“Why are we changing drop-off locations, Matteo?” I look at my cousin.
“There was a gang shooting near our East Port location. Cops have been swarming the area all day. They are going to ramp up their patrol tonight and probably for the next few weeks.”
“Why wasn’t I consulted about this?” I hand the phone back to AJ.
“I was going to. I just didn’t have a chance. It’s not a big deal, Cipi. You’re recovering and you’re busy trying to track down a killer.”
“I’m recovering but I’m not dead. I’m still in charge.”
“Yes, Cugina, but I’m the underboss. Everything falls on me when you’re not around and you haven’t exactly been taking charge of things,” Matteo protests.
“I should have been looped in,” I snap. “This is an important decision.”
“We didn’t want to bother you with shipping ports and cargo loads,” Salvatore interjects. “It was the right decision.”
“Either way I’m the one in charge. I’m still the boss. I should have been notified of these decisions.” I don’t know why I’m getting so upset over this. I glare at them. “What other decisions have you made behind my back?”
Matteo and Salvatore glance at each other.
“We weren’t trying to do anything behind your back. We were just running the organization.” Matteo shrugs.
“I want a list of what you did without getting my approval,” I demand. “This making decisions without my sign-off ends now. I’m in charge and things will run as they always have. Capisci?”
Matteo and Salvatore nod.
“This meeting is done. You all can leave. We will talk about this tomorrow.” I get to my feet and point to the door.
AJ closes his laptop and puts it into his suitcase. Matteo storms out of the room without saying goodbye. Salvatore gives me a pat on the shoulder and leaves.
Once they are all gone I lock the door and stand there fuming.
Why am I taking this so personal?
I’ve had Matteo and Salvatore make lots of decisions through the years, but they always looped me in.
Why aren’t they telling me stuff?
I shouldn’t be overreacting, they are family. But after almost being killed at my private invite only party, my trust has been rattled.
But Matteo making decisions without my approval doesn’t sit well with me.
Could he be the one behind my attempted assassination?
He was pretty sore years ago when Father’s will made me the boss. He wouldn’t admit it but I knew he never thought in a million years my father would put a woman in charge.
Taking out my own laptop, I pull up the camera footage that covers the hallway where the ballroom doors to the balcony are.
A shadow appears at the bottom of the screen then disappears. Someone was already in the corridor at this time. But how could they have gotten past the guard? That hallway was a dead end.
Then it hits me.
At the end of the hallway is a small half bath, tucked in an alcove that no one uses. If I remember correctly there is a window.
I want to smack myself. How could I have been so stupid. You’d think I’d know my own house by now. But this house is way too big for one person. Half the rooms I’ve never even stepped foot in.
My hand grips the curved banister as I force my body up the stairs. My chest still aches and the wounds under the gauze pull with each step.
Reaching the top, I turn down the abandoned hallway.
