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Francesco Gianni, Giuseppe Tadesco, Bryan McKenzie, Sergio Ramos, Sean Murphy, and my father. Six ruthless men, all heads of criminal organizations, came together to take him out.
Five months ago, the killings began. The men involved in Stephen’s murder became targets, as did anyone who dared to replace them. All were found with 2009 pennies over their eyes, a clue as to why it was happening and who was responsible.
“If Stephen Black is dead, who’s killing Dons?” Esposito asked then.
“His son,” Gunn Sinclair, Luca’s right-hand man, replied. “Gideon Black.”
So we have a new Ferryman. A new threat. As if I didn’t have to worry enough about my father accidentally killing himself, now I have to worry about an outside actor too.
Sinacore called for an alliance, appointing his wife and himself as leaders. I politely declined their government. I don’t play well under someone else’s authority. Besides, most of the men on that list are dead, and the Maxtons wield enough power to protect ourselves.
But something niggled at the back of my mind after the last meeting at Briar House. I’m not sure if it was Carina Sinacore’s determination for revenge after her sister was killed by Gideon’s assassin or the tale of the attack on Noah Esposito’s loft in New Jersey, where Gideon had been set up in the building for months right under Noah’s nose, that sent a chill of foreboding down my spine.
However, it wasn’t until the first letter arrived at my office at the Maxton corporate office that I acted.
Turn him in, and I might spare you.
Best regards,
G. Black
I moved my father myself, taking him to a more secure location, but kept his room in Bella Vista as a ruse.
“Join the Sinacore Alliance.”
The sound of the feminine voice has me lifting my gaze from the photograph to the beautiful woman sitting across from me. “As you can see, I was able to protect my father from harm.”
“And asyoucan see”—Carina Sinacore sets down a piece of paper with an address on it—“we were able to get information on him that you thought was secret. I didn’t only get that photograph from the police, but I also know where you moved him.”
I narrow my gaze on her. “How?”
“It was easy. All I had to do was research your family. He’s at Sugar Point. The house you donated in Catherine’s honor. Only, the man you gave it to died last year and he had no one. So it stood to reason that it would come back to you.”
For a long while, I say nothing. It’s hard to speak when you’re clenching your jaw so tightly that it’s difficult to pry open. It takes a lot to force the tension from my mouth and smile. “You need to work for me. I could use someone like you to sniff out my enemies.”
“I’d rather work with you on getting rid of the one.” She lifts her index finger.
“I don’t like working for anyone. You’re better off without me.”
Carina returns my smile, but hers has a hint of disappointment. Her soft-brown eyes skim over my face, as if she’s searching for a way in. Like I’m a puzzle she can solve, and when she does, I’ll give in and join their fight.
“It’s your fight too,” she says as if she can read my thoughts. “We can help each other.”
“How do you propose helping me?” I question curiously. “I can see how adding my technology will help get revenge for your sister. But what doyouhave to offerme?”
She flinches at the mention of Alma, her twin. “It’s not just about the people who are dead. It’s about the ones still living. If you join our alliance, we could find Clive a place that’s safer. Somewhere even you haven’t considered. Because Gideon is as smart as I am, maybe even more so. He will figure out where you put him.”
“You couldn’t keep Luca’s sister safe,” I remind her. “What makes you think you can do any better for my father?”
I was informed of Sofia’s disappearance a week ago. Luca tried to send her to California, far from all of this. But Gideon got to her first, leaving two pennies on the counter of the bathroom she was last seen in, just like he did with my father. Which tells me she’s alive. But for how long?
Sighing, Carina picks up her purse from where she set it on my desk. “Luca said you still wouldn’t be ready.”
“Then why come?”
She shrugs and stands, smoothing down the fabric of her white button-up shirt. “I hoped he was wrong.”
“He wasn’t.” I stand too, a behavior engraved so heavily into my skull as a child, I do it automatically.Stand for a lady.
