lives of at least three other women Gabriel had slept with. To the public, the murders had seemed like random killings, three more unsolved crimes for the Seattle PD, as was the way in their world. He and Stefano kept their business their business, but the photographs his brother had sent Gabriel had let him know who was responsible. And who would be responsible for the next killings, because the calculating lunatic wasn’t going to stop until he’d followed through on the threat he’d made the last time he and Gabriel had spoken five years ago.
The day I hear you’ve found the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with…I’ll be there to take her away from you. The same way you took Adrianna from me.
Never would Gabriel forget looking across that dark warehouse at the raw hatred on his brother’s face. Guilt was a nasty companion he’d lived with ever since. Because, inadvertently or not, he was responsible for the explosion that had killed Stefano’s woman.
Gabriel had left New York, and the life, that same night and hadn’t looked back. Truth be told, he found no fault in his brother’s thinking. Sure, he hated the years-long vendetta—not that he and Stefano had ever been close. And, of course, the looking over his shoulder and the casualties were all one large, unnecessary pain in his ass. But he respected it. Understood it. Would probably do something similar if the tables were turned.
But.
Stefano’s vindictive nature was once again reaching out to wrap around others. Involving innocents in something that should never have extended beyond the key players: Gabriel and his brother. Eva Jacobs should not be in the equation, and knowing she was being pulled in made it clear the vendetta could no longer be ignored.
Stefano coming into contact with her today hadn’t just crossed a line; the meet-and-greet had obliterated it. And Gabriel couldn’t let it happen again.
THREE
Having refused a seat, Stefano Moretti stood in front of a messy desk and opened one of the folders he’d just received. The thing smelled like French fries.
No one would say Ian Preston was the most glamorous private investigator in Queens, but his work was unparalleled.
“Them’s the pics and info on the other one you wanted to know about,” Ian wheezed through his flabby throat. “Wasn’t easy to get. The husband keeps her locked up real tight.”
As he should, Stefano thought absently while scanning the top page in front of him, which was a short bio. Flipping it over, he took a moment to appreciate a striking redhead with ivory skin and green eyes.
It had been his underboss who’d