By Virtue I Fall (Sins of the Fathers #3)(97)

Santino finally managed to shove one arm into a sleeve and gave his father an annoyed look. “Santino is a grownup and prefers to heal at home.”

I headed over to him and gave him a peck. Kissing him in front of others still felt strange but at the same time so wonderfully freeing. “Isn’t it too risky?”

Santino waved me off. “I can handle it.”

I helped him into his hoodie, knowing full well it was useless to argue with him if he’d made up his mind. He was stubborn as a mule.

“Not to mention that Dante requires my help to contain the scandal Anna and her mother caused,” he said with a wink at me.

“Excuse me? You were involved in the scandal too.”

“But I would have chosen a better moment to stop the wedding.”

“I doubt it,” Enzo and I said simultaneously. We exchanged a look and smile. My heart expanded, glad he and I were finally making peace.

“What do you mean, my dad needs you?” I asked. Dad hadn’t mentioned anything to me, which probably meant it was risky or something he considered dishonorable.

But the Clarks were furious and refused to talk so we needed to act. Clifford had ignored all of my calls and texts.

Santino gave me a grim smile. “I’ll help him handle the Clarks.”

Enzo’s expression pinched with disapproval.

“How?” I asked. “You can’t kill all of them.”

Santino lightly pinched my butt. Luckily the angle hid it from Enzo or I would have died from embarrassment. I slanted Santino a warning look, which he answered with a smirk. “I could, but I won’t.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“The photos you took when you caught me with Dolora Clark, I downloaded them to my cloud in case I ever needed them.”

“Perv.”

He smirked but quickly became serious again.

Realization widened my eyes. “You’re going to blackmail her?”

He nodded. “She’ll do anything to prevent that scandal.”

“But she doesn’t strike me as a woman who holds enough power over her husband to talk him out of plotting revenge.”

“She isn’t, but I’ll try my luck.”

“If she can’t convince Maximo we can still blackmail him with the photos. He can’t risk a divorce at this point in his career, especially one following such a scandal.”

“You’re as cunning as you are gorgeous.”

“And you’re prone to causing scandals.”

“As are you, cherie.” He shrugged, then pulled me against him and kissed me again. “Let me talk to Dolora now.”

Enzo excused himself, obviously uncomfortable with Santino’s display of affection. My cheeks heated. I cleared my throat.

“Don’t let me stop you. If my dad thinks the plan is worth pursuing, then we should give it a try.”

“You aren’t jealous, right?”

I made a face. “Please. You can either play in the Champions League, or in the village cup.”

“Life in Europe left its scars. I won’t ever get used to your soccer references, and I’m not entirely sure they are accurate.”

He glanced at his watch. “I need to head to the country club where Dolora spends most of her afternoons now.”

“You want to drive yourself?”

He kissed me again. “I’m a big boy, Anna.”

“At least take your dad with you.” I still hated that Santino had banged Clifford’s mom but at least it could now save our asses. Who would have ever thought Santino’s homewrecking ways would ever be so useful?





Dolora left the country club. All of the Clarks were members, of course. It was an hour after her usual departure time and I’d almost run out of patience. Not to mention that my wounds hurt like a bitch and I hadn’t taken nearly enough painkillers. I parked in my car right at the curb in the hopes to catch her attention. Her eyes registered my car then me and she quickly looked around in worry. I rolled down the window and leaned out. “We need to talk.”

She rushed toward me and almost jumped in. “You can’t just come here. If someone sees us together, there’s hell to pay. I had to hide in the restrooms because of you.”

I started the car and drove us to the parking lot of a nearby Starbucks. “How did I do that?”

“You caused a scandal and now everyone’s talking behind my back. I can’t even show my face in the club without people giving me condescending smiles. I simply couldn’t bear it anymore.”

“I suppose then you wouldn’t want to have another scandal on your hand.”

She froze. “What are you talking about?”

“I need you to convince your husband to keep his connections to the Outfit, and talk him out of any revenge plots he might be dreaming up right now.”

“I can’t do that.”

I showed her the photos of us on my phone. Her blue eyes widened. “I’ll be ruined if this comes out. Maximo won’t forgive me if I ruin his career with something like that.”

It was kind of fitting that he’d worry more about his career than his marriage. I suppose that ship had sailed a long time ago.

“Then talk to him and make him see reason.”