This time, no one can hide their reaction.
Giovanni swears viciously under his breath.
Antonio goes very still.
Roberto’s face tightens.
Apparently, just seeing the name elicits very uncharacteristic reactions from all of them.
But Papà… his eyes darken in a way that makes the room feel ten degrees colder. I would be terrified if it were directed at me.
“Carlo Valenti,” I say. “Son of Bruno Valenti. Former don of a very powerful crime family.”
I look him dead in the eye.
“The very one you took from him, in fact.”
Then I look at the rest of them.
“You were friends with Carlo,” I say. “All of you were. He was your way into the Valenti family. You worked your way up, and then you took it, renamed it, and made it yours.”
Giovanni’s voice is low. “Careful, Caterina.”
“No,” Papà says.
One word is all he needs, and Giovanni goes silent.
Papà’s eyes remain on mine. “Let her speak.”
My heart thuds hard, but I continue.
“Bruno Valenti died years ago. But Carlo Valenti is still very much alive.”
Roberto says, “Carlo has been quiet for decades.”
“Quiet does not mean gone.”
Antonio looks at the screen. “So, it’s one of these guys?”
“No,” Papà says, leaning forward. He says nothing for a long moment while his gaze moves over the screen.
“Not one of them,” he says quietly. His eyes come back to mine. “All of them. Together.”
Chapter Thirty Nine
Adrian
I hate this room.
Not because there is anything wrong with it.
The Regent Club security room is more than adequate. Better than adequate, actually. Caterina’s people had done good work before I ever set foot in this building, and after the last month, the system is stronger, with even more cameras, better coverage, redundant feeds, reinforced access, updated locks, independent power. I even made sure there was a clean sight line to every important public and restricted area on the property.
It is a perfectly good place to be during something like this.
Someone.
Not me.
