“Your father was my best friend, and I was hisgreatestconfidant. I’ve known you since you were born, and I’ve been a member of the familia since I was a teenager. And yet you accuse me ofbetrayal?” He steps up to me and curls his lips. “Of courseI talked to the Russians. They asked for me, and I believed I could help to settle our differences. And itworked. I’ve made more progress with them today than we could’ve in years if I hadn’t stepped in.”
“You disrespectful son of a bitch.” I shake my head and sneer. “I’ve put up with you for far too long.”
Disgust wrinkles Leo’s face, and he takes a breath as if to prepare himself for his next words. “I apologize if it seems I’ve disrespected you,sir,” he spews. “I know you told me you would like to be the one to take the initial meeting with Mr. Petrov. I didn’t realize that meant I was barred from any and all diplomatic communication. I don’t see the sense in that.” He clears his throat and drags his glare to Lorenzo then back to me. “Frankly, I don’t see the sense in many things lately, but it isn’t my place to question… of course.”
“You’re right. It isn’t your place. Neither is speaking to Nikita Petrov.”
“I would advise you to besmart, Don Settimo, and not let your pride get in the way of peaceful negotiations.”
“My pride?” I scoff and shake my head. “Where isyourpride, Romano? A rival organization disrespects our intelligence and accuses us of selling a subpar product. They lace our heroin, hoping to poison our customers and our men. And then they refuse to do business with the don. The time for peaceful negotiations has come to an end. To believe otherwise is spineless. And if you can’t see this, you don’t belong on my counsel.”
Romano’s glare falls, and he takes a step back. He’s more afraid of losing his position than he is of losing his life.
“You’re right, of course,” he pathetically agrees. “Peaceful was a poor word choice. I only mean negotiations to prevent a war. They will need to pay for what they’ve done.”
“And how do you propose they do that?” Lorenzo asks.
Leo turns to him. “I don’t know. It isn’t my call, and today wasn’t about that.” He turns to me and frowns. “Unfortunately, sir, I believe we have a mole. Nikita Petrov heard about some plans we have with the Irish, and if I hadn’t talked him down today, he would’ve launched an attack. He was enraged. I was deeply disappointed to discover I had no knowledge of our conversations with the Irish, but someone who did must have told him.” He takes a breath and moves his narrowed eyes toward a bookcase off to my side. His eyes glaze like he’s thinking of who the mole could be.
Did Nikita not tell Romano he spoke to Alex, or is Romano as full of shit about this as he is everything else? It doesn’t matter much to me. Romano will never get another word of sensitive information. He’s climbing his way out of the grave I’ve dug for him, but he’s seen the last of his authority. I don’t trust him, and after this, I never will.
“If it was a simple misunderstanding, why would you keep this to yourself?”
“I didn’t.”
I glance toward Lorenzo who has a scowl locked onto Romano. I look back at Romano for him to explain.
He sighs. “I meant to tell you of my meeting with Mr. Petrov, but I wanted to collect myself first. I knew you would be angry when you heard how close Nikita was to attacking us, and I felt you would take it best if the information didn’t come from me. So I told Anthony this afternoon. I assumed he’d already spoken with you and cleared this up.”
Anthony. He called me a couple of hours ago, and I haven’t called him back. Of course my little brother listened to Romano’s bullshit. I simultaneously want to roll my eyes and punch a wall, but I do neither.
Romano raises a brow. “Out of curiosity, if Anthony didn’t tell you about my meeting with Mr. Petrov, who did?”
He looks over his shoulder at Alex, and it’s the first time since we walked into the study that I register she’s there. She shouldn’t be. The women aren’t supposed to listen to anything business related, and I’ve already broken enough of my own rules when it comes to giving Alex information.
I keep my eyes on Romano and fight the urge to turn around. He isn’t stupid, he’ll know Alex told me. Even if he didn’t know Alex spoke to Nikita herself today, Paolo still could’ve told her about his father’s meeting.
What will happen to her if Nikita finds out? I already know the answer.
“I did.”
I turn around and find the owner of the masculine voice. Paolo stands in the doorway and takes a few steps into the office. “Before you told Anthony. I felt Don Settimo had a right to know immediately.”
I turn back to Romano, who’s shooting daggers at his son. He looks like he buys Paolo’s lie with the way his eyes darken with fury.
“Well, how noble of you, son. Next time, maybe you should warn me. We could’ve avoided the theatrics.”
“I apologize,” Paolo says, walking a couple feet past my left and placing his hands in his pockets. He looks at me. “I apologize, sir. I didn’t mean to cause tension.”
I give a curt nod. “It’s fine.”
I search Paolo’s eyes for a moment before turning my gaze to Romano. I keep my face hard and try to make my expression as blank as Lorenzo’s. I don’t want to show my surprise. Part of me thinks Ishouldkill Romano in cold blood, that way I can be sure Nikita never finds out about Alex. But it feels wrong. It feels like something a weak don would do. A prideful don.
Romano meets my eyes. “I apologize also. For the misunderstanding.”
I raise my chin and grit my teeth. “The familia has always appreciated your efforts, Leo, but it’s become clear to me that our communication is ineffective. This is done, for now. But I wouldstronglyencourage you to consult with me instead of doing my business behind my back.”
“Of course, sir.” Romano’s lips lift in a sour smile. “You said this is done? For now?”