Page 56 of She Belongs to Me
I usually laughed or huffed when she made this joke, but not today. She instantly noticed the change in my demeanor.
“Okay, I’ll stop. I can tell it’s bothering you.”
“Bullshit,” I told her. “You’ll start up again.” Yep. I was cranky as fuck on top of everything.
She knew when to stop pushing, at least momentarily. “Domino told me about the extra security, including at my house. You’re that worried about Adonis Dimitriou? Such a pig.”
I’d forgotten when she’d taken a trip to the United States, she’d had an encounter with him that had left him… close to being forced to live life without testicles. If there was one thing my sister loathed, it was a slick asshole trying to put the moves on her.
“He’s unpredictable. Just like the Bratva. Pops once shared with me a story when all was quiet in Italy, the various families getting along. There was a strong understanding that no one could enter Italy without facing all the families and for the most part, the peace lasted for almost twenty years.”
“Then the Bratva direct from Moscow brought an army into the country and slaughtered over a thousand people. I remember the story, brother. But times have changed.”
“Have they really? Some syndicates gravitate toward the old ways and always will. Violence is innate in their DNA. I am worried. There’s something about what Alexandra witnessed that is far bigger than just a man being killed inside a bakery.”
“I’m no fool, Nico. I’ve spent a little time with a special bottle of wine, a nice fire, and my laptop. Jonathan Weber, the man who was beheaded, wasn’t just some guy who’d fucked the Greeks over.”
“I know. He was a senator.”
Isabella nodded. “Do you remember the guy I dated when I finished those two years in America?”
I glared at her, raising my own eyebrow this time. It had been a huge bone of contention from my parents, both her living in the United States for the final two years of college and with her having an American boyfriend. Heritage and customs were still strong within Italy, no matter how many changes in business operations there were. Family came first. Always. Daughters were precious. They were almost held in higher regard. They were certainly more protected, encouraged to stay close to the family unit.
Maybe the thinking was a bit Neanderthal, but not everything changed quickly in a country where arranged marriages had been a tradition. Thankfully, my mother had put her foot down on that barbaric practice.
“How could I forget? I almost killed him,” I told her.
“You almost killed every boy who came into my life.”
“Funny. What’s your point?”
“My point is that I’ve remained friendly. I contacted him last night to see if he knew anything.”
I almost laughed. She’d found the son of a mafia leader while attending Columbia. He’d been mostly good to her, although when he’d started pressuring her for marriage, I’d been forced to intervene. “Did the great Carlos know anything?” It had annoyed Pops the guy had been of Spanish descent.
“He said there is significant unrest, not only in the ranks of crime syndicates in the US, but also with certain politicians.”
“From what?”
“Just his conjecture, but it appears the Greeks managed to get themselves in on some pretty juicy secrets. Plus, there’s some pipeline project.”
“Fascinating,” I said. “Yes, and it would nearly destroy Adonis’ fortune. But I think that situation is merely a cover.”
“As in guarding better kept secrets?” Her grin was infectious.
“Perhaps. In a sense, a new form of crowd control.”
“Don’t take it lightly. Remember what our father always told us. Knowledge is the real power. What he also mentioned was that if there was a witness to one of the players’ deaths, then it could blow up their entire scheme. And I assure you the Greeks are not well liked.”
“I guess not.” That meant Alexandra was in even more danger at this point.
“You guess not? Brother. Come on. I know you. Extra security? Extra soldiers? You’re really worried.”
“Yeah, I am. We don’t need any shit at this point.”
“You’re trained for it. Stop worrying. You have state-of-the-art systems. You’ll know if and when the Greeks or anyone else make a move. Now, let’s talk about a dinner party.” Her eyes were twinkling all over again.
I huffed and shook my head. “As you said, this is something that needs to be taken seriously. I don’t think having a dinner party, even a small one is in our best interest.”