Page 9 of His Fatal Love

“We cannot afford for mistakes like this to happen,” he says. “Too many men lost. Too much attention from the Feds. I hear even the Bernardi Lion was almost caught by a SWAT team.”

I turn from the window view. “Almost?”

Jack gives a crooked smile. “Guess they shoulda sent more men into the arena,” he says. “That Lion probably ate ’em all up.” His casual response breaks the ice of Sandro’s tone, and even provokes a few smiles. “Look, no one could’ve known those assholes at the dock were ready and waiting,” he goes on, pulling Sandro’s attention from Rizzo. “And we managed to think on our feet.”

I don’t know why Jack bothers to cover for Rizzo. Rizzo would sellhimout in a second. Sandro’s scowl suggests he knows as much, but he seems to take Jack’s plea for clemency on board.

Rizzo won’t thank Jack for it, I know that much. I see it in the hate-filled glare he gives Jack.

“From now on,” Sandro snaps, “all operations must be run with precision andtotalsecrecy. Need-to-know only, and no more than two peopleshouldneed to know at any one time. Not until you move out. You understand me, Rizzo?”

“Yes, Boss,” Rizzo barks.

Sandro looks around again, and once again his gaze lingers on me. I hold it. “Julian. I gave you permission to look into your mother’s death. But some of the men claim you’re hounding them.”

“Yes. I believe they know things they haven’t said. But they’re keeping those lips very tight.”

Sandro casts a look around the room. “Julian has my permission to speak to any man in any crew. Tell them to be honest. Tell them they will not be harmed.” He gives me a dark look after saying that. “And that goes for every man in this room, as well.”

“But Don Castellani—“ Lombardo begins, but he stops when he sees me smiling at him.

“Gene,” I say. “Congenial Gene. I’ve been chasing you forweeks. Tell your secretary to arrange a meeting, will you?”

“Do as he says,” Sandro says wearily. “We have too many other things to worry about.”

Sandro doesn’t believe my mother was murdered, despite allowing my vendetta. But then, he doesn’t know what I know.

“Get out of here,” he says to the room at large. “Get it done.” I rise to leave as well, and he points at me. “Not you. Or you, Jack.”

The others drift away, but I stay where I am, watching Sandro carefully. I’m proud to be part of the Castellani Family, but I know what happens to those who displease the Don. I’m not keen on repeating the experience. Jack, too, looks troubled.

“You’ve been out of contact for seven days,” Sandro says to me.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I repeat the same story I told Jack. “Whoever it is, they’ve only become attached to me recently,” I go on, when Sandro says nothing. He stays silent again, so I add, “If you’re angry, I wish you’d just tell me. I really prefernotbeing in the cells.”

“I’m not angry,” Sandro says, and he’s not Don Castellani anymore. He’s just my older half-brother, and Jack’s quasi-friend. “I’m concerned. We have all this bullshit going on with the Bernardis…” He thinks for a moment. “If they’re tailing you, you have my permission to take them out. But if it’s anyone else, I want you to report back to me. Understood?”

“Understood.” One thing I appreciate about Sandro is his practicality. But he’s not done yet.

“And you do not go AWOL, Julian. Do it again, and I will be forced to institute some boundaries you won’t like.”

I smile sweetly. “Also understood.”

“I also wanted to...” He sighs, and glances at Jack, too.

“What is it?” Jack asks. “Spit it out.”

Sandro gives a stilted shrug. “It’s Teddy. He wants another dinner. With you and Miller—“ He nods at Jack. “—but also with...”

I put a hand on my heart and gasp in delight. “Me?Why, I do declare, Sandro, that Teddy of yours is just adarling.”

“Knock it off,” Jack growls. “And no. Hell, no. I don’t want Miller anywhere near Julian.”

“Oh, come on now, Jack,” I laugh. “Don’t be such a spoilsport.” I look back at Sandro. “I’dbe delighted.”

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