As the wedding ended, the reception was set to be on beach.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the beach, the reception was in full swing. The soft sound of waves mingled with laughter and music as guests enjoyed the evening. Rowan stood near the edge of the festivities, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd, but his mind was elsewhere, focused on the figure dancing in between.
Then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Rowan frowned as he glanced at the screen, recognizing the number immediately. It was Elio Bianchi’s assistant. Without hesitation, he answered.
“What is it?” Rowan’s voice was low, edged with impatience.
“Falcone,” the voice on the other end said, trembling slightly. “Elio… Elio is dead.”
Rowan’s eyes narrowed. He turned on his heel, walking briskly away from the party toward his car. His mind raced. Elio Bianchi, one of the most powerful figures in the Italian underworld, was dead, and he had only just struck a deal with him. This was bad news, and it complicated things in ways he wasn’t yet sure how to untangle.
Noticing Rowan’s abrupt departure, both Harvey and Kyle exchanged a quick, concerned glance. They had been on edge all day, and this sudden change in Rowan’s demeanor set off alarm bells. Without a word, they followed him, moving swiftly through the crowd and toward the parking lot where Rowan had disappeared.
Rowan reached his car, his movements quick and precise as he opened the door and slid inside. His mind was already processing the implications of Elio’s death-how it would affect his operations, who would try to step into the power vacuum, and most importantly, who was responsible. As he started the engine, Harvey and Kyle arrived, pulling open the doors and jumping in beside him.
“Brother, what’s going on?” Harvey asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
“Elio Bianchi is dead,” Rowan said flatly, his eyes fixed on the road as he sped away from the beach. “We need to find out what happened and deal with it. Now.”
Kyle’s eyes widened. “Dead? How?”
“Elio’s assistant didn’t give details, but he sounded like he was holding something back,” Rowan replied, his voice cold and calculating. “He’s meeting me now to discuss the situation.”
Harvey and Kyle exchanged worried glances. They knew that in the world Rowan operated in, a sudden death like this didn’t bode well. It could mean anything-betrayal, a power play, or something far worse. And if Rowan was involved, whether directly or indirectly, things could spiral out of control quickly.
They drove in silence, the tension in the car thick enough to cut with a knife. Rowan’s mind was working at a rapid pace, considering every angle, every possible threat. He knew Elio’s death could have repercussions, not just for him, but for everyone connected to this deal. And if Elio’s assistant suspected foul play, Rowan would have to tread carefully.
They arrived at a secluded warehouse on the outskirts of the city, a place Rowan had chosen for its discretion. As they pulled up, Rowan noticed a black SUV parked nearby, its windows tinted, concealing whoever was inside. He stopped the car, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the scene.
“Stay sharp,” Rowan muttered to Harvey and Kyle as they stepped out of the car. “If this goes south, we’re in for a fight.”
The three men approached the SUV cautiously. The door opened, and a man stepped out-a tall, wiry figure with a nervous energy about him. Rowan recognized him as Luca, Elio’s assistant.
“Falcone,” Luca said, his voice tight with barely concealed anger. “We need to talk.”
“We are talking,” Rowan replied, his tone cool and controlled. “What happened to Elio?”
Luca’s eyes flicked to Harvey and Kyle, then back to Rowan. “He’s dead, shot in his own home. And I don’t think it was a random hit. I think it was you.”
Rowan’s expression didn’t change, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. “If I wanted Elio dead, you wouldn’t be here talking to me about it.”
Luca took a step closer, his hand twitching near his jacket where Rowan assumed he kept a gun. “You made a deal with him, and now he’s dead. You were the last person he met with. That’s too much of a coincidence.”
“Or maybe someone wants you to think it’s a coincidence,” Rowan countered, his voice like steel. “Someone who knows you’d come running to me, pointing fingers instead of looking at the real threat.”
Luca hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. Rowan seized the moment, stepping forward, his presence dominating.
“Listen to me carefully,” Rowan said, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “Elio and I had an understanding. Killing him would do nothing but complicate my plans. Now, unless you want to start a war you can’t win, I suggest you take a step back and think about who benefits from Elio’s death. Because it sure as hell isn’t me.”
Luca swallowed hard, his hand dropping away from his jacket. The logic in Rowan’s words was undeniable, but the tension remained. The assistant was in over his head, caught between his loyalty to his dead boss and the fear of what Rowan might do if provoked.
Harvey and Kyle stood by, their eyes never leaving Luca, ready to act at a moment’s notice. The situation was precarious, and they knew it wouldn’t take much to tip the scales into violence.
“Who else knew about your meeting with Elio?” Rowan pressed, his eyes boring into Luca’s.
Luca hesitated again, his mind racing. “A few people, his inner circle. But they wouldn’t…”
“They wouldn’t what? Betray him?” Rowan finished the sentence for him, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “In this world, loyalty is a luxury most can’t afford. Someone in Elio’s circle saw an opportunity, and they took it. Now, the question is, are you smart enough to figure out who, or are you going to keep playing into their hands by coming after me?”
Luca’s resolve crumbled, and he looked away, uncertainty etched on his face. He knew Rowan was right, but the fear and anger still gnawed at him.
“Go back to Elio’s people,” Rowan instructed, his voice leaving no room for argument. “Find out who’s been making moves, who’s been too eager to step up in his absence. If you want to avenge Elio, that’s where you start. Not here, not with me.”
Luca nodded slowly, the tension draining out of him. “Alright, I’ll… I’ll look into it.”
“Good,” Rowan said, his tone final. “And if you find the bastard responsible, let me know. I’d like to have a word with them myself.”
With that, Luca turned and got back into the SUV, the engine roaring to life as he drove away, leaving Rowan, Harvey, and Kyle standing in the dim light of the warehouse parking lot.
Harvey let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “That was close.”
Rowan didn’t respond immediately, his mind already moving on to the next steps. “Keep an eye on Luca. If he finds the killer, we need to be the first to know.”
Kyle nodded, his heart still pounding from the confrontation. “What if Luca decides to double-cross us?”
Rowan’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Then he’ll find out what happens when you cross a Falcone.”