My hands shake and my breaths come in short, rapid bursts as I climb into my car and grab my phone from the cupholder. I pull up Settimo’s contact and type the text icon. I have to redo the message three times before my fingers land on the right keys.
I did it. Nikita wants to see Leo Romano. You were right.
17
SETTIMO
“Are you sure you can trust Alex?” Lorenzo asks from the passenger seat of the SUV.
We’re on our way to Leo Romano’s house. It’s just the two of us so we’re the only ones who know of the outcome of this trip.
My knuckles are white from gripping the wheel, and my heart is beating fast. I can feel the blood in my face and the vein throbbing in my forehead. Anger and betrayal have sent me into full-fledged fight or flight mode, but there’s some relief there too. Relief that, if all goes as planned, Romano will be out of the way for good.
“She risked her life today, Lorenzo. What more can I ask of her?”
“You don’t know that for certain, but youdoknow she doesn’t like the arrangement she’s in. She has reason to want Romano gone.”
“She wouldn’t lie,” I say with finality. Lorenzo doesn’t say another word about it, so he either believes me or he knows it’ll do no good to argue. I wonder if the rest of the familia will feel that way.
I don’t have proof Romano met Nikita today because by the time I sent someone to keep an eye on him, he was gone. If Romano lies about the meeting, it will be his word against Alex’s, and Alex’s word is worthless to the familia. This is why no one but Lorenzo can come with me to confront the snake. I don’t intend to admit I didn’t have eyes on Romano, nor do I plan to accept his lie.
I’ll kill him if he lies. It’s a betrayal in and of itself, and I won’t let him try to fool me again.
Romano’s home comes into view, and I step on the gas. Lorenzo glances at me but says nothing. I whip into the drive and slam the car into park. I jerk open the door and march toward the entrance of the three-story home.
It’s locked, as it always is, but a guy on Romano’s security detail opens up and lets me through without asking what I want. He knows better. He would’ve called his boss when we pulled in, so Romano knows we’re here. Good.
“Where is he?” I snap at a woman who pops her head from the kitchen. She looks like a member of the staff too, with her hair in a loose bun and an apron tied around her waist.
I stiffen when Alex slides by the woman and hurries toward me. She’s wearing a pretty, black dress and has her hair up. Shiny earrings dangle from her ears.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask, lowering my voice.
Alex bites her lip and flicks her gaze from Lorenzo to me. “Mr. Romano is having some people over for dinner, and I’m Paolo’s date. Whatever you’re doing, this isn’t a good time.”
“Where is he now?” Lorenzo asks.
She looks at me when she answers. “He’s in his study, but—”
I push past Alex and stomp down a hallway. I vaguely recall the layout of the place and try to remember where the study is. I’ve never met Romano here to discuss business, but I’ve had dinner here a few times when my father was alive.
Alex grabs my arm and hisses something I don’t listen to.
I spot two heavy doors ahead of me and guess that they’re to the office.
“Alex, you should go,” Lorenzo says behind me. She doesn’t let go of my arm, and I don’t ask her to. I push through the study door and walk a few feet into the room before stopping. Alex lets go of me and shrinks back. Lorenzo steps up beside me, and Romano gets up from his desk and walks around it.
“Well, this is a pleasant surprise,” he says, holding out his hand as he approaches me. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“What the fuck were you thinking?” I grab his red button-down shirt and yank him toward me. I lift him onto his toes and get in his face. “You’ve been loyal to the familia my whole life, and now you decide to conspire with our biggest rivals? My father trusted you, you son of a bitch.”
Leo narrows his eyes and jerks away from me. He straightens his shirt and stands tall. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“Nikita Petrov. You met with him today. After I told you not to communicate with him. You’ve betrayed my trust, as well as the familia’s, and that is a crime that will not go unpuni—”
“Jesus, Settimo.Breathe, son.”
My eyes widen, and Lorenzo puts his hand on my shoulder to try and settle me.