August
I walked through the set of double doors, heading directly for my father’s office. The majority of his staff had no idea about what my family did, my father keeping them working on the legitimate businesses. However, those who knew were paid very well for their silence. The office had been raided several times, neither the local cops nor the FBI finding anything. My father was a brilliant businessman.
I approached his office, hesitating more than usual. Then I simply opened the door.
“Well, I’m happy to hear that, Clive. I appreciate your call.” Giordano laughed. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, animated as he always was with every phone call. “Give Bev my best. We need to get together for golf soon, my friend.”
I stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb. When my father ended the call, I clapped.
Startled, he turned, dropping the phone and holding out his arms. “Now to what do I owe this visit?”
“Clive. I didn’t realize you were buddies with the district attorney.” I closed the door, shoving my hands into my pockets as I headed toward his desk.
“I have friends in every walk of life, son. That’s the key to this business. He was warning me about some heat coming our way.” He chuckled and lifted an eyebrow. “As if that bothers me. Sit down. Do you want a drink?” He moved toward his bar.
“A little early, Pops. Don’t you think?”
“Never too early for a decent scotch.” He laughed, lifting an eyebrow as he glanced up and down the length of me, surveying as he always did. “What’s on your mind?”
“I wanted you to hear something from me and not one of the capos.”
He lifted the decanter, pouring a drink, his eyes never leaving me. “Is this about the final approval for the new casino? I’m going to guess you’ve handled the issues. I had a very encouraging phone call from our local district supervisor. Nice gal.”
“Not about that, but yes, there should be no more complications. I suspect the bill will die before it even gets to the Senate floor, which will mean that our board of supervisors will be happy to sign off on such an amazing opportunity for one thousand upstanding New York citizens. New jobs. Tourist money. They can’t lose.”
“Damn good to hear and you’re killing me. Why would my son visit me early in the day if not for business?” He lifted his glass, giving me a short salute before taking a sip.
I exhaled. “I’m getting married.”
Coughing, liquid spewed from his mouth. “What the hell did you say?”
“I’m serious.”
Narrowing his eyes, he walked around his desk. “Of my three children, you’re the least likely to get married.”
“Things change.”
“Who is the girl? Please tell me she’s not one of the tramps hanging around. You deserve better, son.”
I snorted and shook my head. “You know I have no interest in that lifestyle.” How many married capos and captains had mistresses on the side? I had no interest.
“Hmmm…” Giordano sat on the edge of his desk. “Then who?”
“Sasha Morales.”
The news didn’t seem to register in any manner at first, then he burst into a smile. “Congratulations, son. How did you pull that off? No wonder you’re not worried about the casino or our transportation issues. Brilliant.”
“I made a deal the senator couldn’t refuse.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. Risky move.”
“Necessary.”
He lifted his glass. “I’ll have to give you credit, son. When I ask you to handle a situation, you do so with flair. You’re really proving to be exactly what this family needs. Too bad your brothers aren’t interested.”
“Their loss. However, I do need one favor.” I’d debated asking him for help for hours.
Giordano shifted, nodding his response. “What do you need?”
I tugged the picture of Sasha’s mother from my coat jacket. I knew what this would do to my father, or at least I suspected what his reaction would be.
“I made a promise to Sasha. Call it a wedding present for her obedience.” I fingered the photograph, the only one I’d been able to find. I’d thrown a gauntlet with the senator, my suspicions unconfirmed, but all indications seemed to be correct. “Her mother supposedly died several years ago, but I don’t think she’s actually dead. The circumstances are circumspect at best.”
He chuckled. “Drummand?”
“I think so. Their relationship was always difficult, bordering on abuse, at least from what I can tell. I think he knew she’d be a noose hanging around his neck with regard to his career, but I don’t think he has the stomach or the balls to actually kill her.”
“Interesting. Secrets and lies.”
“Yeah.” Every family had them. I knew that well.
He reached out, giving me a harsh look when I continued to hesitate. “Who is she?”
As I handed him the photograph, I gave him the damning answer. “Margaret Wentworth.” I’d seen sadness in my father’s eyes only twice in my life. The first was when my baby sister died in a car accident. The second was when my mother temporarily left him years before.
This was the third.
He blinked several times as he stared at the picture, finally lifting his head. There were no words that needed to be said, no way I could console him. I knew exactly what this meant and what he was likely to do, but I had no other choice. He’d never fully explained his relationship with Margaret, but the instant I saw the picture, I was taken back to years before. A picture found. Questions raised by an angry teenage boy.
“I had no idea she was married to Drummand,” my father said to no one in particular.
There were so many things I wanted to say, but out of respect I refused.
Giordano rose to his feet, slipping the photograph into his jacket pocket. He stared at me for a full minute. “I will honor your request, but this will be handled my way, August. If this bullshit is true, then Drummand will pay for his sins. You won’t ask any questions, but I will let you know my findings. If she’s alive, you’ll have to deal with the aftermath with your fiancee.”
“Tell me the truth, Pops. Who is she to you?”
He studied the picture once again. “Someone I chose to protect and no, I did not betray your mother with her. That would have been utter disloyalty.”
I said nothing. My father had never talked about his life outside of the family. He’d adored my mother and she tolerated him, but there’d been an understanding between them, one that so many in our world did.
“I had my share of goumadas in my life, but those women meant nothing to me. Margaret was far too poised and full of self-worth to get involved with an asshole like me. She wanted to live her own life. I decided not to interfere. We lost touch.”
I heard the bitterness, the deep-seated emotion. “Who was she? Why were you protecting her?”
Giordano shook his head vehemently. “There will be no further discussion of my course of action or poking into my personal life. Am I clear?”
“Crystal.” My heart raced, the adrenaline flowing. What the fuck had I just done? Whoever he’d protected her from might have returned, even placing Sasha’s life into extreme danger.
He nodded, walking around his desk and back toward the window.
I’d just started a war.