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“In the meantime, you and Abby go about your business. Jason isn’t going to make a move yet, not when he’s under the microscope, although that won’t last forever.” Nico set the glass down and walked to the coffee table, then picked up a folder from its glass surface. “With that in mind, I’d like to make asuggestion.”
“What kind ofsuggestion?”
Nico held out the folder and Max flipped it open. A stat sheet with a picture of Carlos Rodriguez stared up at him. When he looked through the pages behind it, he found more information about Carlos — bank records, known associates, a surprisingly short rapsheet.
“What’s this?” Max asked, looking atNico.
“A dossier on Rodriguez. It seems the two of you get along ratherwell.”
Max shrugged. “I guess. But he was vetted during thetransition.”
“You’ll need more information if you’re going to consider him as yourunderboss.”
Max laughed a little. “I thought we agreed I didn’t need anunderboss.”
“No,” Nico said. “You said you didn’t need one because you weren’t planning to join the organization. Now that you have, it’s imperative that you have someone at your side that you cantrust.”
“I have Abby,” Max said, shutting the folder. “And I trustyou.”
Nico nodded. “I appreciate your faith in me, but I’m not here most of the time, and I’ll be here even less once we’ve dealt with Draper. Abby is your woman. I understand that, understand how that brand of trust transcends even the trust amongbrothers.”
Max could see in Nico’s eyes that he did. He thought of Angel Vitale, her calm presence, the way she seemed to anticipate every one of Nico’s movements, the fire in her eyes when she felt someone was pushing Nico too fast after theshooting.
“But since I trust you don’t want to bring Abby into battle with you, it’s important that you find someone who can occupy that position.” Nico leveled his gaze at Max. “Because you will be going into battle. In our business, that eventuality isinevitable.”
“I don’t like it,” Maxsaid.
He hadn’t worked closely with anyone since his return from Afghanistan, and even there, it had been a challenge. Not because he didn’t respect the men in his unit, but because the betrayal of Jason Draper — his oldest and closest friend — had killed every trusting inclination hehad.
Nico smiled. “Iknow.”
“Is it anorder?”
“We can call it that, if it makes you feel better,” Nicosaid.
“Itdoesn’t.”
“Would you prefer to choose someone else? Perhaps you have someone inmind.”
“I don’t.” He didn’t have any friends. He didn’t have anyone besides Abby and the people of the Syndicate who had become his businesspartners.
It wasn’t a point of embarrassment. It was a point ofpride.
“As you know, Luca was my underboss,” Nico said. “He had my back when no one else did. Equally important, he had Angel’s back. He was the one person I trusted to protect her as much as I trusted myself, and that is no small thing given the danger inherent in our line ofwork.”
Max tried to imagine trusting someone else with Abby’ssafety.
Hecouldn’t.
She was the crown jewel of his life: priceless,irreplaceable.
But Nico was right. Joining the Syndicate meant being part of a brotherhood. Max was still getting used to that part, but the last few months had left no doubt about the danger that was an equal part ofit.
He wasn’t fooled into believing it would have been different if he hadn’t joined the Syndicate — he would have been looking over his shoulder as long as Jason was alive — but being part of the Syndicate meant that no matter what happened with Jason, Max would be exposed todanger.
And so wouldAbby.
Nico was right. What if something happened to Max? Who could he count on to protect Abby? Nico, surely. And undoubtedly the rest of the Syndicate leadership would do what theycould.
