Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Geno frowned down at her. “You told me that you’d investigated the riders in Croatia, but you didn’t go into detail. I had no idea the parents had stepped down years ago, Amara. Could it have been eighteen years ago? This can’t be a coincidence. You did say you felt those riders were in danger. You included that in your report to the council. Why did you think they were?”
“I felt they were being stalked right after their parents were murdered. I had a strong feeling the murderers planned to return at some point even though I knew the immediate threat had moved to New York.”
“That sheds an entirely different light on things, doesn’t it,” Salvatore said, once again seating himself at the table. “I sent word to Lanz and Deangelo to check into when the Maric riders stepped down and left their son to take on their responsibilities.”
“But it still doesn’t make sense,” Nicoletta protested. “Why now? Why New York and not Chicago? And, I’m sorry, but I would bet my last dollar that Eloisa wasn’t the one that sought out justice for Taviano. She would have been too afraid of losing Phillip, which meant she would have no longer been able to be a shadow rider.”
“She could have gone on her own and killed them,” Taviano said.
“You know she didn’t.” Nicoletta’s voice softened. “You said yourself you don’t remember her taking any trips. Stefano would have gone after them, but not Eloisa. For your sake, I wish it had been her, but I don’t think it was and neither do you. So these people have no reason to go after your family, Taviano, if the death of the Boutlers were the catalyst.”
“I don’t see how it could have been,” Lucca protested. “Why wait eighteen years? And certainly our parents didn’t know about what happened to Taviano. I doubt the Marics in Croatia knew about the attack on him. They didn’t avenge him. How could this all be related?”
“Well, we don’t know much more about the why,” Francesca said. “But I’m with Geno. I don’t believe this is coincidence. How could it be with so many similarities?”
Amaranthe twisted the crystal water glass back and forth in her hand. “I think it would be a very good idea to have the investigators research whether any other riders turned over their territories to their children eighteen years ago. Also, find out what happened to the other members of the Boutler family. Did they die out? Did they abandon Queensland as they grew up and simply moved away? Most families remain as shadow riders. Were they female and moved to be with their husbands? I think it would be a good idea to locate any remaining relatives and see where they are now and why they left.”
Geno agreed. He texted his investigators immediately. “I’ll ask Elie to put Brielle on it as well. She’s fast and thorough.”
“We’ll get our investigators on it, too,” Taviano said. He was texting.
“In any case, I’ll be going to work the day after tomorrow, and I imagine we won’t have to wait long for these people to make their attempt for me,” Amaranthe said. “I also have rehearsals for the performance that’s coming up very fast. That same evening. So they’ll have plenty of time to figure out when and where they want to strike.”
It took discipline for Geno to sit quietly and not dictate an implacable denial. He saw it in his brothers’ eyes. Like him, they were not willing to risk her. Amaranthe appeared serene, but he knew damn well she was aware she’d just thrown a stick of dynamite into the middle of the table.
“Is that wise, Amara?” Francesca asked. “Aren’t you setting yourself up so these horrid people can murder you?”
Amaranthe smiled at her. “We must go about our lives as if we aren’t on to them. They know we are, but they don’t know how much we know. It’s like a game of chess.”
“It isn’t a game when your life is at stake, Danzatrice Ombra,” Geno objected. “You’re the one who told me that. We don’t know who these people are or how many of them are out there.”
The moment he objected, Geno felt Amaranthe withdraw from him. She shut down. There was no change in her outer expression. She didn’t remove her hand from his thigh, but she wasn’t in his mind. She simply sat at the table looking as sweet as ever, but he knew he’d just blown it—and he knew why.
He wanted her to accept him for who he was. He’d laid that out for her, but was he doing the same for her? She had his back right down the line, in front of everyone, making it known she stood with him, but had he done the same? He hadn’t because he wanted to wrap her up in a cocoon and ensure she was safe. As far as he was concerned, he would be happy to keep her in a locked safe room until the crisis was over—but Francesca had made a very important point. He’d be a first-class idiot if he didn’t pay attention.