I spit on the ground. Selfish prick! “Wasn’t he pissed at you because you refused the deal just a few weeks ago?”
“He wants to save face. Him and his fucking pride. A wedding has to happen in his book,” Marco explains what we already know.
“What kind of book is that? The old greedy bastard’s tale?”
“Did you give Mario’s phone to Jeff?” Seb asks.
I nod. “I can’t fucking believe I’m back to square one.”
As soon as Mario answered his brother’s message, we were able to follow the signal to a place in Hunts Point. I was armed to the hilt, the Enzino killer ready in my hand. But all we found was his fucking phone in a dumpster.
“This is not square one,” Marco states firmly.
“We now know that Mario is back in New York and that he thinks something is wrong, otherwise he wouldn’t have ditched his cell. Do you reckon Arturo gave him the heads up with that message somehow?”
I shake my head without even thinking about it.
Marco snorts. “That was quick. Did you fuck him yet?”
I growl, grinding my teeth.
Marco turns to Seb. “Did he fuck the Enzino twink yet?”
Seb is the boss of the Leone family for many reasons. Always knowing what is going on around him is one of them.
“No,” he simply replies, looking unfazed by the whole conversation.
“And I never will!” I bark.
“Little lies usually cover bigger ones,” he throws at me cryptically before changing the topic. “Do we know where Arturo and Fly are?”
Both Jeff and Carlo sent me a message as soon as they left the building. “Jeff is tailing their car, unbeknownst to them. They went to Enzino’s apartment to get his dog, and now they are actually heading our way,” I reply.
Coming to check Enzino and Aurora Coretti’s club was Seb’s idea, and as usual, things worked out for him. Marco wanted to go after them as soon as we got news about their little trip, but Seb insisted we join him here after his meeting with Akira Hebikawa, the boss of the most powerful Yakuza gang in New York. We are Seb’s right and left hands. We never let him go alone to meet other bosses; it’s too dangerous. It doesn’t matter that Akira’s husband is River, Fly’s brother. I neglected my job today and my family to follow Mario’s phone—a wild goose chase. I’m so fucking angry at myself, at Mario, at Art. Even at Marco for choosing me over Seb—even though Seb ordered him to go with me.
Now, we are here to consolidate our new partnership with the Yakuza. Thanks to Fly’s relationship to River, Seb was able to strike a deal with the Japanese Mafia. Family is very important to them just as much as it is to us. And I need to remember that.I believe we just started a very profitable affiliation that will help us crush Enzino once and for all. Maybe this is the right path to follow.
“I have two trackers on Fly and one on Santo, even if they change destination, we will know.” Marco is barely containing his anger. “My naughty butterfly will answer to me as soon as he gets here.”
“No. Give me ten minutes,” Seb calmly tells him.
“Why?”
“I want to see what they do.”
“You want to examine them like bugs,” I translate for him.
He nods unabashedly. “I want to study them. Arturo’s audacious behavior and willingness to give us information puzzle me. Something doesn’t add up.”
I’ve been feeling the same since I met him. He’s wearing a mask most of the time, and when it comes off, he doesn’t act like a Mafia heir. He’s too vulnerable and lost. And…hurt. Is that an act too?
“That’s why I want to see him in action. Unless you have a problem with that?” Seb looks at me knowingly.
“Why would I? My only problem is I’ll have to wait ten more minutes before I gethim.”
“And what will you do then?” Marco’s tone is taunting. “Burn a hole right through him. You didn’t even blink when you stared at him back at your apartment.”
“The fuck I didn’t,” I growl at him.