Like the cops.
Or the Snake.
“Thanks,” I said, standing abruptly. I placed my drink on the glass table between us, suddenly not as thirsty as when I first arrived.
“Sienna?” Cain’s voice stopped me just as I started to unlatch the red rope. “I hope you do find him. A man can only go on like this for so long before he loses himself.”
With those words ringing in my ear, I finally left the club behind.
2
SIENNA
The news didn’t report a damn thing on the murders the other night. It was probably because it wasn’t just the police that were invested in this now, but the feds too. Still, that didn’t stop me from scouring the Internet or the news channels for any hint of him. I found nothing and only knew what the Arco brothers had so graciously told me last night.
Sighing, I switched off the television and closed my laptop. Both were useless. This morning, I’d opted to stay in my apartment rather than heading to my father’s study or to the office. I wasn’t in the mood for work, and I’d put Mateo in charge for the day. He’d only come to take the contract to make copies before sending it to the other Dons to recognize the new transition. I doubted any of them expected me to rule two families, considering how apprehensive they’d all been in regards to my own vote. But Dante had named me his heir in writing, so there wouldn’t need to be a second Commission.
I didn’t know what this would mean in the long run. Mateo might believe that I was equipped to merge the two families together—something that’s never really been done before to my knowledge. But I wasn’t so sure. I mean, I’d only been head of my own family for a few weeks before we nearly lost everything. Before we went bankrupt. And now to have two families? I couldn’t even trust my own men after being taken by the Snake…again. How could I ever trust the Scaranos?
Then there was the little issue of Scarano’s underboss disappearing. I’d asked Mateo where the hell Ivan had run off to, but he claimed Ivan had disappeared after Dante’s father was murdered. No one knew where he was, and I had bigger things to be dealing with. The Snake wasn’t gone–I knew that much. I just had to be ready for whatever it was they were planning.
Setting the laptop on the coffee table, I fell backward, staring up at the ceiling. My thoughts wandered to where Dante was now. If he had any luck in tracking down that shipment of snake venom. It had to come from somewhere, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the one to finally figure it out. Or, at least I knew that he wouldn’t stop until he did.
The Snake had been silent these past few weeks since the death of Dante’s father. Most people believed it was all over with. Maybe itwouldstop there, but I had a feeling this wasn’t the end. Everything had been quiet. Too quiet. The Snake had even stopped going after the police officers. It was almost as if things were about to go back to normal. As if this had all just been a bad dream.
But I just couldn’t let it go. And neither could Dante, apparently.
My phone started vibrating across the table, the screen lighting up. I glanced at it, frowning when I saw an unknown number. Picking it up, I swiped my thumb across the screen.
“Hello?”
“Is this Mrs. Rosania?” I didn’t recognize the voice.
“Yes. May I ask who’s calling?”
“My name is David Atwell. I’d like to set up a meeting with you.”
I sat up, frowning. “How did you get my personal number?”
“You could say I have a very informative career.” That’s all the information he gave me. “But really, I would like to meet with you very soon concerning our mutual friend.”
“If this is about Dante, you can go fuck yourself,” I snapped, about to hang up.
“Another mutual friend,” David replied dryly. “One who likes snakes a little too much.”
Oh.
I tried to think of something to say, my mind racing. The only people who would be interested in discussing this issue was either a cop, a fed, or someone in between. Everyone in the underground was afraid of the Snake by now, after they so thoroughly took out two mafia bosses within a few weeks of each other. Other than Dante, no one was actively seeking the Snake out—and I would have recognized my own husband’s voice. I’d hope.
“Where and when?” I asked cautiously. If this was a trap, I could always arrange for backup. If it wasn’t…this could be one more person who could finally help us eliminate the Snake for good.
“Are you free today by chance?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. Meet me at the restaurant on the corner of your street in ten minutes. I’ll be the one dressed in black.” The line clicked shut.
I stared down at my phone, a sinking feeling in my stomach. There was no denying that this was most likely a suit looking for information. But the other men in uniform had never reached me on my personal number before. This time felt different. More urgent.