His face resets as he smiles wider. “Chicago has been needing a personnel rotation. What do you think of moving Alexandros there?”
The fuck? I check the men for signs that those words are a trigger phrase.
No response from them.
“Alexandros has been a good producer for you here, Marco. But he’s mostly your surveillance guy. Is Chicago lacking in either?”
“I like to keep an eye on things, Dario. You know that better than most.”
I keep my face still. “I am aware.”
He purses his crusty lips, as if he’s considering the comment. “Chicago could use some guidance, and I believe he’s the man for the job. Besides, he’s a little too comfortable with how things are here. Sometimes, you have to push people to make them grow.”
“Couldn’t agree more.”
“Speaking of guidance, how is that personal matter we discussed? Your lady friend.”
Still no response from the men around me. What game is Marco playing this time?
“My lady friend is just a piece of ass, Marco. You know that.”
“But you’re taking care of her daughter, are you not?”
I laugh easily for a man expecting a knife. “I know you’re intimately familiar with blackmail, Marco. Why do you think I’m helping the kid?”
“Really?” He smiles, as if he’s impressed. “Is that all it is?”
“What else would it be?”
“You offered to pay her debt to Esposito. We both know what else it could be.”
Bastianich shifts his weight to his back foot. Caruso’s hand twitches.
Here we go. “You said that shit about me going soft before, and I gotta say, it stung.”
“Because I was right.”
“Because you doubted me.” I lean forward to catch his men’s movements.
Each of them reacts with their eyes, not their bodies. Me closing the distance doesn’t send them into attack mode.
Interesting.
I smirk at Marco. “Don’t know what I’ve done that made you think I’ve gone soft—blackmailing a bitch into my bed doesn’t really qualify. Paying off her debt to Esposito? Lena’s a hot piece of ass, man. And you know how Esposito gets paid—cash, pussy, or both. I didn’t want that motherfucker’s dick on her. She’s mine.” I lean back to let him sit with that.
“Why didn’t you say that before?” Marco laughs.
“Didn’t think I needed to spread my personal business around, and Caruso’s a gossipy bitch.”
His guard glares at me but says nothing.
But Marco laughs again. “He is. He’s also a hell of a quickdraw, so I keep him around.” A shrug of his sloped shoulders. “I hope you know I appreciate your contribution to my organization.”
My organization. As if my grandfather didn’t start it.
“Your gratitude is overwhelming.”
“Our recent tensions have been unpleasant, wouldn’t you agree?” He doesn’t wait for an answer. “I’d like to think this matter is finished, since you explained yourself. It’s important that you and everyone else here knows there’s no such thing as personal business. If there’s a situation that can affect the organization, you fucking tell me.”
