Page 29 of Shattered Choices

“This is Salvatore, my soon to be ex-husband.” I emphasize the wordex. “Don’t let him distract you.” For the mafiosi, they look like idiots.

Salvatore rests his weight on the wall near the door and watches with a grin on his face.

Why is he grinning? I just said, ‘soon to be ex-husband, but when I turn to Pino, I see why.

Pino’s gaze radiates with violence toward Salvatore. However, it’s not the time for that. I approach Pino and sit on the chair beside him.

Keeping my gaze on the game in front of me, I lean into the Pino’s side as I speak to him. “That day when I almost got arrested, Salvatore saved me.” Pino inhales sharply, but I continue. “I agreed with him helping me find whoever is behind it. I know being a woman in this business, especially in ‘Ndrangheta, is new and was frowned upon before now. I didn’t want to show my father that there is a problem and that I suspect his men. Salvatore is an outsider. I knew he could find the person who is selling the information without anyone suspecting anything, so when Salvatore offered to help, I accepted.”

I turn my head to meet his hurt gaze. “You should have trusted me. Haven’t I always protected you?”

“Yes, of course you have, but I wanted to give you some space. I know you’ve been busy with other things. With someone else, Pino. I didn’t want to steal that precious time you had. I didn’t want anyone to suspect anything.” I steal a look toward Salvatore, who is keeping his eyes on the game, and then Giovanni. “Besides, Salvatore knows people with skills you and I don’t have.”

He huffs. “What skills?”

I smirk. “Hacking into ROS’s main server.”

“Anyone can hack into a server these days.”

“Oh, this is on another level, Pino. How do you think he found out who I was before I ran away? And he’s erased all the information that includes my name in the evidence.”

“Fair enough.” His eyes flash. “You didn’t say who the person soon to be dead is.”

I scan the men in the room. “Take a guess.”

He follows my gaze. His jaw ticks, matching the hard twitching of his hand. “Is it Mauro?”

“No. Why would you think that?”

“He seems too agreeable about anything you say.”

“Do you think that’s bad?”

“No, but it’s either that or he has other motives.”

“Hmm.”

“What about Jacopo?”

“No. I think he doesn’t care much about who is the boss as long as he can play. And he likes the game and what comes after a little too much. Lidia, his usual girl, says he’s started to call her during the week.”

His eyes harden as he looks around. “Just say who the bastard is.”

“It’s Giovanni.”

Pino laughs. “Are you for real? Look at him. You mean to tell me that this greasy, short, round man is selling information? That he is our snitch? He looks like a clown and can’t match colors to save his life.”

I scan the bastard. “Yeah, but look at him. He’s desperate. He loses his money here, and the only girl taking pity on him after games is the one in most need of money herself. And besides, he’s the one who has been against any changes from the beginning.”

Pino shifts in his seat. “Yeah, but I thought he got over it after his slice of earnings increased. I guess I was wrong.”

“Don’t worry. We all make mistakes. For some people, it doesn’t matter how much money they have, it is never enough.”

I watch as Giovanni loses once again and Jacopo takes all the winnings. The vein on Giovanni’s forehead pops out, and his face reddens.

“Get ready for the action.” I smirk. “Lost again, Giovanni?” I raise my eyebrow as I watch him.

His gaze meets mine, and the sweat on his forehead drips down the side of his face. “He cheated.”

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