That sounds like business as usual, with nothing out of the ordinary.“What about new contracts? What caused the original group of enemies to form in this agreement was Pa’s contracts with the Russian and Italian governments.Do you have anything on that sort of scale happening?”
Massimo shakes his head. “No, I don’t have anything above board.So maybe they’re just gathering to take us out like last time.They didn’t want me expanding the Syndicate.We have powerful members just with the alliance we have now.Aiden’s Bratva has control of diamond mining and gun trafficking, The Giordano’s have the shipping company and Claudius practically owns Chicago and the coast of Sicily.”
“Maybe there’s something going on that we can’t really see.Something they’ve seen that’s drawn them out.Which means you’re being watched.”
Massimo releases a ragged sigh, and worry fills his eyes.Not for himself, but for his wife and child.Tristan looks the same.
“We’ll have to increase security all around and start looking into this straightaway.”
“Yeah, I agree.”
“There’s a Syndicate meeting in a few weeks, but I’ll give the others a heads up to keep watch.We’ll discuss it properly when we meet up.”
“That will be good.”
Of the group, Aiden will probably feel the same way we do.It’s going to be weird when I next see him, but truthfully it was he who saved me.He gave me that connection in Tibet.Aiden knew well before anyone else that I was on drugs.He knew without any of the obvious signs others noticed.He was also the last person I saw before I took off.
I glance at the letter Massimo rested on the table.The anonymous letter that set us on this path.I have a copy of it, but I just want to read it again.From time to time, I read it and it holds different emotions and meanings for me.“Can I see that?” I ask, pointing at the letter.
He picks it up and hands it to me.
A labored sigh escapes my lips as I scan over the words.It says:
Dear Massimo,
You do not know me. But I know you, and I feel compelled to contact you in light of the information I’ve recently discovered.
There was so much more to what happened seven months ago when the Syndicate was obliterated.
There were more people involved than who you think.So many more who were responsible for the deaths of our loved ones.So many got their hands dirty to end our fathers.
Riccardo Balesteri was just a pawn in a bigger game to eradicate enemies.I urge you not to stand alone but to reform the Syndicate and lead.Be a leader.
It is only with the strongest alliances that you will be able to hunt your enemies, or war will come.
Good luck.
A friend
I hand it back to Massimo and he sets it back down on the table.
“All these long years and I still don’t have a clue who sent that letter,” I state, furrowing my brows.
“Nor us.”
“Every time I read it, I wonder why this asshole couldn’t have just come to us.” I shake my head with dismay.“He would have known more than this.Or maybe it’s a woman. I don’t fucking know.”
Even though I left home to clean up and sort myself out, I never stopped the mission for retribution.Losing my father affected me more than anyone could ever know, and so much more than I could ever express.Learning more people were responsible for his death, in whatever capacity they were involved, signed the ink on their death certificate.I won’t stop until I get every last one of them, whether I have the backup of my brothers or not.
“At least we have this information,” Massimo says.“Thanks to you. Thanks for coming back with it.”
I’m a little thrown by the gratitude.I wasn’t expecting it. Not because I think they’re ungrateful.It’s more the case that it was a given I’d do this no matter what.
“You’re welcome. I wouldn’t leave you guys to deal with this.I knew I had to come back and help.”
“We still appreciate your help.”
The phone rings on Massimo’s desk, and he walks over to answer it.He pauses when he looks at the screen, and a cautious glance at me makes me tense my shoulders.When he presses the button to receive the call and the angel starts talking, I understand the look of caution.