“I thought the mafia didn’t go after women and children?”
“Normally, we don’t, but the guy who was killed was the Gallo family Consigliere’s son. The Gallos have a number of men who are fresh from Sicily—they’re called Zips—their code far more stringent than ours. They want blood, and they want one of the boss’s children to make up for their loss.”
“Are you in the Gallo family?”
“I’m a part of the Russo outfit.”
“So, how does any of this involve you?”
“The Commission had reason to believe your father, the boss, wasn’t behind the Lucciano actions. They chose me to infiltrate the Lucciano outfit and find out what was going on. I have somewhat of a portfolio of investigative work, making me ideal for these kinds of operations.”
“If you weren’t sure who the boss was, how did you know to target me?”
“Some investigative work and a little luck. I followed Sal to Triton one day, and I knew your dad had met with the Gallo man before his death. It was too big of a coincidence—if your father wasn’t the boss, he was at least someone high up. I spent a couple days studying who went in and out of Triton and decided to see if you could get me the info I needed.” His lips pulled up in a smirk. “I decided mixing business with pleasure would make the job less cumbersome.”
He picked me because he’d wanted me. “You didn’t know I was Enzo’s daughter?”
He slowly shook his head. “Just got lucky.” His eyes heated, and my heart skipped a beat. “Not until you told me about your Uncle Sal did the pieces fall into place. You’re in danger, Alessia. The things that have gone on have made the other families bloodthirsty. If we aren’t careful, we’ll have an all-out war on our hands.”
“I don’t understand. I just talked to Maria earlier, and she said it’s not like that anymore.”
“Most of the time it’s not, but trouble’s brewing. I can’t guarantee what will happen. I’ve turned over the information I uncovered to the Commission—they call the shots, not me.” He stepped closer, making a move to reach for me, but I pulled away.
“No, Luca,” I insisted firmly, holding up my hand. “I’m not ready, and I don’t know that I’ll ever be. None of this is what I wanted for myself. I’m still trying to figure out how I feel and where to go from here.”
His jaw twitched and flexed as he mulled over my words. “I won’t push you for now, but you better not block my number, and you will answer if I text or call. Those are my conditions—take it or leave it.”
“And if I don’t agree?” I asked with a touch of sass.
“I could always kidnap you and keep you at my place. I know you’ll be safe there.” His eyes danced with challenge, begging me to try him.
“Fine,” I said insolently.
Before I could argue, he yanked me to him and placed a warm kiss on my forehead. “I know you’re pissed, and this is a lot to take in, so I’m giving you some space. Don’t mistake that for me walking away. This thing between us—it’s not over.” With those parting words, he let himself out and disappeared down the hall.
I locked the door, then leaned back against it, wondering at the twists and turns of life. One minute, life is black and white, and the next thing you know, there are only shades of grey. Sometimes, that change occurs slowly—the death of one stage in your life setting in like an insidious virus. Other times, change comes about dizzyingly quick like the sudden drop of a guillotine—blinding and altering reality until life is unrecognizable.
At least when change is a slow progression, the memories of where you started are grainy and distorted, your new reality the only clear picture remaining. When change is sudden and violent, it creates an open wound that is a glaring reminder of how things were, the images still fresh in your mind.
The other problem with sudden change is there’s no undoing it.
Once it’s done, there’s no going back.
I couldn’t undo the knowledge my father was a criminal any more than I could rid the stars from the sky. Not just the knowledge of what he did, but his actions themselves. The fact that he was a mobster would never change. I could pack up and leave, but they would still be my family, and my dad would still be a criminal.
Not just my dad—nearly my entire family.
The most upsetting part about starting a new life would be the searing pain of losing Luca. His relentless campaign had worn me down, and not even the fact he had used me for information could douse my desire for him. I didn’t think there was one defining moment when he’d stolen my heart, but piece-by-piece, with each stolen kiss and whispered caress, the criminal had absconded with a part of my soul.
I had known from the beginning he would leave me in shreds, but there’d been no stopping it. He’d battered my defenses like the blowing desert winds softening the edges of sandstone towers—my own pieces swept off in his punishing winds until there was no telling where one of us began, and the other ended.
Making the decision to leave my family would be hard enough, but adding Luca into the mix was gut-wrenching. If I rejected my family’s way of life, he would be lost to me, and that hurt more than any of the lies I’d been forced to swallow. If I chose to accept him, and therefore, my family, my life would be forever lies.
Chapter 21
Luca
I followed Alessia to her parent’s house on Sunday to learn where they lived but had yet to approach her father. I hadn’t been certain I was going to tell her about her father’s position, but she had forced the issue. Once she had confronted him about his mafia affiliation, I knew it was time to talk to him myself. That had never been a part of the plan, but I’d dug myself in a hole and needed to find a way out.
I was about ninety-five percent sure the information I had to offer Enzo would be news to him, which meant there was a five percent chance I was about to get myself killed. Enzo Genovese was most likely pissed I had unmasked him to his daughter, but hopefully, my crime would be forgiven if what I was about to tell him was accurate.
It was a Wednesday evening, and the affluent neighborhood was quiet. I had watched Enzo’s car pull up an hour earlier and had been procrastinating ever since. It wasn’t like me, but I was about to do one of the most reckless things I’d ever done. Wiping my sweaty palms on my slacks, I exited the car to confront Don Genovese about his corrupt underboss.
I rang the bell, looking straight into the security camera. It was crucial I conveyed nothing but the utmost confidence. In my world, fear would get a man killed as fast as any bullet.
Enzo himself opened the door in black slacks and a white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He had short salt-and-pepper hair with a neatly trimmed matching beard. Seeing him on the street, you would think nothing of him—just a man like any other—but you would be dead wrong. Enzo Genovese held a fifth of New York City in the palm of his hand. He was no one to be trifled with.
“I suppose you’re the man my daughter’s been seeing?” He was astute and direct, both qualities I appreciated.
“Yes, my name is Luca Romano. I work for Michael Abbatelli.”
“A Russo. Come in—it’s time you and I had a chat.” He stepped back to make room for me, and I willingly entered the lion’s den.
“You have a beautiful home,” I offered respectfully. At that point, formalities wouldn’t get me far, but I figured it couldn’t hurt either.
“You got some balls coming here after you told my daughter about the family. I can’t decide if you’re an idiot or just suicidal.” He led me into the living area, taking a seat and gesturing for me to sit in an adjacent chair.
“I understand you’re upset, but I came here to explain. She needed to know the truth because she’s in danger.”
“No one even knew who she was until you showed up.”
“You did an excellent job of falling off the radar after your son was killed. You were just a capo at the time, I believe. Two years of family warfare, some rumors about you leaving the life,
and suddenly, you’re sitting in the captain’s chair without anyone the wiser.”
“I worked very hard to protect myself and my family by keeping us hidden,” he said, glaring at me. “Between the loss of men and renewed levels of secrecy, I was able to disappear. It’s hard to be killed when you’re already a ghost. In the matter of one afternoon, you’ve taken all that away.”
“Yes, but if I could figure it out, others could too. Up until recently, there wasn’t reason for anyone to go digging, but things have changed.”
“What is it you need to tell me that you’ve worked so hard to flesh me out?”
“A month ago, the Commission confronted Sal about a number of shady business deals made by the Lucciano family.”
Enzo narrowed his eyes, his posture stiffening. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Instant relief flooded me at his response. Enzo was clearly shocked by my accusations. Had he been guarded and dismissive, it would have indicated he knew what had been going on, and I wouldn’t be leaving his house alive.
“The Luccianos have been stealing jobs from other families, crossing district lines and bypassing the Commission. The other families are pissed. They decided they needed to figure out who was calling the shots so the problem could be eliminated. At a recent meeting, they demanded Sal call the boss and ask for remuneration. They hacked the cell towers and had tech guys ready to triangulate the signal in order to figure out who was running the show. When they got the number, guys were immediately sent over to the location, only to discover it was Sal’s home number, and no one was there. He’d faked his call to the boss and lied to the Commission.”
Worry lines creased Enzo’s forehead, but his eyes still held a glint of defiance. “That doesn’t necessarily mean anything—maybe he knew I was busy and was trying to placate the Commission.”
I appreciated his attempt to defend his second in command, but his trust was misplaced. “You saying you were behind the shipment of guns that disappeared off the Giordano docks? Or maybe you gave the order to branch into trucking and undercut the Russos?”
He glared at me. “Continue.”
“They started to suspect Sal was two-timing his boss. They needed to figure out who Sal was working for and get proof he was crooked, so they called me in. I followed Sal, and eventually, he led me to the Triton building. Three weeks ago, you met with Gio Venturi, son of the Gallo family Consigliere, Diego Venturi.”
“Yeah, and the next day he hung himself—what’s that got to do with me?”
“His family didn’t believe it was suicide. They hired a handwriting expert who determined the note he’d left behind hadn’t been his writing. You were the last person seen with Gio, and you’d been arguing over cement prices. Put two and two together—it looks like you’re running the Lucciano family, or at the very least, working with Sal. So, the question is, what is your role in all this? The other bosses are all very interested, so answer carefully.” My words were somewhat confrontational, but I needed him to hear the confidence in my voice and know I had the Commission’s backing. It was a whole lot easier to kill a lone wolf asking questions than the voice of The Five Families.
Fortunately, he was too stunned about what had been going on under his nose to focus on my manner of delivery. “I don’t understand,” he murmured. “Sal has been my best friend since we were kids.”
“It looks like he’s been maneuvering to get you in trouble for months, maybe even years. You sure your friend doesn’t have his sights set on your job?” I gave a second for that to sink in before I continued. “The hit on Venturi was easy to pick off—you were the last one seen with him, and the note was a dead giveaway it wasn’t suicide. Someone wanted us to know it was a hit, and they wanted you to take the blame.”
“I knew the guy had died, but I didn’t know anything about the note,” he said absently. “We have too much bad blood with the Gallos; they’d want my head for this.”
“Exactly. It was an unsanctioned hit—the Gallo family is out for blood. They have a load of Zips in from the old country just itching for revenge. Your family isn’t safe.”
Enzo ran his fingers along his bearded jawline, his eyes distant as he processed the news. “I never had anything to do with the kid’s death or any of the shady dealings. I’ve been through war before when my son was killed; I have no desire to see the families come to that again.”
“I believe you, and I’ve reported as much to the Commission, but that doesn’t mean the Gallos won’t move against you. It’s time to come out of hiding.”
Enzo’s dark gaze met mine, and I could see the reluctant acceptance on his face. He knew it was the only way, even if it meant putting his family out in the open. “I suppose you’re hoping I’ll be so grateful for this information, I’ll overlook the little stunt you pulled telling my daughter about the family.”
Fuck. Heat seared the back of my neck, but I refrained from adjusting my collar to relieve the pressure. “She’s in danger. Keeping her in the dark was only going to make things worse.”
“That wasn’t your call to make.” His eyes were steel-coated daggers, boring holes straight through me.
My chin lowered a fraction, but I didn’t say a word. He was right, and we both knew it. I had done something that was potentially unforgivable with hardly a thought as to the consequences. At that moment, the only thing that had mattered was not letting Alessia slip through my fingers. I could claim her safety had been my top priority, but that was a lie.
Lucky for me, I was able to fall back on the excuse, but it hadn’t been the true motivation behind my actions. There was fear involved, but it was fear she’d never speak to me again, rather than fear for her safety. What I’d done to her boss had pushed her over the edge—it was written plainly in the hollow depths of her glassy eyes.
The only viable way to get her to change her perspective was to shred the rose-colored veil her parents had erected around her. Once she saw I wasn’t so unlike the people she called family, maybe she’d let me in. At the very least, it would keep her from slamming the door in my face.
Regardless of my reasons, Enzo had every right to have me gutted.
I had betrayed a sacred oath and jeopardized his relationship with his daughter. Like the man said, it was total insanity for me to walk straight up to his front door. All I could do now was hope he was a forgiving man and saw courage in my actions.
“My daughter appears to have developed feelings for you. I can’t imagine having you killed would improve my already strained relationship with her. If I let you walk out of here, understand I would not be so generous a second time.” The threat implicit in his words was mirrored on his stony features. This was not a get-out-of-jail-free card—I had been warned.
***
I left the Genovese home without any missing or broken body parts, so I considered the trip a raging success. Enzo was now clued into Sal’s actions and the mounting danger surrounding his family. The concern I’d expressed for Alessia had been legitimate. There was no guarantee someone wouldn’t seek revenge, even without the Commission’s approval.
The more I thought about it, the more I needed to check on her. I told her I’d give her space, but I needed to see her for myself to know she was alright. The unused adrenaline from my meeting was still coursing through my system, so I decided to hit the gym first before I paid Alessia a visit. If I went over this keyed up and she raged at me like she had before, I might do something I’d regret. Tying her to her bed and fucking her into submission might seem like a good idea at the time, but it would come back to bite me in the ass. I was walking a fine line with her, and I knew it.
I drove straight from Enzo’s house to the gym. I always kept a set of gym clothes in my trunk, which had proven handy on more than one occasion. When I walked into the old, musty warehouse building, Rafi was already geared up and hitting the heavy bag. I gave him a nod and went back to the locker room to change before returning to spar with him.
&nbs
p; “I take it the hunt isn’t going well?” asked Rafi when I joined him at the bag.
“It’s over, actually,” I said smoothly as I wrapped my hands.
“What do you mean? You found him?”
“Yeah, I was right—it was her father. Had a meet with him just now.”
“God damn, you got balls.” He punched my shoulder, sticking his unusually long tongue out at me. “Glad you’re still alive.”
“He wasn’t thrilled I was there, but he didn’t know anything about Sal’s bullshit, so he was glad I spoke up.”
“That two-timing asswipe better run—he’s gonna have all five families gunnin’ for him.” He held up his fist, fingers out like a gun, and pretended to shoot. Crap like that would keep Rafi from ever becoming more than a soldier. He was a good kid, but street smarts didn’t come naturally to him.
“The Commission meets on Thursday. Until then, we wait. No unsanctioned hits, even for revenge—you know that,” I warned him with a leveling stare.
“Yeah, yeah. That doesn’t mean we can’t beat the shit outta this bag instead.”
“Exactly.” Finished with my wrap, I shot out my fist and pounded the bag with the first of what would be hundreds of brutal strikes.
Chapter 22
Alessia
I hadn’t heard from Luca since he’d forced his way into my apartment the day before. I’d spent all evening thinking, but the only decision I’d made was that it was time to bring Giada into the fold. It wasn’t an easy call to make. Telling her might endanger her, and I didn’t want to get myself into trouble for spreading information. However, there were any number of counter-arguments. I could count on her to keep her mouth shut, plus, she deserved to know what was happening in our family. In a much more selfish vein, I needed to tell her so she could help me figure out what the hell I was supposed to do. She had helped me through every major life decision until that point, and I floundered at the idea of forging ahead without her on this front.
Forever Lies: A Mafia Romance (The Five Families Book 1) Page 17