I leaned back. “Fuckers aren’t as stupid as I thought. So, what exactly are we planning to do with this information?”
Castello took a sip of his drink. “I’ll arrange for the container to be held at the harbor. The Mancusos won’t be able to get to it, and word on the street is they are running dangerously low on stock. They can’t afford a holdup on this shipment.”
“Okay. What’s the plan after you hijack—so to speak—the container?”
He smiled. “By holding back the container, it will give you leverage to use to your advantage. How you use it is up to you.” The smirk on his face screamed of amusement.
Sly motherfucker. There was a reason he was one of the most feared in our society, yet the most sought-after ally.
“How long do I have?”
“I can keep the container on lockdown until morning. Just keep in mind,” he stood, buttoning up his suit jacket, “by paying you back a favor in this way, I am putting myself and my family at risk, which is why I will only stay here with my wife and daughter until sunrise.”
That little fact set him apart from other men in our position. Where most men would put their family in hiding when business was going down, Castello chose to take his wife, Tatum, and daughter, Emily, with him. He believed there was no better person to keep them safe than himself. Where he went, they went. Rumor had it his wife was also a force to be reckoned with. An all-American girl turned Mafia queen. Go figure.
I stood and shook Castello’s hand. “Thank you.”
“My debt to you will be paid by this time tomorrow. Some advice, though.” He leaned closer. “A man’s strength is measured by the way he loves, and by the way he is loved. So if you have to slit the throat of every motherfucker who threatens your woman, then you do it with a goddamn smile on your face.”
I’d swear to God, I was on the verge of getting a hard-on. This man had instantly become my fucking idol.
I nodded in acknowledgement, and when Castello walked out the door, I turned to my dad. “Thank you.”
“I’ve never doubted you, Dante. But you must remember, my first priority is the safety of this family.”
“I know that.”
He placed his hand on my shoulder. “But one thing I’ve learned from Karina’s debacle with Enzio is that my family’s happiness is just as important as their safety. If Layla is what you want, then I will do everything in my power to help you.”
“Thank you, Father.” I wrapped an arm around his shoulder and hugged him. Times I saw eye-to-eye with my father happened few and far in between. But when it happened, it felt good.
“Does Antonio know about this? About Castello helping us?”
“I invited him to join our meeting, but he said he had something to take care of first.”
I poured myself another drink. “I’m pretty sure Antonio is going to have a mouthful of opinions over everything we just discussed without him.”
The door was flung open, and Lucio stormed in with a big “shit is about to go down” look on his face. “Antonio is taking Layla.”
I put my glass down. “What?”
“Move your ass, cousin.”
I rushed after Lucio, out of the study, straight to the front door. When I got outside, I was just in time to see Layla get into Antonio’s car.
“Layla, where are you going?”
The way she stared at me with a sullen look, I knew. I just fucking knew.
“Layla, no!” I moved down the stairs as fast as my feet could carry me. “Antonio, don’t do this!”
“I’m sorry, brother.” Antonio got into his car, started the engine, and my heart felt like it was about to leap out of my throat.
“Antonio, stop!”
The engine roared, and tires screeched across the asphalt.
“Motherfucker!” I ran so damn fast. But there was no way I could have caught up with them. When I stopped, watching Antonio’s Audi speed down the driveway, I knew. I didn’t need it spelled out for me. I knew what he was doing. Whattheywere doing. Layla was running again, and because Antonio never approved of my relationship with Layla, he was helping her.