AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The Russian’s dark eyes penetrated deep into Vitari. “Why would I agree?”
“Because you knew my mother, and I think you cared about her, despite what you did. That’s why I’m still alive and not in some shallow grave somewhere. Isn’t it? Out of respect for her.” It was a long shot, but it was the only card he had left to play.
Sasha held his gaze. “C??????????.”
They left the table together and headed for the bar, under the wary gaze of Sasha’s guards and the keen-eyed glare of several Battaglia men. Vitari didn’t have long before the circling vultures moved in. He’d need to make a quick exit soon. But not before he got his answers.
Settling at the bar, Sasha ordered their drinks, then told the barman to leave the Vodka bottle. “Russian vodka, the best,” he said, raising his glass. “?? ????????.”
Vitari echoed the sentiment, to your health, and downed the potent vodka, welcoming its heated kick. “My mother? Tell me about her.”
“Why now? Why here?” He gestured at the huge crowd, the glitzy glamour, the extravagant opulence. Laughter bubbled around them. Sometimes cheers rose up when someone had won big.
“Because, if events play out like they’re shaping up to, I won’t be around to ask again. She’d want me to know.”
Sasha looked him over again, trying to think around every question and understand why Vitari had put himself at such a risk by facing him. “They think you killed your father.” Not a question, a statement.
“How do you know I didn’t?”
The Russian smirked. “??????.”
“Love?” Vitari snorted. “You mention love like we have hearts, when we both know we’re just fuckin’ animals underneath this pantomime.” He gestured at their fine clothes, the blood on his shirt. The Russian couldn’t have missed his cut up knuckles either. “Kings of blood and bone.”
Sasha’s deep laugh rumbled. “She was good woman, your mama. She did not want this for you.”
“How the fuck do you know that?”
Sasha refilled his glass from the bottle. “Chance put your mama in my way. And love.”
Vitari didn’t know whether to believe him. It was all so long ago, in another life, not his. But Sasha was talking, and that was why Vitari was here. “You want to explain what that means?
Sasha’s cheek twitched. “I was Battaglia underboss. Close to Giancarlo, close with your mama. Before Giancarlo cut me out.”
Vitari couldn’t hide the surprise. Yet another fact Giancarlo had kept from him. “You were Battaglia?” More than that, Sasha had been close to Giancarlo, close like Sal had been close to Vitari. Brothers in the Battaglia, if not in blood. “That’s not possible.”
“Giancarlo ensured nobody survived to remember, just old blood. The loyal take secrets to grave, only they know how I was”—he gestured with the glass—“excommunicado, cast out.” His cheek twitched, lips tugging into a snarl.
“Were you more than friends with Stefania?” Vitari almost didn’t want to know.
“No.” He laughed. “Giancarlo had your mama’s heart. Always.”
“What happened?”
“What always happens. Vengeance.”
Vitari’s heart galloped. “Why did my father cut you out?”
“A project, lucrative, make much cash.” He rubbed his finger and thumb together. “Make us rich. But Giancarlo refused. Too soft, too weak. Pathetic. I did it anyway.”
Vitari hesitated a beat. “Stanmore? That was you?” Say it, you bastard. Admit it to my face.
The Russian’s eyes held the answers, like they always had, keeping his secrets close. “Stanmore was convenient hiding place for you.”
“Stash the don’s kid in Stanmore, then use him later as a bargaining chip?”
Sasha waved a finger. “Not to sell, not you.”
“Oh no, you can’t lose track of leverage like that. So you just make it so he’s rented out by the hour?”
