“How would you know that?”
His smile left no need to have my question answered. “I know because he’d just returned from Italy. By then he was on our radar.”
“No, that’s not true. I talked to him several times. He’d gone to Atlanta. I knew he was mafia and how much he hated his family. That’s why he left that life.” The same knot that I’d felt in my stomach all those years ago returned.
“No, he did not. He was simply building an army that supported him and he had one. A large one.” My uncle’s face held more compassion than I’d seen in my life. “You should know by now that when you are born into this world, you cannot just walk away.”
“I guess you’re right, Uncle Sean, but I tried and will continue to do so. You’re dying to tell me the full story so please do. Why was he in Italy?”
“To become a king. He slipped into the country, murdering his father and older brother, which paved a way for him to take over as the Don of the Lorenzo Cosa Nostra. They are the oldest and most influential syndicate within the five families of Italy. They have more control than the other four combined. With threats made by Gabriel earlier in his life, it was widely known he wanted control of every territory, which would have led to an expansion outside of Italy to Europe and eventually to other countries.”
While I should feel shock and disgust, I didn’t. Because a notion deep inside me had festered for years, an instinct Gabriel had been lying to me.
“Including the United States,” I managed.
“Yes, and with you as his bride, there would have nothing to stop him from achieving his goal.”
My stomach did a series of flipflops. “So that’s why you had him killed.” My relationship with Gabriel had been kept secretbecause I’d thought it real, the one person in my life who hadn’t been manipulated by my family.
I should have followed my instincts then.
My uncle shook his head. “As I said minutes ago, you’re highly intelligent. While I was very well aware of your relationship, at first there’d been no way of proving his intentions. He slipped through the cracks in heading to Italy, but as soon as I discovered where he was headed, I contacted the Don of another member of the five families.”
“Dino Savoy. My sister’s new father-in-law and Don of the Savoy Cosa Nostra.”
His smile was meant as praise. “Very good. Unfortunately, Dino was too late, the murders already occurring and Gabriel disappearing. With plans to return with you on his arm.”
“But you knew where he was going. Hawaii. With me.”
“Yes.”
I sat back, sliding my hands under the table. Through the material of my purse, I wrapped my fingers around the gun, debating what I wanted to do. “You might not have pulled the trigger, but you effectively had Gabriel killed.”
“From your viewpoint, yes, I did. And I’d do so again.”
A laugh bubbled to the surface. “You’d do so for your business but not your family. That’s why and how you developed an alliance with the Savoy Cosa Nostra. A return favor.”
“That is one reason, yes. But it’s also good business. We can use the support here and they can use our connections for their business in Italy as well.”
“And Nikki’s marriage? In name only? An arrangement as a thank you for them keeping their territory intact.”
“I won’t lie to you that Dino and I had a conversation about forming an alliance, realizing even the best of intentions as partners might not last even years into the future. Therefore, an arranged marriage was mentioned.”
“What about Kathleen? Why not choose her?”
His laugh was unexpected. “That was the original plan and a meeting was set up. However, you know my daughter. She took one look at Enzo and walked away. Since Nikki was with her, she stayed and chatted with Enzo. Their friendship was a pleasant surprise. And from what I can tell, both your sister and Enzo are very much in love.”
“Please. Love isn’t possible in our world. It’s all a joke.” I thought about Kirill, now completely uncertain how I felt about him. Was there such a thing as love or was that nothing more than a weapon to be used? A weakness.
“That’s not always true. I adore your aunt. She is my rock. And believe it or not, your father loves your mother. In his own way.”
“Trust me. They hate each other. But none of this is the reason why I was summoned here. That would be because of Kirill Aristov. You believe him the enemy.”
“We have many enemies.”
“Yes,” I noted. “Including the Armenians, but the Russians are rich, powerful, and if I had to guess, I’d say you’re much more concerned with what they are capable of.”
At least I was offered not only a smile and nod of respect but also a lift of his glass in appreciation. Rare. “The Russians are… animals but well connected.”
