“Oh yeah? And you just believe him, even though we have evidence?”
“He has no reason to lie.”
I grip my hair, my calm long gone. “I don’t give a fuck if you think that. He killed my cousin. I want his location, or I will kill every single one of you until I find him.”
If I hadn’t been traveling across the country with my team, I would have started my vendetta months ago. When my dad told me what had happened, it gave me something to focus on that wasn’t work.
He exhales loudly and doesn’t say anything for at least a minute. But I give him the time. I’ve been trying to find him and/or Vladimir for months now, and this is my best shot.
“I’m not just going to hand him over like that, but I have a deal for you.”
“I’m listening.”
“I need all the details of the murder, and then I’ll prove to you that Vladimir didn’t kill Tommaso,” he pauses, “under one condition.”
Despite the grim conversation, I smile.
I am ninety-nine percent sure that Vladimir killed Tommaso; he left a handwritten note for fuck’s sake, so Nikolai can run in circles to prove me otherwise for all I care. All I want is to get my revenge. The Mafia families have been civil for the majority of the past few years after coming to a mutually beneficial agreement regarding the districts. But the most basic rule still counts: an eye for an eye.
Cooling my expression, I swallow, not wanting to give away anything. “And what would that be?”
“Stop insulting my intelligence, durak. We both know your engagement to Alessandra is a sham. Call it off.”
I ignore that he just called me an idiot because, motherfucking, yes, I got him. Hook. Line. And fucking sinker. “Or what?”
“Or you’ll never find Vladimir.”
“Deal.”
“Good.”
“When can I expect the information?”
“In two weeks.”
My breath catches in my throat. “Two weeks?”
“Yes.”
“Why not sooner?”
“Because I . . . just because.”
“I see.” I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t just heard him hesitate during his answer. He isn’t ready to send Alessandra back home. I’m surprised he’s sending her back at all, but if I had to guess, that might be Alessandra’s doing.
“Stop gloating or the deal is off.”
“Ditto.”
“I’ll send the details for the exchange. Let me know when you’ve done your part once she’s back, and I’ll do mine.”
The line goes dead before I can reply, but I let it slide. I’ve given my life to this mission for most of the last few months, and I’m finally going to get my revenge.
With my mood in the sky, I call my dad and update him on what’s going on. He wants me back in the city in a week for a meeting, which means I have one week left with Gemma up here. And I plan on using every single second of it to my advantage. Preferably spending it inside her.
I jog up the stairs just as my phone rings again. I stop to answer it. “What?”
“Santarossa, is this a bad time?”