Shadow Warrior (Shadow Riders 4)

Just to be safe, Vittorio flashed the specially prepared light they all carried to cast more shadows and followed the ducting all the way out. Phillips hadn’t bothered to screw the vent closed at the other end, he’d just pushed it out, leaving it ajar, held by one screw. Vittorio went back through the vent to the room and then emerged just in front of Tomas.

“Where’s your brother?” Cosimo demanded.

Ricco had entered the vent just as Vittorio did but had gone down to the second floor to make certain Phillips wasn’t hiding in the vent gleefully watching the crime scene people process his gruesome kills, or worse, watching Grace and his family in the room opposite the suite.

“He’s checking things out. He’ll be back soon.” Vittorio glanced at his watch. He’d give his brother a couple of minutes and then he’d go looking for him. It wasn’t as if Phillips could spot Ricco, but they always preferred to look out for one another at all times.

Just as Vittorio was about to reenter the duct, Ricco emerged. He shook his head. “He’s long gone, Vittorio. Let’s get our women out of here. I’d like to see the bastard break into my house, or yours. He won’t get three feet into a duct or the attic without us knowing.”

Vittorio wanted to bring Grace home. She was alert now, although still on heavy pain medication. The surgeon said she’d need to be for a week or two more. She was managing, always trying to extend the time in between taking them, but Vittorio continued to coax her to do as the doctor advised.

Grace was sitting up in the hospital bed, the oxygen mask still on her, when he walked into the room. Instantly, her gaze jumped to his face. She’d been anxious, he could see the worry, the alarm on her face. Her eyes shifted to Ricco, checking to make certain he was unhurt, and then she was fixed on Vittorio.

He sent her a reassuring smile and crossed to the bed, stopping briefly to drop a kiss on his sister’s forehead. She looked up at him, still pale, shaking her head.

“I can’t believe I fell for that,” Emmanuelle said. “Gas. She even warned us he liked entering houses and living in attics. He travels through the pipes and ducts just like a rat. I got a headache and I’m not prone to them. That should have tipped me off.” She sent a quick smile in Grace’s direction. “I was enjoying getting to know your fiancée.”

Grace gave a little groan as she pulled off the mask. “Stop calling me that. It’s bad enough that the nurses do. They give me thumbs-up signs and make crazy faces behind Vittorio’s back. They’re all madly in love with him.”

Vittorio leaned in and kissed her chin and then her temple before taking the mask out of her hand and replacing it on her face. “That was a scare we all could have done without. You took a few years off my life.” He nudged her until she moved over, and he immediately sat next to her, taking her hand. “You are my fiancée, so of course my family will refer to you as such.”

She pulled her hand away, took off the mask again, narrowing her eyes. “Ha. Ha. Ha. You’re beginning to believe all the lies you’ve told everyone.” She looked beyond him to his family members. They were all exchanging smiles. “It isn’t funny. You know the press will have a field day, reporting Vittorio is engaged. His women friends are all in mourning right now, or plotting along with Haydon to do me in.”

“I don’t have any female friends,” Vittorio denied, once more replacing her mask. “I have only you. And we’ll be a lot friendlier once you’re healed, so behave yourself. I’m looking forward to that.”

He enjoyed seeing the color sweep into her face. He grinned at her, liking that she relaxed, and that even now, under these circumstances, she still could tease him. She didn’t even pull her hand away when he took it again, this time bringing her fingers to his mouth.

“Detectives on their way up,” Ricco warned in a low voice, looking down at the text on his phone. “Stefano has sent for Vinci. He’s on the way.”

Vittorio didn’t pull his phone out to see the mass text Stefano sent them all. “Vinci is our lawyer, Grace.” He kept his voice gentle, holding her gaze. “Let me talk to them, and just follow my lead. If they question you and you’re uncomfortable, look to me and I’ll handle it.”

He hated watching the smile leave her eyes and her body grow tense. She’d withdrawn, the way she did when she felt vulnerable.

Grace nodded, and he moved to place himself squarely between her and the door. As he did, Art Maverick and Jason Bradshaw entered. The two detectives were well known to the Ferraros. They had started out certain the Ferraros were a crime family, just as the Saldis were, but now, having investigated them on more than one occasion, they weren’t so certain.