AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re saying he’s untouchable,” Brogan said.
“No, I’m saying I need proof. Real proof,” Falcone added before Aidan could interject. “There was a black Jeep on that footage of the hit and run, but there are thousands of black Jeeps in the city, and you can’t ID that one. Other than being out of line at the engagement party, we can’t find him on video doing a single fucking thing.”
“You think he’s innocent?” Evie wondered.
“No. If he’s not the one doing it directly, he’s the mastermind behind whoever is, but I can’t execute him without proof. I have too much on the line here. If we can find definitive proof, I’ll watch while you end him. With pleasure.” He turned to Aidan. “Until then, I have to think of the bigger picture.”
Evie sighed and shared a look with Declan before sliding her gaze to Aidan and finally turning to Falcone.
“I have to be honest. I don’t like sitting on this.” She held up her hand before Falcone could speak. “I understand what you’re saying, but that doesn’t mean I agree. He’s been careful so far. We have no reason to believe he’d suddenly get sloppy and trip up.”
She sat forward in her chair. “So we need a plan B. Something that allows us to do what’s necessary once things are stable. I’m not willing to put more members of this family at unnecessary risk. No matter how new. We’ve suffered enough loss.”
Falcone pinched the bridge of his nose. “There is one thing.”
“Go on,” Aidan said, voice dripping sarcasm when Falcone didn’t continue.
“DiMarco’s restaurants.”
“What about them?” Brogan asked, jaw tight.
“You did whatever you did to take legal possession of them, and I want them back.”
“For what?” Evie asked.
“Years ago, Giordano ran underground casinos and gambling rings. A few fighting rings, but mostly sports betting and cards. They were exceedingly profitable, but he let them die when DiMarco came to town. We all know what they replaced it with.”
“And you want to establish some more in the basements of DiMarco’s old restaurants.”
“And let the Bellos, and by proxy, the Milanos, run them, yes.”
“Money is usually a good motivator,” Evie agreed.
“That it is.”
“Why does this feel like a reward rather than a punishment?” Aidan snapped.
“It’s establishing loyalty. Unless you want your children to be dealing with this all over again in another fifty years, you have to give me time to rebuild.”
Declan tapped his fingers on the tabletop and swept a look at Evie, whose facial expression changed the barest hint of a degree. Whatever Declan saw there, though, he agreed with, and he turned back to Falcone with a nod.
“I can agree to give you the restaurants for the casinos on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Either I run the restaurants, or I keep a cut of all profits, upstairs and downstairs.”
Falcone’s brows knit together. “I can’t share profits with the Callahans. I’ll look like a lapdog.”
“Then I guess I get to run the restaurants.”
“I’ll still look like a lapdog, renting a room in a Callahan restaurant to do my business.”
“Give me more credit than that. We run them through a shell management company. We’ve got plenty. They can look like yours, but they’ll be mine. I’m rather partial to restaurants. That’s my only offer.”
The room was silent for a long moment before Falcone finally relented. “Fine.”
“Great.” Declan’s expression was blank, but his voice was all smiles. “We’ll sort everything out on our end and contact you with the details.”
