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“A floor plan,” Gia said immediately. "It's set in huge grounds. We can't just walk up to the front door."
Marcello was silent for way too long. “The only one I can see is from the original purchase.”
I looked at Gia. I knew why he wanted to know. Gia was clever. I was just point and shoot. The trouble was, everyone had guns and we couldn’t get in there secretly. Gabriel would likely kill Alessandro before we'd even made it through the door.
Marcello huffed. “The only other thing I have is a receipt for a waterproofing expert.”
Which caught my attention. “For the roof?”
“What’s the name of the company,” Gia said.
“Eric Totes and Sons.”
Gia’s fingers flew over the keyboard, then he looked up at me. “They’re a foundation services company.”
Foundation. Not as in roofs, as in basements.
“Dario!” I heard Gia loud and clear. Then I heard him swear and something icy cold clawed at my heart. “I’m sorry,fratello,” Gia said. “But his tracker was just disconnected.”
“Disconnected?” I echoed, remembering where I’d hidden it. Or destroyed? And if they’d found it, what exactly was happening to Alessandro that they’d found it in his hair?
Alessandro
I didn’t go back to my “cell.” As soon as the car slid up to the same back entrance at the courthouse, I was blindfolded and shoved into a back seat. But I wasn’t as terrified as I’d been on the way here. Dario knew. He knew about my brother, which meant he was going to find him. The car stopped eventually, andI stumbled as I was practically dragged out and up some steps. Then the blindfold was pulled off and I gaped.
I stared in shock at the entranceway I stood in. It was huge, complete with a sweeping staircase that led upstairs, tall windows dressed with old-fashioned velvet drapes. A statue of some DaVinci-type replica stood in the corner next to a large Grandfather clock and there were flowers everywhere.
I liked the flowers.
The guard pulled me forward toward the open door on my left and we stepped into a study. I didn’t bother looking at my surroundings this time though, as all my attention was taken over by the man sitting behind the desk, cigar and tumbler in hand. It was the man from the boat. I assumed he was my brother’s uncle, and Gabriel Amato.
It didn’t take a huge leap of imagination to work out he was in the same line of business as Dario.
“Where’s my brother?”
He blew out a plume of smoke. “You tell me.”
I stared. What did that mean? Surely Dario hadn’t been able to get him already? “I did what you said, everything. You told me you could keep Tomasso safe if I signed.”
“I did.” He agreed and stood abruptly, drained his glass, and dropped his cigar in an ashtray. I couldn't look away, resisting the urge to step back as he got nearer. Not that the guard wasn’t still holding me still.
"Then tell me what my mother was doing working as a cook."
I thought his jaw was going to crack. "My father had many enemies. From what I understand, instead of being shot when my family was killed, she was kidnapped for ransom. Except, the woman who was trusted with her thought to bargain a higher price with my family. She was travelling to the handover and was involved in a four-car interstate crash. Because my family could never involve the authorities, and the woman was travellingunder a false name, your mother was placed with an Italian foster family as that was the only language she seemed to know. The foster parents eventually adopted her and moved to New Jersey for work. I think it was a coincidence she applied and got a job for your father after they died."
He'd said all that completely matter-of-factly but for some reason I knew it was fiction. “You’re lying.”
He laughed and blew a plume of smoke in the air. “You may have some good instincts after all. A shame.”
I knew what he meant. That I was going to die anyway. “You have nothing to lose by telling me.”
He eyed me, then shrugged. “It was the only way I could ensure succession. Except some bastards took Arabella, or Caterina as you know her by. I didn’t even know she lived until Elisabetta contacted me.”
“And why do you need Tomasso?” Although I knew.
“Because Marcello is weak.” He shrugged again. “Tomasso is young enough to be molded to my purposes.”
I was going to be sick.
