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“Her name wouldn’t be Ava Richardson, would it?” Jon sighed.
I nodded. His shoulders slumped as if he’d been hit with a sudden wave of exhaustion. He shook his head, his expression weary as he glanced around to see if anyone was listening.
“I take it you know about the current state of the Montagna family?” he asked.
“I know it’s precarious at the moment,” I replied.
“Anthony is young, untested,” Jon began. “He’s reckless. His father had forbidden him from taking out revenge on this girl years ago and he’s got it in his head that it’s something he needs to do now that he’s in charge.”
“You should know that she’s under my protection,” I said firmly, and his brown eyes glanced up at mine. He knew the significance of what I was saying. I didn’t need to tell him that if Anthony continued in his vie for vengeance, he would have to deal with the consequences.
“Is she?” he asked, and I nodded once.
“He needs to forget about her,” I answered, and he cleared his throat.
“Understood. I will do everything I can to direct his attention elsewhere,” he replied.
“I appreciate that.” I took another slow drink, enjoying the gentle burn as I watched the gravity of what I was saying play out all over his face.
“He’s not at all like his father. He just doesn’t listen to reason,” Jon mumbled. His weariness only seemed to increase now that he’d revealed his frustration.
“Our world doesn’t allow for stubbornness. He will either learn or he’ll face the same fate as his father far sooner than expected,” I answered.
Jon nodded, agreeing with me. Instead of responding right away, he took a long sip of whiskey and sat back with a heavy sigh.
“I don’t envy you,” I said, and he chuckled.
“I should have taken your job offer years ago,” he sighed.
“It’s still there, Jon. You just have to take it,” I chided, and his shoulders shook with laughter. I knew he wouldn’t, not with Anthony still living and breathing. Jon was one of the most loyal men I’d ever known. He would step in front of a bullet for the Montagna family. As much as I wanted him as my own consigliere or at least something of a second in command, he wouldn’t turn his back on them unless his hand was forced.
“You know, I tried to save her from him. I helped her to escape,” he admitted.
“She told me about that,” I nodded.
“I thought that maybe that would be enough, but he still wants her. The girl is innocent. She doesn’t deserve the vile things he wants to put her through,” Jon spat as he swirled his glass. The ice clinked noisily before he placed it back on the table. Contemplative, he stared at it and took it in his hand once more.
He downed the last of it.
“I promise you that I’ll try to steer him the other way. I just want you to be prepared in case he doesn’t listen to me,” he explained. I knew it was the best he could do with current circumstances. I couldn’t really ask for more than that.
“You’re a good man, Jon,” I answered.
He nodded, his smile tightening with restraint. He wasn’t looking forward to going back. I hoped that the next time I saw him it was for a drink, rather than killing the man he worked for.
