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I give her a kiss on the cheek. “Good to see you, Ellie.”
“You’re a hard man to pin down.” Donny swivels around his throne-like leather chair. He’s a block of pure muscle, always dressed to kill. His dress shirt sleeves are rolled back as far as his forearms will allow, leaving hard lines and red knuckles to show he hasn’t changed a bit, even if he is the Don.
“We’ve always had that in common,” I say with a smirk.
He extends his hand for a firm handshake, something I can respect. I never really appreciated the weird cheek kisses my family loves to do, unless it’s right before a kill.
“Have a seat, please.” Donny motions to the chair opposite him. So, he wants to get right to business. Thing is, I’m not there yet. The visual of a Valentino and a Rigiano is still a shocking concept to me.
“This still feels like some kind of twisted dream.” I wave my hand at Ellie, who’s about to sit on Donny’s lap again. “If you two together doesn’t prove fate’s grand plan, I don’t know what does. A man captures an angel to feed his devil father, only to upend hell and build his own kingdom.”
“You always did have a way with words, Hook.” Donny smirks. “Can I offer you a drink?” He pulls out a decanter of whiskey and a glass.
I put my hand up. “Please, I’m driving.”
The three of us share a laugh.
“You know I had to block out an hour before and after just to get you in here. Sent three of my main guys on a long break too.”
“Mm. I’m not quite on the books, am I, Donny?” My grin remains.
“The Shadow wants your head on a spike.”
“Still?” I huff. “I thought I paid him back in Lucrazi blood ten times over by now.”
Donny leans forward, his elbows making the wood desk creak. “I’ve grown to respect my father-in-law a great deal. This whole thing of ours runs smoothly because of our relationship. He means a lot to me, Hook.”
I lean back in my chair and cross an ankle over my knee, unamused.
“You’re lucky Ellie means more.” Donny’s silver eyes bore into mine.
I respect the man… I do. Always have. If there was another ruthless killer that I can say might rival me, it’s him. But he doesn’t intimidate me.
“You’re welcome for Bruno and Steph on a platter,” I say. “And thank you for Joseph. That lead gave me the closure I desperately sought. But these debts are paid, Donny. I did as you asked. Those two dopes – Lenny and Tony – finally understand that patience is part of a clean kill.”
Donny grunts. “Took a few lashings to teach them though, didn’t it?”
“Is that what this is about?” I spread my arms. “What’d Lenny say?”
“He didn’t have to say anything. Tony’s jabbering mouth and Lenny’s brooding silence told the whole story. The big oaf mouthed off to you, and found a cast-iron grate to the cheek. Does that about sum it up?”
“They’re sloppy buffoons, Donny. Stop sending apes to do a wolf’s job.”
Donny snaps his tongue and takes a sip from his glass. “One thing this woman taught me, is to learn how to take a step back.” He eyes my cousin. “We have to learn to put faith into people, even if it might take some longer than others to learn.”
“Sounds like a fast way to get caught to me.” I shift in my seat.
“Not if you put the right people in charge to oversee.” He nods my way.
“So, you’re not mad about this little mishap?”
“What went down needed to go down. Lenny needed to know whose job it was. And if he had half a brain, he’d keep his hothead self in check to learn a thing or two. Next job, we’ll see if he has.”
“Planning for my succession?” I ask brazenly.
“You’re a lone wolf,” Ellie says. “My dad couldn’t keep a leash on you no matter how hard he tried.”
“Some animals aren’t meant to be caged, Ellie,” I quip back. “I don’t follow the rigid rules of the Rigianos. That’s why Donny and I got along in the first place.” I switch my gaze back and forth between the both of them. “Isn’t that right?”
