“You never really make friends in this business, Dom. It’s too dangerous. Carmine is a powerful man, but just like me, he’s getting older. He’ll be prepared to turn over his regime to Lorenzo soon enough.”
“Sounds like he’s pushing to do so.”
“Maybe.”
Prepared sounded like an actual plan. Swirling the drink in my glass, I thought about what he was saying. Maybe I was trying too hard to read between the lines, but I had a bad feeling about this conversation and the ramifications around everything he was saying. My father was leaving me breadcrumbs. Every trust needed to be questioned. “If he’s trying to sell us out, he’s going to have to come through me.”
“Not necessary and I want you to be careful. Stay away from the streets. You have a full life ahead of you. Who knows, maybe children one day.” His grin was more mischievous than I was used to. “I know you mentioned that you were working with Lorenzo. I also know about this club you’re in, son. What do you call it? The Sons of Darkness?” He laughed, suddenly breaking into a coughing fit.
“How did you know?” I gave him a wry smile. The old coot.
He yanked a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping his mouth. “I know everything, son. While I’m not entirely certain it’s a good idea and not something that us old lions would have ever considered, maybe it’s time for the new blood to take over. New power. Eh?”
“You’re not trying to tell me that you’re giving up control?”
“I’m not retiring yet.” He rose to his feet. “You know, when your older brother didn’t want anything to do with the business, I was pissed, but I’m glad you’re the one by my side. You were made for this work and you’re well respected.”
“You don’t think I’m getting too soft?” I asked in a teasing manner. My father gave rare compliments and this one touched me more than I was willing to let on.
“The love of a beautiful and vivacious woman is better than anything you can have in your life, son. Money. Cars. They mean nothing without a special lady.”
“I can’t love her, Pops. She’s far too innocent and pure.”
“Remember that none of us are truly innocent, Dom. Not a single one of us.”
My father and I usually didn’t have heart to heart talks. We’d never been close, his love of my brother consuming him until Victor left, promising never to return to New York. He’d kept his promise for almost seven years. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Well, I have a few issues to contend with.” He eased away from the chair. “You know, I feel like everything I worked for is crashing down. Pisses me off. I am going to get to the bottom of this but my way.”
“Are you feeling all right?”
Giordano had never been sick a day in his life. Seeing him this way, run down and riddled with despair, yanked at the darkness within my soul. Drummand held some key to all of this bullshit and I was determined to find out what.
“I’m fine. Why don’t you get back to that lady of yours? Leave the grunt work to the capos. That’s what we pay them for.”
“We’ll get through this, Pops. We will.” I don’t know why I repeated the comment, maybe hoping I’d actually believe my own bullshit.
He patted me on the shoulder before heading toward the door. “Yes, you will.”
I knew my father well enough. We were being set up.
Rage. I was used to the emotion more than any other and right now, that anger needed to be fed. I knew exactly what had to be done.
I sat in the parking lot, staring at the building. The majority of corporate minions had already left, heading home to their adorable families and golden retrievers. Twilight was settling in, leaving ominous shadows crisscrossing the parking lot. I was angry with myself and with my father. He continued to harbor secrets. What the hell was I going to tell Caroline? At least she was exactly where I needed her to be right now, safe. I popped another three aspirin and turned off the engine. My patience was all but gone, answers needed immediately.
And I knew how to get them.
I’d noticed the light remained on, the corner office all aglow as if glorifying the man himself, not just his claim to fame. I snickered at the concept.
My needs had nothing to do with the rules I was required to follow. I’d asked for a hit and my father had declined. While I wouldn’t go against his wishes, I would make certain the Senator understood what he’d stepped into the middle of. The discussion would be… frank. And I wasn’t going in without backup of my own.
I pulled the Glock from under the seat, checking the ammo before sliding the weapon into my jacket. I would make this visit brief but effective. I was only two feet away from the car when my phone rang. Angelo.
“You have news?”
“You’re not going to like this,” Angelo snarled.
“What now?”
“Marco has been put on ice. Thought he was the leak.”
I stopped short. “By whom?”
“Professionally handled and clean. No other issues I noticed. He was all alone. The shop was closed. Don’t think it was a robbery since he had a shitload of cash on him.”
“Cash?” If the motherfucker turned…
“To the load of fifty G’s.”
I exhaled, my jaw clenching. “Fuck! Leave him and the cash but continue the sweep. Giordano is right. Someone directly in the higher ranks of our organization is making it difficult for all of us.”
“I thought we had our man,” Angelo said under his breath.
“Find the real asshole. I don’t care what it takes but not with the others. Do this alone.” Whoever had gotten to Marco was trying to clean up any loose ends. Now, the question was by whom? This wasn’t something sanctioned by the Feds. Not their style. Which left Carmine. That would make some sense given Lorenzo had sent a few soldiers my way for ‘helpful’ purposes. God, I was fucking furious for trusting the asshole. I took a deep breath, pulling out of my anger. That’s what Drummand wanted, my mind completely off kilter.
“You got it. I don’t like this. The men feel like they’re sitting ducks.”
I took another harsh glance at the corner light, the warm glow far too inviting. “Pull them off after and lock ’em down for the night. Find out if Francesco’s soldiers are still in town.”