Page 69 of No Greater Oblivion

“Leaving.”

“Is that a threat?”

“It’s a warning.”

A muscle in his jaw jumps with tension as he leans back in his chair, fingers flexing against the edge of the table. Right when I think he’ll send me back to New York on the first available flight, he grinds his teeth and gives a reticent nod.

“All right,” he says, very softly.

My breath catches and I do my best to hide the tremor in my hands as I hold open my journal and read the first question. “What are the twelve families?”

No one answers at first. They’re all waiting for Alejandro or perhaps me to elaborate further so I do.

“I don’t get it. They are mentioned all the time and I want to know why they’re so important.”

To my surprise, Alejandro answers. “Think of them as a coalition.”

“A coalition?”

“Twelve families all operating and co-existing within the same city. In order to avoid any serious conflict that could impact our businesses or control over certain territories, we answer to each other.”

“Sounds like a Five Families knock-off,” I say.

Diego snorts and almost chokes on his orange juice. He makes a show of clearing his throat and hides behind his newspaper.

“If that makes it easier for you to understand, then yes. Something like that.” Alejandro ignores his brother’s outburst. “We have rules to keep the peace. Government involvement is forbidden; if one family has an issue with another, they either resolve it internally or petition the families to make an inquiry.”

“What’s an inquiry?”

“Our polite way of launching an investigation.”

I press my lips together as I scribble down notes in my journal. “Okay…what are the other rules?”

“The Dons are untouchable. You can’t put a hit on one otherwise you forfeit your life and the safety of your family.”

“Sandro put a hit on you. Twice.”

“That’s a more complicated situation.”

“How so?”

“Well, for one, I would’ve had to prove it. In order to do so, I needed witnesses, all of whom are dead. Except for you,” he amends. “Which leads me to my third rule: partners, children, and civilian family members are untouchable.”

“Explain.”

Diego answers instead. “For example. Sandro has another sister—Montserrat. She’s a civilian, she doesn’t have anything to do with her family’s business. At least, not the part concerning the twelve families. Because of that, she’s untouchable. If I went out and killed her tomorrow, I’d be dead next. Probably the rest of us too.”

Alejandro’s gaze is searing but his brother ignores him.

“Make sense?”

Killing family members: big no-no

I finish writing and move on to my next question. “Makes sense. Okay, so by partners you mean romantic partners right? Someone like me.”

“No,” Lettie interrupts Alejandro before he can speak. “You haven’t been presented to the other families. It’s part of why Alejandro didn’t petition for an inquiry into Sandro’s assassination attempts.”

“Leticia.” His voice carries a warning.