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My father’s office door was cracked open, and I could hear him on the phone. I couldn’t exactly make out what he was saying, but I could hear the edge of anger in his voice. I knocked lightly on the doorjamb. “Come in,” he called, his voice rough and raspy.
When I walked in, he was sitting at his desk, leaning back in the chair and rubbing a hand over his face. “What happened?” I asked softly, sitting the plate down in front of him.
He barely looked at it. “Someone knocked over the Fifth Street laundromat,” he sighed.
My eyes widened. “Again?”
“Fourth time this quarter,” he grumbled. “I know it’s someone close, but they don’t leave any evidence. This time they shattered all the glass and busted up all the machines to get the change out.”
“They didn’t find the safe, did they?”
He shook his head. “If they did, they couldn’t crack it. Everything’s accounted for.”
“Shit,” I cursed, and Papa looked at me. “Sorry,” I apologized, smiling sheepishly. Papa didn’t like it when I cursed. Said it was unbecoming.
“Tonight, keep your ears out, yeah? I want to know who did this, and I want to knownow,” he said fiercely.
“Papa, you shouldn’t worry so much,” I scolded. “Are you taking your blood pressure medications?”
He groaned. “They make me so tired,” he complained.
“Too bad,” I said firmly. “You need to stay healthy for me and Matteo.”
At the mention of my son’s name, his face softened. “You’re right,” he said gently.
I thought about asking him about Matteo’s visit to the office, but I didn’t want to stress him out anymore. His face looked red, and I could tell from his demeanor that his blood pressure was up. “You need to relax, Papa,” I said, pausing for a long moment. “Why don’t you let me do the meet tonight alone?”
“Absolutely not,” he said with a frown. “You’re not ready.”
“I’m ready!” I insisted. “Besides, you know I’m better at finding out things than you are.”
He looked at me for a long moment. “Maybe. But that’s because they don’t suspect you. If you start doing real business for me, they’ll know you’re going to take over and they’ll target you.”
“There’s plenty of time before I take over,” I said, pouting.
Papa smiled, shaking his head. “You look so much like your mother when you pout at me like that.”
I grinned. “I know. That’s why you always give me what I want.”
He groaned, laughing at the same time. “All right,carissima. You go tonight. I’ll have Alberto escort you.”
I wrinkled my nose. Alberto was a great guy, a member of the family just like the rest of Papa’s men and staff, but he watched me like a hawk, and he wasn’t exactly the best conversationalist. Especially since he’d been shot in the throat and nearly lost his voice.
“Either you go with Alberto or I go with you,” Papa warned, and I sighed.
“All right,” I acquiesced. “I’ll go with Alberto. Any tips you want to give me?”
My father looked off into space, thinking. “Look out for Ricardo Gallo. I trust his father, but Ricardo…”
I scoffed in disgust. “Ricardo’s nothing like Enzo,” I said, and my father nodded. I swallowed hard, wondering if sticking close to the Gallos meant I’d have to speak to Rocco. He’d always been Enzo’s right hand, so I knew he’d be there.
Seeing the look on my face, my father leaned forward across the desk. “Are you sure you’re up for this, Allegra?”
I gave him a bright smile. “I’m up for anything, Papa.” But was I? Was I up for seeing Rocco Moretti for the first time in nearly a decade? I didn’t know, but I was about to find out.
2
ROCCO
