I stare at the gray-haired mafia boss in front of me. The most ruthless and unhinged man in Europe. Mr. Romano Capri. They say he once cut out someone’s tongue and made him swallow it for talking to him in the wrong tone.
He bites the cigar between his front teeth as he gestures to one of his men to procure a bottle. I cross my ankle over my knee and watch.
A younger version of Romano sits to his left, with slick black hair and dark aviators. Antonio is a carbon copy of his father.
“I’m glad you finally came to your senses,” Romano says in a deep Italian accent. “Whiskey?”
I put my hand up and shake my head. “No, thanks. I’m here for business only.”
“Suit yourself.” He continues to pour until the two glasses in front of him are brimming with the dark liquor.
Sitting back, he takes a slow sip before narrowing his eyes and pointing at me with the ember of his cigar. “You stole from me.”
“I was proving a point.” I shrug. “The Falcones are useless; they don’t control what comes in and out of New York. I do.”
Stroking his white beard, he casually crosses one leg over the other while taking a puff of his cigar. “You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that. I have information that is of the utmost importance for you, but what do you bring to the table in return?”
I flatten my palms on my knees. It takes everything in me not to curl them into fists.
“I can get your shipments into the port. I have the commissioner on board,” I lie, but I’ll do what it takes to get my family back together. To bring Maddie home to Grayson.
Antonio grunts next to him, and Romano shoots him a warning look.
“Tell me. How is your mom, Mrs. Gianna Russo? And your brother, Keller? He has a lovely family now with that beautiful little British girl, Sienna, isn’t it?” He smirks, flicking his ash on the oak desk.
Running my tongue across my teeth, I spark up a cigarette. It’s a struggle to keep my face as straight as I can, despite the rage burning through me right now.
“They stay out of this,” I spit out with venom.
“Only if you behave. One wrong move, and you’ll have a lot of funerals to plan for.”
Antonio snickers behind me, and I clench my jaw, gritting my teeth.
Assholes have a death wish.
“You expect me to let you use my organization after threatening my family? For what? Prove you know where Maddie is.” I stand and toss my cigarette on the floor, the embers floating up from the checkered tiles.
His chair creaks as he pours himself another drink. Every movement is slow, unhurried, predatory. The smoke that clings to the corners stagnates as he purses his lips. “You’d have to trust I know enough to locate her.”
A roar of frustration lodges in my throat. “Do you have her?”
He shakes his head. He’s a liar.
“Fuck you for wasting my time.” Turning on my heel, my stomach sinks, thinking of how few options I have left.
“Deals like this don’t come around twice,” Romano calls out after me, and I slam the door.
I’ll find another way. I have to.
