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I stared back and hoped he knew that it wasn’t a secret I would ever tell him. It had kept me alive for the past six years. I didn’t trust Dario. I didn’t especially like him, and even though my body on a pure biological level might disagree, it wasn’t worth the risk. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Dario dropped my hand and leaned back. “Very well. In six hours, I hope you enjoy hearing every word that comes from your loving father’s lips.”
5
Dario
Ienjoyed the look of fury on Alessandro’s face, but he would really need to learn to hide his emotions. As my husband, his reactions would be studied by everyone and used against me. The rest of the drive was finished in a near-frigid silence, which I couldn’t care less about. It gave me time to plan. I wanted the oath ceremony immediately following the vows. All thecaposwould be there, and Gianni and I had long-since decided who would be put in charge of what. The immediate issue would be who would provide security for Alessandro. I had picked a female for Sofia but that wouldn’t work.
I gazed into the rearview mirror and studied what I could see of Lucio’s face. “Who do you trust?” I didn’t bother speaking in Italian, fully aware Alessandro would be able to understand it. I felt rather than saw him stiffen but kept my eyes on Lucio’s back. He glanced up and met my gaze. I knew he realized what I was asking. We had acceptable security arranged for Sofia, aided by her father’s team, but that obviously wouldn’t do for Alessandro. My worry was that Rocco would decide Alessandro was worththe risk of a hit. If he wasn’t an option for me anymore, I would be forced to marry Sofia rather than give up the territory to Gianni. The underboss was a weak argument. In fact, after he had gotten over the shock, I would place my entire fortune on that fact.
“We have two problems,” Lucio said. “That Rocco will think that if he removes the threat of Alessandro, you will go back to Sofia, and that the Irlandese are willing to risk the threat of the Russians to make that happen.” He paused. “Alvize.”
I frowned. “Alvize is a drunk and an old man.” I knew he was Lucio’s mentor, but I needed someone capable...and sober.
“He just needs a reason to stay sober,” Lucio added. “And even drunk, he still comes close to being able to beat me in hand to hand.” Lucio flicked me a gaze. “I don’t trust anyone else except me or Alvize to keep him alive.”
“He won’t risk my death,” Alessandro said. The hesitation clear in his voice.
I glanced over at him, my face blank, my demand for an explanation clear. He sighed. “I have no idea if you will keep your promise with my mom.”
My gaze never wavered.
“You know I have written proof I am his son.”
I shrugged. “What of it?” Because that in itself, while it might be inconvenient for Rocco, wasn’t exactly damning. And it certainly wouldn’t prevent afamiglia-arranged marriage. That’s why I had pretended my pride would prevent it. He returned his gaze to the window and didn’t reply. “We both know you have something else on your father.”
“He isn’t my father,” Alessandro spat out. “It takes more than being a sperm donor to earn that title.”
Gesù, but I loved his fire. I could feel my cock swell as I imagined him unleashing all that in our bed, and I wanted to make him burn with it in return.
“Then tell me what it is,cuore mio.” He pressed his lips together. It was clear I had to bring out the big guns. “Then give me a reason not to kill your mamma.”
His pale skin went even whiter, if that was possible. “You wouldn’t.”
I sighed. “Do you want to live? Do you want your mamma taken care of?” He whipped his head back around to the window, but I wasn’t going to let this one go. “Alessandro.” It was a command, but so there was no misunderstanding, I reached over and none-too-gently cupped his chin, so he had no choice but to look at me.
“You are not stupid,tesoro mio. You know as well as I do there is much that can go wrong before everything is settled.”
“There’s as much you aren’t telling me.”
I glanced at the eyes boring a hole in me through the rearview mirror, then back to Alessandro. “I told you Rocco plans to kill me. He won’t succeed, but if there is to be a war, I want it at a time of my own choosing. I also told you that at this second the only thing keeping both you and your mamma alive is me. You’re the one who has withheld information.”
“Not just,” he said reluctantly. “He’s stolen from you.” The bare sentence after a moment’s silence was telling.
That did surprise me. Not that Rocco stole, which was a fact, but that Alessandro knew. I didn’t react. The chances of Alessandro having access to any financial secrets was zero. “How so?”
He looked at me. “He has an offshore ship. Gambling, prostitution, worse.” The last word was quiet, muttered.
My head shot up so fast it was a wonder I didn’t get whiplash. “That’s—" But I bit off the word impossible, my brain going in a million directions. It should be impossible. Each family policed the other…or did they? What if two were working together? Could the Irish and the Italians get it past the Bratva?
“Tell me what you know,” I commanded, but what I wanted to really know washow? How was it possible that the son of a cook had knowledge of such information?
“He has a boat called theLa Caterina,” he murmured. “La Caterinawas mentioned in my mom’s diary. He promised her he would take her sailing one day.” Alessandro shrugged, but I could see he was struggling. I hardened my heart. “It’s not hard to find if you know where to look. He’s...he likes thinking he’s in control, and he knows I cannot tell anyone.” I stared at him. How was he even alive? Didn’t he realize just how precarious his situation was? The second my ring was on Sofia’s finger, he would have been as good as dead.
“Offshore gambling is both problematic and uneconomical,” I said. I should know. In a state that allowed gambling, it was ridiculous to promote such a thing. And I definitely wouldn’t allow it. Although, technically—I supposed—it was a gray area. Even though the casinos and the associated gambling were mine, the port was jointly controlled.
Rocco’s betrayal wasn’t a gray area, however. Every dollar he took on those ships was another stolen one.
