Page 57 of Power & Punishment

“Stop,” I say, cutting him off and wiping the moist residue from my cheeks. “Don’t do that with me. If you’re nice to me, I—what I’m trying to say is I really don’t need an explanation or a half-assed apology. I know that you didn’t pull the trigger and that’s enough—really. What I need you to do is tell me the truth,” I say with a heavy breath. “That’s all I want.”

Leo doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he pulls his emotional support drink to his lips and lets his lips hover near the lip.

“Fair enough,” he sighs, the weight of the couch dipping between us. “Vince was collecting information for me. Mainly evidence of money laundering through the Caruso’s restaurants and clubs, shipping routes, shell companies, and even a list of bribed officials. Basically, a map of Enzo’s operation and this,” he says, tossing a small rectangular shape onto the table, “had the last pieces of the puzzle.”

I stare at the flash drive as he continues. “Vince was supposed to give it to me the night he died. We met in plain sight at Ristorante Ottaviani because that’s where he usually met up with the Caruso crew when he’d work a job for them. He showed up, but he was on edge and told me he wasn’t ready to give me the information yet. He wanted to know that his family would be protected if anything went south. I got frustrated and told him to fuck off.”

He pauses with a heavy look on his face.

“After I left, I regretted it almost immediately. I tried to get a hold of him to smooth things out, but he wouldn’t answer his phone. That’s when I went back to the restaurant to find him, and he wasn’t there. I even had Michael check a few other places, and nothing.”

My stomach sinks as I wring my hands together. “You went looking for him?”

“Yeah.” Leo nods. “By the time I got word he was at the Velvet Room, he was already gone. I only knew about the body being moved because I had Michael keeping tabs on Dante.”

He really didn’t have anything to do with Vince’s death.

Something I knew deep down but didn’t want to admit because that would mean he might not be the monster I want him to be.

But those confusing feelings don’t last long. There’s also a fresh steaming pile of frustration to fill the void. I’m still not any closer to finding Vince’s killer.

“Do you think it was Enzo?” I ask, turning toward him and tucking my legs underneath me. I lean my head on the couch cushion and watch him carefully between slow blinks.

He bites his bottom lip as he contemplates his answer. I find myself whisked back to our moment at the club and how he claimed my mouth. I wonder if he kisses everyone with that much passion.

“I don’t,” he says with a coy smile.

“Shit. Did I say that out loud?” I ask, too tired to hide my embarrassment.

“Yes,” Leo replies, his hand reaching out and delicately tracing circles on my calf. If I wasn’t so exhausted, I’d like to think I’d kick him away. “But even if you didn’t, it’s written all over your face, Anima Gemelli.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” he whispers, giving me a lazy smile, “but to answer your question, no, I don’t think Enzo or anyone on his crew killed your brother. If he got wind that Vince was planning something, he would’ve gone after Dante too.”

“I don’t know why that’s comforting.” I yawn, feeling the sweet release of sleep tap my shoulder. I should really get going.

“Because you’re a smart woman and you know it’s a death sentence trying to take down a man like Enzo Caruso.”

“So, you’re willing to die then?” I ask, my head nodding forward. I lose my balance entirely, but before I can fall, Leo catches me.

“Why would I want to die when I just found you?” he whispers as his eyes connect with mine.

My brain attempts to process his words, but exhaustion seeps in. The room fades around me, and the warmth of Leo’s body is too intoxicating to push away.

“Please stop being sweet,” I mumble, my eyelids growing heavy with each second.

He chuckles, pulling me into his chest. Everything is fuzzy, but I swear he murmurs the next sentence against my hair. “Go to sleep, Emilia. You can go back to hating me tomorrow.”

I don’t answer. I just peacefully drift off and curse myself for letting my guard down around Leo DeLuca.

A bright stream of light cuts through the curtain and jostles me from a deep sleep. As my eyes flutter open and greet the stark white ceiling above, I reach for the gun I keep tucked underneath my neighboring pillow. When my hand can’t find the familiar cold metal, I sit up and everything from last night comes crashing in.

But before I can process the fact that I’m still in Leo DeLuca’s lair, I realize that I’m also half naked.

I yank the silky sheet to my chest and curse under my breath. That fucker undressed me.

Before I can spiral with anger, I take an inventory of my surroundings.