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"Better. Now, explain."
"If you insist," I groused. "Back in the fifties, the Valentinis ran New York City. Then Fieri came in and turned everyone's heads. He wanted to stop small-town prostitution rings, get involved with more trafficking operations, drugs and humans so the Italians would control the largest share of the sex industry in Manhattan.
"The world was opening up after the war, transport links evolved, and as a result, it meant it was a lot easier to smuggle people into the country.
"The family's predominant source of income over the last ten or so years has been their major prostitution rackets. ThePadrino'svision morphed into their current market.
"Regardless, the few Valentinis who survived retreated to Sicily. As far as I know, they're still there."
Brennan shook his head. "That's just it, they're not. I've heard rumors. Granted, rumors are nothing concrete. But..." He scrubbed a hand across his jaw. "I've been talking to the few old boys who are still alive and they say that back in the day, there was one Valentini who used to cut up the faces of his enemies.
"He even scalped a couple."
My nose crinkled at the bridge. "That's so gross," I huffed. "Anyway, this guy's face... It was an old scar. Definitely no less than eighteen months. Two years, max. I'm not the best at math but I doubt the dude who collected scalps for a living is still living and breathing."
"That's my concern," Brennan said gruffly. "They've been underground for a while. I just don't know why." He pursed his lips. "Around the Italian patch, more and more guys are showing up looking like lopsided clowns."
"Why have you never mentioned them?" Aidan questioned.
"Because they've never tampered with our business. Do you know how many players are out there? Two bit pieces of shit that not even the cops are really interested in?
"Da knows about them because it's my job to keep him in the loop, but I didn't think the rest of you guys would be interested as you're not out on the streets like me."
"Hey, I am," Declan complained.
Brennan rolled his eyes. "Not like me."
"Who knew this was a competition?" Conor chirped at me, and I smiled, oddly at ease with him.
Hell, oddly at ease with them all.
That was weird, right?
Here I was, surrounded by guys who weren't exactly idols but the stars of an obsession that went back as far as childhood—well, maybe not them, but their family—and I was enjoying myself.
I’d almost been killed!
That I needed the reminder was very concerning.
I cleared my throat and asked, "Before you guys get into this even further, ya know, who works more and shit like that—" Brennan arched a brow at me but I just smirked back. "—will you guys help me? I’ve barely started with the exposés, and I have dozens more articles to write."
"Who’s your source?" Finn asked. "Where are you getting all this information from? I read the one you released today—it was in-depth stuff. You needed help with it."
Conor grunted. "Ain’t that obvious? Lodestar, of course."
I wasn’t about to agree or disagree. Starwasmy source, but she had one of her own we both wanted to protect.
Deciding it was wise to change the subject, I informed them, "Yesterday, my phone started blowing up. If this Valentini is after me—"
"He isn’t," Brennan said immediately.
I scowled. "Then why did you bring them up?"
"Because the fucker who tried to knife you had been injured by him. That sound like the work of a friend or foe?"
I pulled a face because apparently my brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders. "Huh."
"Yeah. You and whoever did that to him are on the same side." Brennan shot Aidan a look. "You willing to vouch for her with Da?"
