Her eyes flash as she takes me in. She tilts her head to the side. “You didn’t mention we had guests, dear.”
Gino drags his palm over his white beard. “A surprise visit.”
“Good evening, Vita,” Rafe says. “It’s true. We didn’t give much notice.”
Her perceptive gaze flickers between us. “I’ll bring us all some tea.”
A chuckle nearly escapes me. What a civilized start to an execution.
We follow Gino into his office, which looks like it belongs to a therapist instead of the head of a crime family. Everything is decorated in muted beiges and browns, the windowsill is lined with bonsai trees, and there’s the distinct sound of trickling water coming from a small crane-shaped fountain in the corner.
Gino takes a seat behind his desk, and we take the two chairs across from him.
“Your sons aren’t around?” I ask.
“If they were, there’s a good chance you wouldn’t have made it this far.”
What he means is they’d shoot me on sight. The Ferraro patriarch is at least willing to exchange a few words first, not that I’m expecting this to be a very long conversation.
Vita comes in carrying a tray with a teapot and four cups. She puts the tray on Gino’s desk, and then carefully pours the tea for all of us.
She and Gino have been married for thirty-something years, if I’m remembering correctly. What would that be like? To grow old with someone? To raise a family together?
I’ll never get to experience any of that with Blake, and the realization hits me like a knife to the chest.
“Thank you, darling,” Gino says. “Should we move to the couches?”
“No need. I’d prefer to stay on my feet. I’ve been sitting all day,” she answers.
Gino nods and brushes his hand over Vita’s, but the softness in his eyes disappears the moment they move back to me.
“Nero.” He steeples his hands in front of him. “There’s a part of me that always suspected we were taken in by Rafaele as far as you were concerned.”
Rafaele shifts in his seat. “Gino, he’s my oldest friend. And what happened that night was an unfortunate mistake.”
Gino ignores him, focusing intently on me. “Why are you here?”
“I was discovered by someone.”
“Who?”
“A group of bikers from a Missouri gang called Iron Raptors.”
“And where are these bikers now?”
“I left their bodies in a motel parking lot.”
Gino arches a brow. “Then why come back?”
“Before I got to them, they contacted your people. I wasn’t careful enough, and I didn’t want to throw Rafe under the bus. I’m here to face the consequences of my actions.”
“How honorable.” He takes a sip of his tea and then glances past me.
I follow his line of sight. He’s looking at Vita. She’s standing by the window, appearing to be focused on the view, but it’s clear she’s listening to our conversation.
“What happened with Michael was an accident,” Rafaele says.
Gino’s fingers tap lightly against the desk. “I know that.”
