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“I know.” I gritted my teeth and tried to think straight.
“The woman who has caught the eye of the underboss of the biggest syndicate, Elio, is quite a bargaining chip if she should fall into the wrong hands.”
“I know!” I ran my hands through my hair and glared at him. “Why do you think she hasn’t been in my life for the past decade?” I growled and felt as if a rug was suddenly pulled out from under me.
We both knew what it meant to the vultures that circled our lives. If one of us actually fell in love with someone, that person would become a target because they would be our greatest weakness.
Why couldn’t she have stayed away? Lived a life free of this?
I wanted to kill someone with my bare hands. I jerked open my door and slid inside. “You and Niccola are coming with me. If what you say is true, someone could be heading her way now.” I slammed the door and peeled out of the hidden cover of the trees.
As I packed my bag, I got word the plane was ready to go whenever I was.
“Mama.” I raced inside the sitting room where she and my father were enjoying an afternoon drink.
“You look nice,” Mama began but stopped when she caught wind of my mood. “What’s wrong?”
“I have to go get Sienna.” I knew I sounded angry, but it wasn’t so much at Sienna as it was the entire situation.
“What happened?” My father slipped into business mode.
“I’ll explain later, but if anyone is looking for me, Vinni, or Niccola, tell them we’re out on the boat for the weekend. No one is to know we left Italy.”
“Elio.” Mama stood, and I could tell she was unhappy with my explanation.
“And,” I held up my hand, “when Mariano decides to return home, I want him tailed. I need to know who he talks to.”
“Son?” My father stood beside my mama, and I knew he needed to know something more.
“The bracelet, it was hers. She must have been the one who witnessed the murder. I think Mariano may have set her up to see the killing.” I cleared my throat as my father made the connection to the dockyard murder. “I’m heading to New York. She apparently flew there today for work.”
“Oh, no.” Mama covered her mouth and looked up at my father, who had grown pale. He placed his hand on Mama’s shoulder to quiet her.
“We will want to know everything when you both return.”
“Of course. When I know something, you will too.”
“You can save me a trip.”
“Pardon?” I tried to catch up.
“I was supposed to go to New York next week to complete the deal with Jacob Raine. He’s offering us the use of his docks, and we really need those new entry points.” I cringed. I hated that snake. “He’s better with you, anyway, so you will meet up with him, preferably tonight. I’ll arrange it.”
“And what about Sienna?” I was shocked he even suggested it.
“Vinni can locate her while you close the deal with Raine. Then you can talk to her. No one can know who she really is to you yet.” He held up a hand when I began to speak. “We really need this deal and those docks.” He closed his eyes for a moment and let out a long breath. “But, son, find her.”
“Papa,” I began to protest but hesitated when I looked at his closed face. I knew it was a huge deal, and we needed it in order to get more of our ships moving out of a second dockyard. Plus, he was offering us more protection, not that it wouldn’t come with a price. “Fine,” I cursed under my breath. “Text me the details.” I left, feeling more wound up than I did before.
The flight was far too long for my agitated mind, but I somehow managed a few moments of shuteye on the way. New York City never changed. It was just how I left it six months ago, busy, loud, and full of life. Not at all like my small slice of heaven on our hill in Italy. It was a place I loved to visit when I was younger, and it still provided a getaway when life became too heavy. Now, it annoyed me, especially today.
I stepped out of the protection of the Cadillac Escalade. Careful not to get my Bontoni shoes wet from the random puddles on the street, I shifted back into the bubble our bodyguards formed around my cousins and me. Normally, I wouldn’t arrive with such an obvious entourage, but I wasn’t sure exactly what Jacob Raine had in store. He wasn’t a man to be trusted.
I unlocked my phone to check the message I had received from my father.
Papa: 37 West 26thStreet – 7 p.m. EST
Elio: I’ll be there.
