“What kind of precautions?” Cav asks. “Because if we need extra security, I have an agency we use when we’re in the city. They can send us a dozen guys, if necessary.”
“Good to know. Right now, I think the safest thing for everyone is to go back to Dom’s.”
“His brownstone in Hell’s Kitchen?” Eden asks. She’s surprised I’d suggest our father’s version of a castle, a place most of us weren’t typically welcomed in growing up.
“Yeah. It’s locked down better than any place in the city. We’ve got people I trust there, and armored SUVs to transport you.”
“What about Banner and Logan?” Greer asks, holding up her phone. “They’re checked into a hotel in Jersey. They stashed the car at a garage with a guy Logan knows.”
“Tell them to stay put. Actually, tell them to stay the hell out of the city since they’re already out safely. We can worry about the car later.”
“What do you mean,since they’re already out safely?Can’t we leave safely too?” Greer’s voice takes on a panicky undertone.
“You know the game, Greer. We have to be smart. Watch our moves. Whoever shot up the restaurant might not have any problem coming back to finish whatever they were after.” This reply comes from Cav.
I’m thankful my half brother gets what’s going on. After all, he spent plenty of time growing up in this life, the life I never really wanted. But here I am, handing out orders like I’m Dom himself.
“Everyonein this waiting room is going to the brownstone. The club will be closed, but I’ll make sure Tanya arranges meals for everyone.”
“And then what?” Eden’s gaze bounces from me to the bearded, tattooed man beside her. “Because last time I had to go into hiding, I kind of ended up married and didn’t come home for a long while.”
While Eden and Bishop’s story is their own, I get what she’s saying.
“It won’t be indefinite. Just until we figure out who did this and how we’re going to handle them.” In the back of my mind, the nameRossettiis blaring, and while my instincts are usually pretty damn accurate, I want proof before I go off half-cocked like Enzo. I didn’t see them with my own eyes like Benny claimed he did.
Are they the most likely candidates? Absolutely.
Am I going to make the streets run red with the blood of innocents like they did? Absolutely fucking not.
Benny rises from his chair, his magazine tucked under his arm. “I’ll help you figure out exactly who needs to pay for this. Get me back to Dom’s, and I’ll dig up my old Rolodex of contacts and start asking questions.”
“Thanks, Benny, but you don’t have to get involved. You’re retired.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, kid. You don’t ever retire in this business. You just get less active. I’m ready. Put me to use.”
From beside me, Memphis whispers, “I’m really good at digging. You could say it’s my special skill. If there’s a laptop I can use at his place, I can get to work. Plus, I have a friend who can pull the camera footage of every shop on the street and get us a video of everything. I should’ve thought of it sooner. I was just—”
I wrap my arm around her and squeeze tighter. “We’ve been busy. It’s okay. Call in whatever favors you can,safely. I’ll take all the help I can get.”
I look away from her face to the others in the room. It’s a strange mix of people, some who understand the situation we’re in, and some who just think they do.
“Whoever has connections—call them in. Discreetly.”
“What about the cop who was on the scene? Should we be asking him for help?” Greer brings up Clinton Cole’s presence right after the shooting happened, and I could kick myself for not thinking of him first.
I reach up and scratch the back of my neck. “I’ll talk to him. No matter what happens next, no one else connected to this family gets hurt.”
* * *
Memphis,Eden, Bishop, Greer, Cav, and Benny left with Warren and Tempo to head to the brownstone. With nothing else to do but wait for another update about Dom, I stand in the doorway to Creighton’s room.
Holly sits beside his bed, holding his hand.
“He’s out again?” I ask, even though the rhythmic rise and fall of Creighton’s chest signal he’s asleep once more.
“Yeah. He talked for a bit, but then they gave him some more pain meds and he said he wanted to rest his eyes for a minute. I take that as code for sleeping.” A hopeful note underpins Holly’s tone, and it bolsters the optimism I’m feeling.
“The doc have anything more to say?”