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“Since you brought it up. I will ask. Did you?”
He moved closer until we were only inches apart. “We’ve never been very close, Alessandro, at least not since we were much younger. That’s no secret to anyone, but blood is thicker than water.”
“But money and power are significant lures.”
His laugh was bitter. “We’re both wealthy men, powerful in our own right. What good would it serve me to divide our family when the Russians continue to make their presence known, the Irish acting as if it’s their God-given right to own New York? Is that why you asked me here? Or were you planning on using your men to interrogate me, hoping for a confession?”
While his questions irked the shit out of me, I believed him. “My men managed to locate Tristen’s business partner.”
He seemed confused. “What does that matter now? He had nothing to do with our organization.”
“So we were led to believe.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“That Tristen gathered intel that could damage our reputation, destroying our hold.”
“You just came to that conclusion?”
“No, brother,” I huffed. “As I told both you and our father years ago, I didn’t buy the bullshit that Tristen was dead.”
“Then why hasn’t he used the information up to this point?”
I took another deep breath, holding it for several seconds. “That’s what I’m attempting to uncover.”
He laughed again as he shoved his sunglasses into his suit jacket. “WITSEC, huh? You really believe that crap?”
“It’s plausible.”
“If that’s the case, finding him will be like finding a needle in a haystack. You know that as well as I do.”
“Not if I have something that belongs to him.”
Cruz narrowed his eyes, searching mine. “Tristen had material things, but nothing that would matter to either one of us.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” I made the decision to trust him, although I wouldn’t lay all my cards down. While blood was thicker than water, it could easily be diluted.
“You have my full attention.”
“Tristen was engaged.”
Snorting, he cocked his head. Then his eyes opened wide. “You have her in your possession. Don’t you?”
“We’re going to be married.”
He didn’t react for a full ten seconds. Then he burst into laughter. “I have to give you credit. A brilliant plan, unless of course Tristen was killed in that crash. What then? What do you do with her? I’ve never known you to give a shit about having a family.”
My brother must have seen a slight twitch or perhaps noticed a change in my breathing.
“Wait a fucking minute. You like this girl. Shit.”
His exclamation pulled at two emotions, the dichotomy surprising me. Anger and angst. They didn’t play well together. “She’s a possession and nothing more.”
“But you have fun playing with her. For once I can say I admire your style.”
“Yes, well, we shall see. From here on out, it will necessary that you and I work together if what I believe is the truth. The Feds will be crawling all over the possibility if they get wind of the woman’s identity.”
He acted as if he was going to say no. We locked eyes for a full minute until he gave me a single nod. “Understood. When is the wedding taking place?”
