“Landed an hour ago after meeting with Alessio for damage control. This bloody mess has caused bigger problems for everyone. Four of our international deals have been withdrawn. They won’t do business with us while we are seen as so ‘problematic’. And that’s just Sani’s contacts. Six other mafia families have lost important deals in the last twenty-four hours, and they’re furious. Word spread quickly overseas about our troubles. Luckily, we’ve had Atlas to smooth things over with New York, but most have preferred to take their business elsewhere.”
“With who? Russians? Irish?”
“Probably. The sooner we get Sani out, the better,” Gio said, turning his gaze to me for the first time. His voice was sharp as he stated, “These are the men we found at the hospital, guarding yourpapi, Aria.”
“Oh,” is all I could utter as I looked at their contorted faces. I recognised one of them immediately. He’d nearly always been following my father. My stomach clenched with a sensation that resembled guilt. Were they innocent? Or were they all corrupt and working for Callum? I suppose that was what Giovanni intended to find out.
“I’m taking Aria to the station. We’ve found enough that should at least allow him to be released on bail,” Max told Gio, strolling past him and patting his shoulder. “He should be out before the end of the day. Did you find those men who broke into Piero’s house?”
“No. But I’m sure their friends here will tell me where they are.” Gio smirked, glaring at the three men in front of him. “And where Callum is.”
Raya approached a collection of weapons and pressed her lips together before selecting a large blade and a chainsaw. She handed them to Giovanni with an innocent smile.
“You reckon this will do the trick,Sorrellina?”He chuckled. “One body part at a time, eh?”
She nodded and pulled up a chair to sit and watch.
“Come on, let’s go.” Max nudged me, forcing my feet forward.
I moved swiftly before the real torture started, climbing up the stairs and out into the daylight with Belio, Max, and Cami. There was knowing... and then there was watching. I wasn’t sure I was ready for that yet.
His Wife
“How long can they hold me here?” I asked with my forehead resting on my hands splayed out on the table.
“Forty-eight hours before they have to request a validation for arrest from a judge. You’ve been here for nineteen.”
I groaned loudly, closing my eyes. The longest nineteen hours of my life. I needed to see Aria—to know she was okay. I made Salvo check in with Max every two hours. I’d do it more, but he refused, and well, he needed to be in here with me most of the time. I’d kept my cool so far, not letting any of this bullshit questioning get to me, but my agitation grew the longer I was away from her.
I lifted my head from the table when the detectives walked back in. They didn’t speak; instead, their eyes narrowed into slits as they sat down again and placed a laptop on the table.
Leaning back in my chair, I sighed, prepared for round three.
Detective Ferri pressed a button, and my voice filled the room.
“No one would declare war on me and think it’s a good idea.”
I tried to hide my panic and not react as Morelli smirked. Salvo shifted uncomfortably in his chair, clearly uneasy that he wasn’t prepared for this new, damning evidence.
“I know how many players in this city can be bought for the right price. I own them. They work for me and with me, and in return I give them what they want. We protect each other, whether it’s money or power.”
“What nonsense is this?” Salvo interrupted, but both Detectives kept their eyes on me, scrutinising my every reaction. Luckily, I had an amazing poker face.
“You just have to know their price. I’ve offered your father support in the past, and he refused. I’m no saint, Aria. Drugs. Weaponry. Hits. Retribution. If someone betrays me, I decide what they lose.”
Salvo exhaled beside me and started scribbling notes on his pad while I folded my arms and dropped my head back to stare at the ceiling. Fuckkkk. They had the recording. Callum had sent it in as the final blow, and because he was such acertified cunt, he’d edited it to make it sound even worse, leaving every mention of himself out of it.
“And when someone forgets who runs things in my city, I remind them that I decide who keeps breathing.”
Ferri leaned forward and hit pause. I met his gaze. “Is that what happened, Santino? Did the mayor forget who runs the city? Did you have to remind him?”
I glanced at Salvo, and he gave a slight shake of his head. I exhaled.
“No comment.”
“So he refused to be blackmailed by you, and you decided to teach him a lesson?”
“No comment.”
