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“Dick measuring isn’t getting us anywhere,” Rocco said. “Now, what’s with the question about Theo’s office?”
Fine, I was growing tired of the games, anyway. “First, if I find out you are luring the people who are here into a trap to have them killed or to kill them yourself, I will find you and I will make your execution a slow, torturous event everyone can watch. Then, I will out your status as an FBI agent to the Syndicate of Families. Understood?” I wasn’t bluffing. His death would last for hours. I’d take perverse pleasure in it because I’d have nothing left.
He swallowed hard. “This isn’t a trap. I wouldn’t have come if I wasn’t serious about helping find who killed Theo. He was a good man.”
Yes, everything I knew about Theo was the same. He worked hard. Been dedicated to his family. Loved his wife with such abandon, they were sickening sweet together. He lived for his children and would die for them, too. “We believe there could be footage of whoever killed Theo.”
“In his office?” Rocco perked up. “Shit. No wonder the police were so fucking tight lipped.” He blew out a breath. “It would help if we had some clue, some piece of information... A crumb. Right now, we all have our fingers in our asses.”
Didn’t needthatvisual. I flicked a glance at Soren. Of everyone within the Syndicate of Families who could destroy me, it was the man sitting across from me, who had the most dirt on me as well. “I need assurances for this next part. Also, I need to know what Theo was about to expose before I’ll give you any type of evidence I may have.”
“Understandable. I won’t jump and give them without consideration, however,” Rocco stated. “You’d know I was lying then.”
“Exactly.”
“Off the record,” Rocco began, “Mario Torino, Ricardo Valentino, and Bernardo Scolari have been laundering money for the Russian mob for the last sixteen years. Them along with several Bratva ties, have been using their businesses to siphon money back to Russia to help facilitate some of the propaganda you see here today in the news and on social media. They have also been funding the separatist movement in Crimea.”
The. Fuck?
Soren whistled.
“Do the other families know about this?” I prodded, wondering how deep this little scam of theirs ran.
“I don’t believe so. Theo has always been the accountant most of the families have used. He is one of us. However, when the FBI saw a man as dedicated as Theo was to his family, well... You know the rest.”
Yes, I did. The FBI took advantage of a vulnerable person. In the meantime, the agency was wholly responsible for getting Theo Hollis and his wife, Silvia, killed.Bastards.However, Rocco’s candor allowed a glimpse of the inner machinations of the Syndicate of Families. Like the police department, we too had a cancerous growth that needed lancing. “Do you suspect Kira is involved in this mess?”
Rocco shook his head. “No. Her stakes are in gambling and strip clubs. She’d never willingly pimp her family name out.”
I’d thought the same. It was good to hear my assumption and assertions were spot on for her. “What if I told you, hypothetically speaking, Stephanie and Kyle Hollis are very much alive. In fact, so much alive, I know where they are?”
“Son of a bitch,” Rocco said on an exhale. “They’re here, aren’t they? They’re the guests you keep talking about.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Fuck. This complicates everything.”
As I figured it would. “I won’t answer your question. However, if they were here, would it make getting back into the Hollis home easier for the bureau?”
“Yes,” he said. “Yes, it would. It might also get them killed. It would definitely bring the police back into the investigation. I don’t like that many variables dangling.”
“I know this all too well. There was another attempt on her life.” Several if I went by what Stephanie told me over the last few days. “I believe Brooke Jennings was the one who told Mario Torino of Stephanie and Kyle Hollis’ whereabouts.”
Rocco’s features went blank. The subtle of flicker of knowing something I might not, or agreement on who blabbed flashed in his eyes before darkening once more. “You believe it was Torino who had Theo and Sylvia killed?”
“Possibly.” I shrugged. “Could have been Valentino too. Scolari, now that I have the full picture of what’s going on.” Grabbing the files I’d locked away when I first stepped into my office, I pulled them out, placing them on my desk. “I have more for you.” Handing them over to a man I knew could be the enemy, went against everything I held sacred. However, the enemy of my enemy could be my friend. At least, for the moment. “I am giving you this—trustingyou with my dead wife. Help me nail those bastards to the wall, and I’ll introduce you to Stephanie Hollis.”
Rocco accepted the files from me. His features were set in a determined line. His gaze hardened by the information and faith I’d had in him. “You won’t kill them then?”
Oh, I’d been tempted, but I didn’t need the attention. Taking out minions here and there, sure. Full-on war between the families? Well, I’d helped Kira step back from that ledge already. It would be hypocritical if I did the same as she tried to do all those years ago. “No. You can thank Kira for that.”
“I understand. And you’re sure it’s these two men?” He tapped the files with this thumb as he stared at me.
“Yes. I’ve been planning my revenge for years.”
“Revenge is best served cold,” Soren muttered. “I’ll vouch for the file. I helped Miceli build the case. Everything there is verifiable.”
“Do you believe we can close both cases with what’s here and what we can find in Theo’s office at the Hollis home?” There was the agent I could grow to hate.
“Yes. Without a doubt. I wouldn’t have asked Soren to facility this meeting between us if I didn’t think so.” Stephanie deserved to know the truth and reclaim her life as well. Vendettas aside, innocent people had been destroyed within the Syndicate. It was time to change how this game was played. “The only thing I ask is that you leave my name, my associates, and my business out of the investigation. Yes, with the death of Rosalina, I will be forced to make a statement, but the rest... I’d like to live a simple life, Agent Di Angelo.”
He nodded, catching my drift. “Yes. If you help us, I will guarantee you and anyone associated with you will be left out of the investigation.”
“Fine.” I went to the door where Robbie stood. “Get Stephanie and Kyle and bring them to my office. Don’t tell them why.”
“On it, boss.” Robbie glanced over his shoulder. “You sure about Di Angelo?”
“I guess we’re about to find out.”
