“Well, a couple of them look like they were just hired goons, hence the masks. But a couple of them were living in Brooklyn at the time.”
“Fuck,” I say, remembering Al saying something about that family being sloppy. “Luciani?”
She nods. “I think you guys should check it out.”
“Did you feel out Bianca about it?”
“Fuck no,” she says. “I’m not stupid.”
“She’s your best friend.”
“Yeah, we’re not that kind of friends.”
“What kind?”
“You know,” she says. “The kind that trusts each other.”
This goes a little beyond that, but I don’t want to criticize her friends. I know from my sister that female friendships are complicated. If I didn’t trust a guy with my life, I wouldn’t call him a friend, but obviously she sees things differently.
“And you think it might be one of Luciani’s men? Why would they want to start shit between our families?”
“They probably benefit. They can keep the prices up to both our families if we won’t deal with each other. They could have spies feeding both sides info. All that money disappears if we’re not at war anymore. This union is great for our families, but for the other families? I’d be surprised if therewasn’ta few attempts to start shit again.”
“I’m sure Al’s already found that if it was on the news,” I say, turning my wine glass on the table. “If we’re not moving on it, that means they have reasons to believe it wasn’t the Lucianis.”
“There’s… One more thing,” Eliza says, biting at the corner of her lip. “And this one could get me killed, so don’t be too mad.”
I stiffen, my voice coming sharper than I meant. “What?” I demand.
“The day of the ambush, I went to the salon with Bianca,” she says.
“And?” I grit out. “You told her where we were meeting?”
“No,” she says quickly. “I wouldn’t. I didn’t know, anyway. You hadn’t told me where you were meeting, but you told me to call my dad. I called while we were there. He told me. It was loud with all the dryers going, and I didn’t repeat it, but you know how voices carry through the phone sometimes. I really don’t think she could have overheard, but I want you to know in case…”
“In case you’re accused of breaking the code of silence,” I finish, my blood running cold.
“I didn’t tell,” she says. “And Dad didn’t say the time. I’m sure she couldn’t have overheard. But we can’t completely rule it out.”
“You know this could get your friend killed.”
“I know,” she says, staring straight at me. It strikes me how fucking tough this girl is. No wonder I considered her as a suspect for setting it up. She’s ruthless enough to sentence her best friend to death for betraying her.
“Do you want me to talk to Al?” I ask carefully.
She swallows. “They might see it as talking.”
I shake my head. “Like I said, Al owes me one. And you didn’t talk. You were sloppy to ask about it there, but Anthony shouldn’t have told you on the phone. If anyone is to blame, it’s him.”
Eliza nods, looking nervous. “Okay.”
Now it’s my turn to hold her hand, turning it over in mine and squeezing. “I won’t let this come back on you,” I say. “You did the right thing telling me. If it really was Luciani’s men, you deserve a fucking medal.”
She smiles, and I can tell she’s pleased.
“Want me to clean up the dishes?” she asks.
“We’ll get them in the morning,” I say. “Let’s go to bed.”