Page 96 of The Viper's Wife

“Probably one I’d like a lot more.”

“Whatever. I’ll be there in a half hour, and I’m bringing protein bowls.”

“No, you’re not. I don’t want Valeria going anywhere after yesterday.”

She scoffs. “Nico, what did I just say about being dramatic? So we got shot at, big deal. We already know they weren’t even trying to kill us, and Giovanni will be with us the whole time.”

Giovanni.

“Alessia,” I say slowly, fighting the urge to grind my teeth. “I don’t want him anywhere near her.”

“Aw, I’ve never seen you jealous before. Look, you have nothing to worry about. Giovanni’s way out of her league. And?—”

“Alessia, I’m about to hang up.”

“Okay, okay,cazzo. Look, I’ll bring Mamma and the wedding planner—no men—and we’ll go to the safest possible venues. I’ll bring my gun, and we’ll have her back by the afternoon.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose.

A polite knock sounds against the door.

It’s not Alessia here early—the sound was way too soft.

“I have to go. Someone’s at the door,” I hiss into the receiver.

“I’m twenty minutes away?—”

I hang up and slip back into the bedroom to grab my gun, careful not to disturb Valeria.

She’s curled in a tight ball, her hair like a spray of black ink on the white sheets.

I tread silently back to the front door and peer through the peephole.

A man in a black motorcycle helmet and black leather jacket stands outside my door.

“I’m Joey,” he says, voice muffled through his helmet and the door.

“You’re about to be Swiss cheese.”

“Sal sent me.”

I step back from the door, lowering my gun. Of course, Salvatore sends a masked man to my place the day after I got shot at.

With my focus on the front door, I step into the kitchen and call up Salvatore.

“Nico.”

“Why is there a guy in assless chaps outside my front door?”

“That’s Joey. He needs extra manpower for a few jobs today.”

“And you didn’t think to give me a heads-up? I almost killed him.”

“He typically wears a bulletproof vest.”

“How long will this take? I can’t leave Valeria alone.”Not today, not ever,I think grimly as I look at the bedroom door.

“Figure it out. I’m giving you an order.”