Page 26 of Blood Vows

Marco continued. “They knew what would trigger scrutiny and what wouldn’t. They knew how much money could move without drawing attention. They knew which jurisdictions wouldn’t cooperate.”

Luca’s expression darkened. “You’re saying whoever set this up had inside knowledge.”

“I’m saying they either worked in finance, law enforcement, banking—or had access to someone who did.”

Dante looked at Elena. “Did your father ever work with anyone like that?”

She shook her head. “No one that I knew of.”

“That phrase is getting old,” Dante said.

Her eyes flashed. “Sorry, my father didn’t provide me with a criminal directory before he died.” Isabella winced, and Luca looked at Dante, but he didn’t look away from Elena. He should have backed off, but he didn’t.

“You want answers or comfort?” Dante asked.

Her jaw tightened. “Answers.”

“Then stop getting defensive every time we ask the ugly questions,” Dante insisted.

Elena stood. “So what do you want me to say? That maybe my father was a criminal? Fine. Maybe he was. Maybe he lied to me my entire life. Maybe everything I thought I knew about him was bullshit.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and Dante immediately regretted pushing. He hated that too. He had spent years saying things meant to hurt other people, and never once cared afterward. Now, one break in Elena’s voice had him wanting to take the words back. Fuck.

She turned away, and Isabella started to stand. Dante moved first. “Elena.”

She held up a hand. “Don’t.” He stopped. That single word hit harder than it should have. Luca glanced between them, but Dante ignored him. Elena took a breath, and then another. When she turned back, her composure had returned—mostly.

“What do you need from me?” she asked Marco. Dante watched her—strong, stubborn, and still standing. He respected that—probably too much.

Marco turned the laptop toward her. “I need to know every person your father trusted.”

“That could be dozens of people,” she said.

“Start with people who had access to your home, his office, his passwords, his financial records.”

Elena frowned. “He kept everything private.”

“Someone got in,” Marco said. Her face went still. Dante saw the realization hit. It wasn’t someone outside. It was someone close. That was always where betrayal started.

“I can make a list,” she said.

“Do it,” Luca ordered.

Dante pushed away from the wall. “I’ll sit with her.”

Marco’s brows lifted. “You volunteering for paperwork?”

“Don’t get used to it,” Dante said. Marco smirked, but Dante ignored him.

Luca didn’t. “Dante.”

He looked over at his boss. “Kitchen, now.” That tone meant that they were about to have a private conversation. Dante already knew what it would be about, too. He followed Luca out, and the second the study door shut behind them, Luca turned.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Luca spat.

Dante leaned against the kitchen island. “I’m helping.”

“No.” Luca crossed his arms. “You’re getting attached.”

Dante’s expression went cold. “You’re imagining things.”