“Does Luciano know about this?” Carrera asked.
“No,” Sin replied.
“Sin, are you and Carrera working with Luciano?” Z asked.
“We are,” Sin said.
Carrera’s stomach dropped.
“I’ve got eight mil tied up in his company’s stock,” Sin said. “Carrera, are you doing business with your cousin?”
“Yeah,” Carrera replied. “My portfolio is heavily weighted with Santini stock.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Z bit out. “I don’t have the time or the patience for this bullshit. If you’re involved with Luciano and his alleged illegal business activities, I can’t protect you.”
“We don’t need protection,” Carrera said.
“And we’re not afraid of Hirzog,” Sin added.
Carrera extracted his phone from his pants pocket, called his cousin. With phone to ear, he waited for Luciano to answer.
“Santini,” Luciano answered.
“I’m in a meeting with Z and Sin,” Carrera said.
“Speaker?”
“No. Hirzog filed a complaint against me because I forced him out of his office.”
“Nothing he does surprises me,” Luciano said.
“He said he’s got dirt on you,” Carrera explained. “If I don’t step down, he’ll whistleblow.”
“Figlio di puttana,” Luciano spat out. “Put me on speaker.”
Carrera tapped the button on his phone. “You’re on.”
“Good morning, Sinclair. Hello, Philip.” The words sounded lyrical, coming from Luciano. “Beautiful morning, isn’t it?”
Sin chuckled.
“We have a problem,” Z bit out.
“Philip,” Luciano crooned. “Relax. It’s all good. I have one thing to say.”
“What is it?” Sin asked.
“Don’t give up the office. It’s a power play.”
Knock-knock.
“Come in,” Carrera said.
The door opened. Hirzog glared at them. “Gentlemen, I’m going to ruffle some feathers.”
“Peter, it’s Luciano Santini,” Luciano said. “You’re wasting your time with me.”
“I didn’t spend my entire career at the Bureau to get overlooked by a novice who’s still wet behind his ears,” Hirzog said. “Watch your sixes gentlemen.” He pulled the door shut.
