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I closed the door and watched the car drive away.
Father had given me a great deal to think about.
***
The men looked to me when I entered the dining room, waiting expectantly for my instructions. I took my seat back at the head of the table.
“What are we doing now, Boss?”
"I'll have to call Father Patrick and tell him my interfering mother is going to be in touch, so we have to go through all the formalities to keep her happy. I have no doubt Mother will want a full service and to watch us sign the marriage certificate." I turned to Danila and Cosimo. "You two go over to Manna (Windfall—gambling den in Darling Harbour) and tell Xinava and Joachim to give you two hundred thousand dollars from the safe." The two men each had half of the combination to the safe so no one person could access the money within—including me. "Bring it down to Segreti to replace the money that was stolen, it will give them a decent buffer. Gaetano, Savastino, and I will head down to Nascondiglio (Hideaway—the largest of the illegal gambling dens owned by the famiglia) and speak with Casey and Zane.
“Zane will be fucking stoked he’s getting Segreti. Casey has trained him well and he’s more than proven his loyalty over the past eight years. Have you decided yet who will take his place?” Gaetano asked.
Gaetano and I had discussed the possibilities after I’d transferred the previous Segreti manager, Tomas, two weeks earlier to the office of our shipping business as Executive Manager. A steep increase in business meant more staff were required and changes had to be made. Tomas was more than capable of managing the restructuring. Father had fucked things up by insisting Valerio take the senior position at Segreti, so I hadn't needed to make a decision on Zane's replacement at that time, but I had now. Only Gaetano was aware of my decision.
“Henry.”
I heard the sharp intake of air from the men. They were surprised with my choice as I knew they would be since Henry was only twenty-two years old.
"Henry, Boss? Are you sure?" Danila asked.
"I know you are wary of him because of his young age, but he's been with our family since he was fourteen—eight years, but he's left me in no doubt that his defection from the Carilliono famiglia was for the reasons he stated. I'm more than confident he's loyal. He's earnt the position. Zane will train him well and keep an eye on him."
The men were satisfied with my explanation, but even if they'd had questions, knew my decision was final.
Savastino's phone buzzed. Over the next few minutes, there was furious texting, and he wore a deep frown on his face. When his thumbs stopped pounding, Savastino set his phone on the table and said there was something we needed to discuss.
I swallowed down the last of the whisky that I'd left when walking Father out to the car.
“Problem?”
Savastino nodded. “That was Germaine. He said Valerio wasn’t alone in the skimming.”
Anger shot up my spine and my face heated like a volcanic eruption. "Who?"
“Frederico,” Savastino said matter of factly.
"Frederico?" I'd brought the kid into the family myself after finding him, at the age of eighteen, asleep near a dumpster behind Segreti. I'd nurtured and guided him for three years. We were like brothers, and I'd held out hope he would become one of my inner circle to fill the void left by Danila.
At seventy-two years old, Danila had reached his time to retire. It was a well-deserved retirement, and I would ensure in the final years of his life, he was surrounded by everything he both needed and wanted. He'd been loyal to my father and a guiding influence, not only while I was growing up, but also as I settled into my position as head of the family when Father had become ill and stepped down one year earlier.
“Are you sure?” I questioned.
Savastino nodded. "I'm sorry, Boss. Germaine said he double-checked the details because he knows how you feel about Frederico. He said there's no doubt. I told him to secure Frederico in the basement and put a man on him until you arrive."
Anger burned in my belly. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I picked up the whisky glass and hurled it against the wall where it shattered before the pieces dropped to the floor. A few drops of amber liquid beaded on the white wall before sliding slowly towards the floor. After all I had done for Frederico, this was how he repaid me? I pushed onto my feet, knocking the chair backwards and causing it to fall over. I barked, "Segreti, all of you. Now!"
The four men stood. Danila and Cosimo left by the front door, heading for their car parked out front. The rest of us made our way to the garage and climbed into my Audi with Gaetano behind the wheel. I sat in the passenger seat, so pissed off I swear steam must have been billowing from both ears.
***
Gaetano activated the code to open the gates and drove into the parking area behind Segreti. Danila and Cosimo followed us through and parked alongside my car. We all stepped from our cars, and I led the way into the club via the back door. Germaine met us there and led the way down to the basement.
We reached the bottom of the steps, Cosimo having closed the door at the top behind us. A single light was turned on, highlighting the naked figure seated in a chair, his wrists bound to the arms, his ankles bound to the legs. Piccolo, one of the bouncers at Segreti stood guard nearby and acknowledged me with a nod. Frederico lifted his head; fear was reflected in his eyes.
“Benvolio…”
“Shut the fuck up,” I roared while approaching.
