His expression grew stormy. “The territory… Is that all you care about,bella? Didheput you uptothis?”
Primo’s emphasis on the word “he” told her all she needed to know about his feelings regarding Damian. She would have to tread carefully. Primo didn’t let go of wrongs easily — real or perceived. Her betrayal of Primo when she’d left New York with Damian would be fresh inhismind.
She forced her voice calm, reached across the table to touch his arm. “This has nothing to do with Damian. You said on the phone that you wondered if it was too late to sell him the territory. Don’t youremember?”
He yanked his hand away, his expression turning petulant. “Of course, Iremember.”
“It’s a smart idea.” Stroking Primo’s ego was one of many methods she’d devised over the years to bring him around when his paranoia got the best of him, when he began to see enemies in every corner, when he began to think even she was his enemy. “Damian is determined to take the territory. He’s working with other powerful men — men who have unending resources, Primo. We’re not equipped to fightthemoff.”
She’d lumped herself in with him intentionally. She was less connected to his business than ever, but he needed to see her as an ally, needed to believe that she was still onhisside.
In many ways, it was true; she was on his side. She wanted him to make it out of this mess with the Syndicate — withDamian.
WithMalcolm.
Because whether Primo realized it or not, he was in trouble with Malcolm. It had always been inevitable, but now that Malcolm was working with Stefano Anastos, it couldn’t be denied. Malcolm was using Primo’s discord with Damian to make his move for the territory. He was smart enough to know this was his last shot. Once Damian took the territory for the Syndicate, it would betoolate.
“You don’t know what I’m equipped for anymore.” He took a nervous slug of coffee. “Youdon’tknow.”
Her throat constricted. She was the only one in his world who cared enough to try and save him. He was surrounded by luxury, by men who had pledged their loyalty to him, but it was a world built onartifice.
A paper world that would crumble at the first strong wind — and the wind was already blowing. He just didn’t knowityet.
She tried to change tactics. “We always knew this was temporary, Primo. You said so when it started, remember? You told me that you were going to capitalize on the vacuum of power in New York, that you were going to make our fortune and get out, that you were only doing it so we never had to worry about money again.” She forced herself to smile at him, forced herself to play his game one more time. “You were right. We made so much money, Primo. We can leave New York now and go anywhere, doanything.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You would go with me? You would leave him to comewithme?”
“Of course. We’refamily.”
It was painful to lie to him, but it wasn’t the first time she’d been forced to do it. When Primo was on a rant, there was nothing to do except to pacify him, to tell him whatever was necessary to get him to the other side where he would be more reasonable. Most of the time he wouldn’t remember the things he’d said, the things he’d demanded, and she was never in a hurry toremindhim.
She just needed to get him through this episode, get him to agree to hand over the territory. Then she could talk to Damian and work on getting Primo the help heneeded.
Hestudiedher.
“You lie,bella.I know you, and you’re lying. You want to staywithhim.”
She didn’t try to defend herself. It never worked when he waslikethis.
“I’m trying to help you,Primo.”
“Prove it,” he said, his voice steely. “Come backwithme.”
Panic welled inside her at the thought of leaving with Primo, at the thought of being taken away from Damian. She forced herself to stay calm. She was in a public place, and Primo was in no condition to force her to gowithhim.
Still, this had been a mistake. She wasn’t going to get through to Primo in his current state. He was too far gone. The most she could do was plant the seed and hope he considered it after theypartedways.
She reached for her scarf and wound it around her neck. “These are dangerous men, Primo,” she said. “They’re going to take back New York one way or another. Think about it. I’ll be intouch.”
She stood to leave and was surprised by the strength of his grip on herwrist.
“You don’t walk away from me,bella.Not ever. I say when we’re donetalking.”
She turned to face him, had to force herself not to flinch in the face of the rage playing on his face. Primo in his fury-filled incarnation had become her boogeyman. It had long been the thing she ran from, the thing she hid from, the thing that had the most controloverher.
Nomore.
She’d been to hell and back. Had dodged bullets in Capri and been dragged away from the man she loved in the night. She’d been locked up and beaten, forced to fear forherlife.