ARMANDO
The moment the music ended, I noticed Don Fabio shift in his seat. It wasn’t the kind of shift people made when they were settling back into their chairs. No, this was different. One of his men had leaned in, whispered something in his ear, and just like that, Fabio stood up. It was quick, almost too quick, like he didn’t want to be seen leaving the table.
I didn’t hesitate to send Eleanor back to the table. She had served her purpose for the night, and I didn’t need her tagging along anymore.
These parties weren’t just for appearances. I had long suspected that behind the music, food, and fake smiles, there was always something going on. The dons didn’t gather unless they had a reason. Most of them were too paranoid to be around each other just for social niceties.
As soon as Fabio left, I maneuvered through the crowd, keeping my eyes on him. The lights were dim enough that I could slip through the hallways without drawing much attention.
It didn’t take long to catch up with him, but he wasn’t alone anymore. Don Salvatore, another powerful player from one of the families, had joined him. That raised my suspicions even more.
They walked side by side, their voices low but not too quiet for me to catch bits and pieces of their conversation. I stayed far enough behind to avoid being seen, but close enough to hear just enough of what I needed.
Salvatore was talking, his voice rough and deep. “There’s a shipment coming in soon. We need to intercept it before they make the delivery.”
A shipment? My chest tightened. It could’ve been anything, but something told me it wasn’t just any shipment. It felt like they were talking about mine.
The only possible explanation to why they would’ve accurately known about my deliveries was if someone was truly leaking my information. Someone in my inner circle really was feeding these bastards intel, and that confirmed my suspicion that I had a rat to catch.
Salvatore continued, “I need some of your men, Fabio. We can’t afford to miss this one. The window’s tight, and we need to move fast.”
Fabio nodded, his steps slowing down as they neared one of the back rooms-his private home office, I assumed. This was where the real conversations happened, behind closed doors. This was my chance to find out if they were behind the sabotage, I just needed to catch one more word, one more detail…
I crept closer, making sure my footsteps were silent on the polished floors. Fabio’s guards stood at the entrance, their eyes scanning the hallway lazily, unaware that I was watching. Salvatore spoke up again, his voice dropping even lower this time, almost too low for me to hear. I strained to catch his words.
“We’ll have to-”
The door swung shut, cutting off the rest of his sentence.
“Shit,” I muttered under my breath. I wasn’t close enough to catch what he’d said, and now two of Fabio’s men were stationed outside, making it impossible to get any closer without raising suspicion.
For a few seconds I stood there, I couldn’t afford to walk away now. Fabio and Salvatore were planning something-something that could wreck my operations if I didn’t act fast. And that last bit Salvatore was about to say could’ve been the key to knowing exactly what it was but I missed it. I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling under my skin.
I had to know more. But how? Barging in wasn’t an option. Fabio’s men weren’t just for show, and taking them down would alert everyone in the mansion. No, this needed patience. I had to figure out a way to either get someone on the inside or wait for a slip-up.
If Don Fabio and Don Salvatore were working together, it meant they were sharing resources-information, manpower, everything. And if there was someone feeding them intel, then that meant they had access to details I hadn’t even shared with half my men.
I had to find the leak before they could strike again.
I turned away from the door, keeping my movements slow and deliberate. I’d heard enough to know they were planning something, and I wasn’t about to let them blindside me.
The sound of laughter and music grew louder with each step as I walked back to the main hall, my mind already back on my men. I needed to shake the tree and see what rats came scurrying out. There was no room for mistakes anymore.
Reaching the edge of the main room, I slowed my pace, blending back into the party. Everyone was laughing, drinking and dancing.
The dons liked to play these games-like we were all here to celebrate something, but the truth was, we were always at war. Even in a room full of allies, everyone was a threat. No one could be trusted.
I walked back into the hall, keeping my steps steady, but inside I was boiling. That little exchange between Fabio and Salvatore had left too many unanswered questions. My mind was spinning, piecing together everything I’d overheard. I couldn’t stand not knowing what they were planning.
When I reached the table, Don Fabio’s wife looked up, smiling, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You were gone quite a while, Armando. Where did you disappear to?”
I plastered on a smile, hiding the irritation bubbling beneath the surface. “Just the restroom,” I said, waving it off like it was nothing. The lie slipped out easily enough, but my hand was already reaching for the whiskey bottle on the table.
I poured a small amount into my glass, just enough to take the edge off. My pulse was pounding in my ears, and I could feel my temper rising, threatening to spill over. Don Fabio’s wife kept watching me, and I forced myself to keep my expression neutral. No need to draw any more suspicion than necessary.
I stood up, tossing the drink back in one smooth motion. The whiskey burned its way down, but it did little to calm me. I clinked the glass lightly in her direction. “Thank you for the hospitality, but I must leave now. Be sure to extend my gratitude to Don Fabio.”
Her smile wavered for a second, like she was surprised by my sudden exit, but I didn’t wait for a response. I turned on my heel and immediately started walking, feeling Eleanor fall into step behind me without a word.
By the time we made it outside, my cheaffeur was already waiting at the base of the staircase, standing beside the car. Good. I didn’t have the patience for any more delays.
Eleanor slipped into the car first, and I followed closely behind, settling into the leather seat with a heavy sigh. The cheaffeur pulled out of Fabio’s estate smoothly, the sound of the tires crunching on the gravel fading into the background.
I sat back, staring out the window, the mansion disappearing behind us, but my mind wasn’t on the party anymore. My thoughts were stuck on what I’d overheard. If Don Fabio and Don Salvatore were really behind this, then they were playing with fire.
No one messed with my business, not without consequences. And if I found out they were planning on interfering with my next shipment, they would both be extremely sorry.
I gritted my teeth, my hands balling into fists. I hated this-the not knowing enough, the waiting-those weren’t thing Armando Luca was used to.
Normally, I’d have stormed back into that office and forced the truth out of them. A few well-placed threats, maybe a gun to the head, and I’d get everything I needed. But tonight, I had to play it smart. The party was still in full swing, and one gunshot would send the whole place into chaos.
Besides, it wasn’t just me I had to think about, Eleanor was there. If things went south, I couldn’t risk her getting caught in the middle of a shootout. I wasn’t the only one at that party carrying a weapon. Every man in that room had come prepared just like I had, that I was always sure of.
I glanced at Eleanor, sitting quietly beside me, her face turned toward the window. She wasn’t part of this mess and I wasn’t about to drag her into it, she’d be a fucking distraction. And I didn’t need that, especially when I still had a lot of pieces to figure out.
I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my anger, but it wasn’t helping in any way. Don Fabio and Don Salvatore had poked at the one thing I valued above everything else-my money. And if there was one thing I couldn’t stand, it was people messing with my business.
“I’ll make them pay,” I muttered under my breath, barely loud enough for anyone to hear.
If those bastards were truly involved; if they were truly behind the recent sabotages that had been causing me immense losses, they were going to regret it.
No one crossed me and walked away unscathed. Don Fabio and Don Salvatore? They were going to learn that the hard way.