Mom and Laurie have decided to rearrange the walk-in closet because Pierre is coming over tomorrow and they need to make space for whatever Laurie wants.
Approaching the building that used to house a corporate firm before Rosie got her hands on it, I head toward the massive steel door and scan my palm print and retina before it lifts, allowing me to enter.
After Rosie pitched her ideas to us, we each poured millions into the project, and she transformed this place into her own personal fortress. Honestly, her father was fucking good at hacking and IT, but Rosie is a genius. She learned at eleven years old how to fuck with the lights in the houses that had electronic systems, making them switch on and off like the damn place was possessed.
The entire ground level is wired to blow. One command, and the building collapses straight down, burying anyone inside beneath steel and rubble.
We always enter via the underground parking garage, which is rigged with surveillance, and seeing Christiano talking with Remo and Enzo up ahead, I glance at the other groups of men.
Augusto punches Georgi’s shoulder before hauling him into a brotherly hug, and it has me heading straight for them. “What did I miss?”
“Georgi is going to propose to Nina,” Augusto replies.
So that’s what the secretive look was that I saw at the barbecue.
The next instant I’m bombarded with well wishes from all the men who weren’t at the barbecue until Christiano throws me a bone and says, “Let’s get this meeting started.”
Suddenly a wall moves, and every head turns to watch as a state-of-the-art boardroom is revealed with Rosie standing near the head of the table.
“Christ, when did you have time to put this together, Rosie?” Uncle Renzo, Georgi’s father, asks before letting out a low whistle.
“You can all thank Christiano and Enzo for funding my little pet project.” She grins at us. “Come in, gentlemen. We have a lot to cover in a short amount of time.”
I take in the screens with info about the enemy covering the back wall. The sides of the room are bathed in black stone with gold ambient lighting.
All the old capos sit on the right while the current ones take the left of the table.
Raya, Remo, Enzo, and the other underbosses take seats along the walls.
Rosie smiles at Christiano as he sits down at the head of the table and hands him a golden gavel. “You’re up, boss. Make it quick, though.”
He gives her a playful scowl before looking at the small mallet. Ourcapo dei capibrings it down on the sound block, then says, “First of all. You did one hell of a job, Rosie.” His gaze touches on every one of us. “There’s been whispers for a while now that there are three families who are trying to gather enough support to go up against us.”
He sets the gavel down and leans back in the leather chair. “Rosie will bring you all up to date.”
“Right.” She clicks a button on her remote and photos begin to scroll across the main screen. “The Castellanos, Bellandis, and Mancinis have been seen meeting at least twice a week. After Adriano killed Anthony, the Rinaldis and Bianchis joined the show.” She glances at me. “I don’t think they like you very much.”
Several of the men chuckle.
“Anyway, Raffaele was able to get close enough with a long-range listening device when the families met at a warehouse that belongs to Orlando Mancini.”
I was glad when I heard Augusto gave one of his most trusted men to Rosie. Being out there doing business with the scum of the world is not for her, and Raffaele is able to act in her stead as her underboss.
She clicks the button again and static crackles through the speakers as the recording picks up muffled voices.
‘He crossed a line when he wiped out the Castellanos,’a man says, his words distorted by distance.‘Every family in New York’s watching him now.’
A chair scrapes over concrete.
‘Good,’another voice mutters.‘Fear makes men reckless. Rizzo handed us the perfect excuse to unite the others.’
There’s the faint sound of footsteps before a third voice cuts in.‘The Russians are already listening. Chicago’s interested. Once the smaller crews realize they’re on the losing side, they’ll fall in behind us.’
‘And when they do?’This time I recognize the voice and my head snaps up.
“Fuck!” Dad snaps, his eyes flying to mine.
“Why does that guy sound familiar?” Remo asks.