Page 28 of Devil's Deal

I didn’t want to tell him things he didn’t need to know, but I wouldn’t lie to him. Unfortunately, I knew exactly who he was talking about, and not much good came out of that particular organization.

“See. You have nothing to say because I’m right.” Cory threw his hands up in the air in frustration.

“I can tell you I’ve never worked with them.”

“With them specifically? But not with any of the other Families in town. Don’t even think of lying to me, Bosley. I know Dante is one of the Buccellis.”

Well, shit. He wasn’t supposed to figure that out, but if I asked him how he did, it was as good as confirming it. I patted the couch cushion next to me. “Why don’t you come have a seat and tell me about your nephew.”

Frustrated, he stomped across the room and sat at the other end, as far away from me as possible. “What’s there to say? Emilio was a good kid, a great kid. He had a so-so relationship with his father, but he adored my sister. It was them against the world. Mac and I spent a lot of time with him, too.

“He had so many plans for after he graduated from high school, but the day after he turned eighteen, he disappeared without a trace. My sister called the police, but they said he probably ran away. She contacted his father, and he said he and his guys would look for him, but they never turned up anything. And Mac, well, he didn’t trust anyone, so he hired a private investigator himself.”

I sat forward, letting my clasped hands dangle between my knees. “And that’s it? No one ever found him?”

“Not until recently. The last PI Mac hired found a lead not too long after he passed away, and he’s been chasing it down. Emilio’s my last relative, and I want him back.”

My brain shuffled quickly through the facts he was spitting at me. “Where’s your sister?”

“She died about a year-and-a-half after he went missing.”

“I’m sorry, Cory. What happened?”

He huffed bitterly. “The doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with her, but I know. She died of a broken heart.”

“Are you sure…” I trailed off at the quelling glare he shot me. Who was I to say she didn’t?

“Emilio was happy. He hadn’t said anything to any of his friends about taking off. One day, he was there, and the next, he was gone. Something happened to him, and I’m going to find him.”

Jesus. He’d been through so much. His nephew went missing, his sister died, and then his husband died in an accident a year ago. How the hell was he holding his shit together? “I really am so sorry.”

He waved me off. “Everyone is. But I didn’t bring you up here for sympathy. I want to know who you are and why your business associate would loan you his men. What do you have on him? Or are you important in that world?”

Fuck. Damn. Shit.This was exactly why I didn’t do relationships. Things got messy when I spent time with someone for longer than a weekend. This was exactly why I should’ve left and never came back. I could’ve hired someone else to help Cory out without getting involved myself. Now he was figuring out things that he didn’t need to know. That he shouldn’t know. I didn’t want his life in danger. If I was honest with myself, I also didn’t want him to hate me.

“I can’t really answer that question. All I can say is that I go way back with the current Boss of the Buccelli Family. Back to when we were kids. He needed me to review the productivity of some of his businesses, and I said I’d do it in exchange for him helping you out.”

Cory’s face contorted with fury. “Why in the hell would you think I want that shit in my place of business? In my home?” He opened his arms and gestured around the belfry.

I licked my lips, thinking. Sometimes, honesty was the best policy. “I didn’t think you’d want the mob in your hotel, but I also didn’t think that you’d know. Hell, most people don’t even realize the mafia is alive and well. Dante’s Boss promised me they wouldn’t conduct any shady business on the premises, and they’ll be gone as soon as possible. Right after they figure out who’s breaking into the rooms.”

“And you really think they’ll just go? You truly believe they won’t do whatever the hell they want while they’re here? Bullshit. What if someone from a rival Family comes in? You really don’t think they’ll shed blood in my lobby?”

And here lay another dilemma. I knew for damn sure they wouldn’t do any of those things because Nico didn’t want to incur my wrath, which meant he’d put his men on a short leash before he sent them over. But I couldn’t explain that to Cory without telling him who I was and what I did. Since I had no intention of doing that, it left me with a problem. “I know we don’t know each other very well.”

“No, we sure as hell don’t. I thought you were a businessman.”

“I am.” I shuffled on the couch, facing him and pasting on the sincere face I adopted years ago to slide under the radar. “Cory, Iamjust a businessman. Do I deal with some unsavory people from time to time? Of course I do. And believe me when I tell you, most of them are the ones in the high-rises downtown.”

He scoffed. “They may be sharks, but they don’t kill people.”

I barely held in my wince. I wouldn’t be so sure about that. “What do you want me to do? Do you want me to leave? Because I will. But I’m telling you right now, Dante and those men downstairs are staying until the break-in issue is resolved.”

Cory gaped at me. “You, you can’t do that,” he sputtered. He thumped his hands on his chest. “This is my hotel. Mine.”

“It is,” I said, nodding slowly. “But I’ve grown fond of you and Everest and Harlow, and I’m concerned. I’m not leaving you in danger. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to any of you.”

He glared stubbornly at the TV. “You forgot Huey,” he said, sullenly, after five minutes.

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