Page 18 of Devil's Deal

Nico huffed. “I know what you’re doing right now, Romeo. You taught me that, remember? How to appear calm, controlled. How to keep anyone from knowing my inner-thoughts and secrets.” He nodded. “Yeah, you taught me, and you taught me so well that you landed my ass behind that desk with this ring.”

He stroked his thumb over the Buccelli Family ring. Not with the reverence I’d expected but with the detachment I’d taught him to give the illusion of.

“It was your birthright the second your father died. It was bound to happen someday.”

He tensed, staring at the office doors like he was waiting for someone to come in. But he wasn’t. He was thinking, processing this encounter, buying time. He was right. I’d taught him, and I’d taught him well. He moved to the front of the desk, in front of my chair, and perched half an ass cheek on it, and leaned toward me. “I don’t want to say you owe us, so please don’t make me.”

My spine stiffened. This was why I’d avoided this town. The call for payback for a decision I’d never made and hadn’t had control of. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Staring at me intently, he said, “I need your help, old friend, and I want you to do it willingly.”

Well, fuck.I rolled my hand at him to continue.

“The transfer of power hasn’t exactly gone…smoothly.”

I shrugged. “There’s always a learning curve. For you. For the Family. You’ve only been Boss a few months. You have to give it time.”

His mouth pinched. “Under normal circumstances, I’d agree, but my grandfather had…how do I say this? Grown lax in the last couple of years. Antonio’s hinted at grumbling.”

I took in how stiffly Nico held himself and relented, humoring him for a second. “Hinted? What’s that supposed to mean? He’s your underboss. He should know exactly what’s going on.” Myself, I didn’t like Antonio. My uncle hadn’t either. But the man had been faithful to Matteo, Nico’s grandfather.

Nico huffed. “I’m sure he does, but he watched me grow up. I think he’s protective. Wants to handle as much of it for me as he can while I get a handle on things.”

That didn’t track with the Antonio that I knew, but he’d always been different with the Buccelli children. I was my uncle’s pain-in-the-ass nephew who’d needed somewhere to go while his dumbass mom served time. He’d hated me. I hadn’t been around in years, so Nico would know better. That didn’t change the facts.

“You’re the Boss. I can appreciate his protectiveness, but it’s not his right. He reports to you.”

Nico waved that off. “I’ll deal with him. But I need information.”

“Come on, Nico. If you need someone taken out, eh, for the right price, you know I’m your man.”

He leaned toward me, more intense. “But I know you, Romeo. You don’t do anything without watching, learning routines, and the lay of the land. That’s what I need.”

Scoffing, I relaxed back into my chair. “Have Vin or Rocco do it.”

He shook his head. “No. I need this information to be unbiased.” Glaring, he stood up. “Don’t make me demand you stay.”

Fuck. I’d repaid my debt time and again, but now that my uncle was gone, the only one who knew that was me. “And your brothers? Will they know what I’m up to?”

He gave one sharp shake of his head. “This will be between me and you. I can’t have anyone know how concerned I am. Not even them.”

He had to look strong. In control. He wasn’t wrong. His grandfather had run this Family for a long, long time. He’d taken over after his own father, and if the rumors were true—which I personally thought they were—he’d been the one to take out his old man. My old friend had big shoes to fill, which wouldn’t be easy if he didn’t know who to trust.

My thoughts took me to Cory. Quirky Cory. The issues at his hotel weren’t my problem, but they bothered me. There was something about The Gin Mill’s owner that enticed me. If I stayed in Takoda, I could look into the break-ins myself.

“What will it cost?” Nico asked.

“I thought you were asking for a favor,” I answered lazily.

He inclined his head. “I’d appreciate you staying and doing this for me. But it’s not your responsibility. I know you don’t consider us Familia, no matter how we feel.”

“Vin doesn’t consider me Familia,” I said.

Nico’s eyes went hard, but otherwise, he ignored that. “You’d be providing me a service, and I expect to pay. Name your price.”

Hmm. “Any price?” I asked, quirking my eyebrow in challenge.

His eyes gleamed, sensing his triumph. “Name it.”

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