“Tell us who were these fucks who took you, and what the hell did they want?” Lorenzo asks, his face set in a grimace as he stares at me from across the desk.
His and Dante’s eyes bore into mine while they wait for answers. I sit on the opposite side of their desk, but it’s no longer because we’re not on the same side. And I’m reminded even more of this fact when Joey reaches for my hand and curls her slender fingers around mine.
I tell them everything I know about Kristin and Uncle Vito. About my planned trip to New Jersey and the tape recording that my uncle supposedly has and Monty’s suspicion that the video has something to do with their father. Finally, I describe the woman with the stroller and tell them to check the security feeds outside my building so we can ID her.
“I suspect the Russian goons you killed were the ones who actually took me off the street after she stuck me with something, but we should check it out.”
“And those three guys you saw, you recognize them at all?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Did either of you?”
“No,” Dante says with a frown.
“What did they want from you?” Lorenzo asks.
“They were working for someone. They made it clear their boss wanted to speak to me. But I didn’t see their boss, and I don’t know where he was because he didn’t show his face the entire time I was there—which was how long exactly?”
“About thirty-six hours as far as we can tell,” Dante replies.
Lorenzo leans forward. “Did they say why their boss wanted to speak to you?”
“Not really. But when I heard their accents, I assumed it had something to do with the takeover. But then they started talking about how I’d taken what was his and touched his girl, and it all started to make sense.”
“You touched his girl?” Joey says, her brow furrowed in a frown.
“The father of Kristin’s baby is Russian Bratva, at least I think he is from what she told me. I’ve been looking into him too, but he was less of a priority than Vito. Maybe he’s the key to it all though? Maybe that’s why Vito is missing? Revenge for taking his daughter away?”
“But did anyone even know that Kristin was with you in Chicago?” Joey asks. “I mean, we didn’t.”
I squeeze her hand at the reminder of her pain over the whole Kristin situation. “I guess if someone was looking for her … they could have seen her going into my apartment building. She went to the deli down the road a few times.” I chuckle. “Apparently they make cheesesteaks as good as any you’ll find in Philly.”
“You think this is all to do with your sister? They think you and she were—” Lorenzo doesn’t finish the question, but he doesn’t need to.
“Well, nobody knew I had a sister except for her and Vito. She only found out herself two months ago, so she couldn’t have told Jakob.”
“Jakob?” Dante asks.
“He’s the baby daddy, right?” Joey says.
“Yeah.”
“Hmm.” Dante runs a hand over his beard, a scowl on his face.
“Your uncle Vito though? He’s your sister’s dad? What’s that about? I don’t even remember you having an uncle,” Joey says.
Lorenzo arches an eyebrow at me, because none of us like my uncle Vito, and I don’t like to even think, never mind talk, about the reason why. But I don’t want any secrets from Joey. Not anymore.
“He and my mom had an affair. It all came out when I was twelve, but apparently it had been going on for a while before.”
Joey puts her hand over her mouth. “Oh, Max. That’s awful.”
That’s not even the worst of it. “Yeah. When my pop found out, he wanted to kill Vito. He was his kid brother, they were supposed to look out for each other, but he’d been fucking his wife behind his back for years. My pop had the gun to Vito’s head, but he couldn’t go through with it. Vito always kind of lived in his shadow. My dad was Sal’s best friend and his right hand, and Vito could never quite make it into the inner circle, which made him resent my father. Anyway, my mom left after that. She and Vito made a new life in Jersey.”
“Did she try to take you with her?”
“No. Didn’t even ask my opinion. Just told me to be a good boy and slipped out the door while I was eating my Lucky Charms.”
“Oh, god, Max.”
“I wouldn’t have gone anyway.” Is that the truth, though? She was my mom, and up until then, she was a good one. But it was a long time ago. I buried those feelings so deep, they’ll never resurface.
“But to just leave you like that,” she goes on. “That must have been hard.”
“It was harder on my pop. He was never the same after she left. He lost his wife and his brother at the same time. He started drinking more. He was always distracted. He lost his edge, and a few years later he was killed.” I run my tongue over my teeth and look away, unable to handle the concern and pity in Joey’s eyes.
“You know he was murdered while he was on a routine money collection for our father?” Lorenzo takes over the story.
Joey nods.
“It was just some punk with a knife, but my dad didn’t see it coming,” I add.
“Even though Vito was long gone by then, our father blamed him for the murder.” Lorenzo shakes his head. “And he made sure that he was never able to return to Chicago, even if he wanted to.”
“And Max came to live with us?”
“Yeah,” Dante agrees.
She lets out a low whistle. “Well, I can see why he’s nobody’s favorite person. And your mom and Vito never told you about Kristin? Or her about you? That’s so fucked up.”
“Yeah, but it’s all done with now,” I say, desperate to change the subject.
Lorenzo and Dante give me a knowing look, and when Joey goes to ask another question about my fucked-up family dynamics, Dante frowns at her, and she sits back in her chair and stays quiet.
“Finding this Jakob guy is the key to finding out who took you then?” Lorenzo asks me.
“And to finding Uncle Vito,” I add.
“So the threat right now seems to be to Kristin, not to us?” Dante adds.
I shrug. “It would seem so.”
“Max is one of us,” Joey snaps.
Dante sighs. “I know, kid.” Risk assessment and maintaining the safety of his family is a big part of what he does and the way he works. I know he didn’t mean anything by it, but she doesn’t. “If he was taken because of his suspected relationship with Kristin, it means it isn’t a direct threat to this family. But it doesn’t mean we won’t kill every single fucker involved.”
“Oh, okay.” Appeased, she relaxes in her chair.
“Because of my suspicion that Jakob was Russian Bratva, I had Dmitri do a little digging for me.” I dig my phone out of my pocket and start tapping out a text. “I’ll see if he’s come up with anything yet.”
Dante checks his watch. “He should be here shortly anyway. I thought it was best to get him in on this, considering the whole Russian connection, but if you’d prefer to keep him out of it given what we know now …”
“Nah, let’s see what he has to say.” I trust Dmitri, and I have no qualms about him learning my family history.
Lorenzo leans forward. “Until this situation is dealt with, I think you and Kristin should stay here at the mansion. This place is a fortress and you’re both safer here.”
“My penthouse is a fortress too.”
“A fortress you got kidnapped outside of, Max.” It’s annoying as fuck, but Dante has a point. “You’re too isolated there. At least here we have guards. Armored cars.”
“You’re being defensive because you’re feeling vulnerable. But you’re family, and we look after family.”
“Don’t fucking psychoanalyze me, Loz,” I bark. Talking about my parents always puts me on edge, but just because he’s right doesn’t mean I have to like it.
“Well, our sister will remain here while there’s an active threat against you,” he says pointedly.
“Please stay here, Max. I feel safer if we’re all together,” Joey pleads.
Well, how the fuck do I refuse that? Besides, it’s the truth. We are safer here with the Moretti army at our disposal.
“Of course we’ll stay, baby. I’m sorry, I’m just on edge, is all.”
She lifts my hand to her mouth and brushes her lips across my knuckles. “I can help you unwind if you’d like,” she whispers.
“Guiseppina!” Lorenzo snaps.
“I meant we could watch a movie, Lorenzo.” She wrinkles her perfect nose in disgust. “It’s not my fault your mind is permanently in the gutter.”
“Oh, sorry,” he mumbles, glancing from me to her with a look of confusion on his face.
Dante fights a grin because, like me, he knows exactly what my devious little vixen was talking about.
“I have the perfect shade for you. Cherry Bomb,” Joey says excitedly as she rummages through the box containing her vast nail polish collection.
“Sounds fun.” Kristin wears a genuine smile, looking happier than I think I’ve ever seen her as she puts her bare feet up on the sofa. “It’s a pain in the ass not being able to reach my toes like I used to.”
“Well, we could both use a good distraction and an afternoon of pampering, right? I have some face masks in the fridge, and Sophia is baking some of her amazing macadamia and white chocolate cookies. Anya is going to join us as soon as she wakes up from her nap. It’s going to be the perfect relaxing girly afternoon.”
“Thank you so much, Joey. Ugh! I have to pee real quick. I’ll be right back.” Kristin scurries out of the room, leaving me and Joey alone.
“Thank you for doing this for her.” Cupping her chin, I tilt her head up so I can lean down and give her a soft kiss.
“Well, we really do need a distraction around here, especially while we’re confined to the house.”
“I haven’t seen her smile like that since I met her.”
She shrugs. “Well, what can I say? I’m a ray of freaking sunshine.”
“You’re the whole fucking sun, baby girl.” I kiss her again. “I’m gonna go talk to Dmitri and your brothers. I know you’d rather be in there than in here, so thank you again. I appreciate you taking such good care of my little sister.”
She smiles sweetly. “Well, I’m sure you’ll make it up to me.”
Damn right I will.
“I need to get some of my stuff, so I’m going to go over to the penthouse after our meeting.” Worry creases her forehead into a frown. “I’ll be back way before dinner, and I’ll be careful. Lorenzo’s coming with me. We’re going to check out the security feeds, see if there’s anything useful on there. Plus, Dante suggested we invite Dmitri and his family for dinner tonight, so I need to grab Kristin’s things for her. She has no clothes here, and I want her to feel comfortable.” Frowning, I pause. “Actually, she doesn’t have much at my place either. You think you can help her order some stuff online?”
“Can I online shop? Do you know me at all, Max DiMarco?”
I grin at her. I love this woman so fucking much. “Thank you.”
“And Kat has some nice maternity stuff she kept hold of. I’m sure we can find her something nice for tonight if she needs it.”
“I love you, Joey.”
“Well, I’ll never tire of hearing that.”
