Page 2 of Cruel Secrets

Things like that just can’t be rushed.

As the lights flick off in Gia’s bedroom, I get into my car and leave her behind, the same way I left her twenty-four months, two weeks, and four days ago.

Not that I’m keeping count.

* * *

Aiden is already sittingin one of the booths when I unlock the door to the closed rooftop café.

It’s one of the buildings I own as a front, and though he has a key, I didn’t think he would beat me here. I certainly didn’t think he would have found the stash of alcohol I keep on hand for special occasions.

He looks up, swirling around the red wine in his glass and nodding to the bottle in the middle of the table. “You know, I didn’t think you were one for wine.”

“Depends on the wine.” I slide out of my leather moto jacket, hanging it on one of the gold hooks by the door. “What are you doing here? I thought we weren’t going to be meeting until tomorrow.”

The door to the patio opens and Sean Andino walks in, shoving his phone into his pocket. “Because things changed.”

Between Sean and Aiden, they control over three quarters of New York City’s criminal underworld. Noah Rinaldo is chipping away at them, trying to gain ground, but it’s an ongoing battle.

One that he’s going to lose.

The Rinaldos have no idea what connections we have. What lengths we’re willing to go to. This isn’t the same mafia that my father ran. It’s evolving and with it the shadows are getting darker—what lurks is the more monstrous.

My eyebrows rise as I head to the kitchen and grab a beer from the fridge. Even though I keep wine here, it’s more for the few women I have seen in the last couple years, not for me.

I’ve never been able to get past the taste of rotten grapes.

Cracking the top of the beer, I head over to the booth, sitting on the opposite side from Aiden.

Sean hauls a chair over, glancing toward the door. “Are you sure that this is a safe place to talk?”

I nod, taking a long pull of the beer. “It’s fine. My employees here are all on Aiden’s payroll.”

Aiden hums his agreement, sloshing the wine around the glass again before finishing it off. “So, what did tonight tell you?”

“I found out where she lives.” I put the bottle down on the table, running my fingers through the condensation before letting go. “She’s alone too. I’ve been watching her apartment for the last two weeks and the only other person coming or going is her mother and some woman named Kat Lawson. No connections to the Rinaldos beyond her friendship with Gia.”

“Matt and Dominic have both been sent now to try and track down Noah for negotiations, but nobody has been able to find him.” Aiden scowls out the window like it’s the bane of his existence.

My lips press together in a thin line as I glance between the two of them. “Is that why we’re having this meeting right now? Neither of you can track him down even though it’s been months since he attacked the two of you and Ellie.”

“I don’t like it any more than you do.” Aiden grinds out the words, his grip so tight on the stem of the wineglass that I’m sure he’s going to break it. “Negotiations are the only way forward.”

Sean rolls his eyes. “There is no way that Noah is ever going to come to the table. If I were him, I would think that it’s nothing but an assassination attempt.”

“Which would be why he went underground.” I take another sip of the beer and lean back, draping my arm over the back of the booth.

Aiden shakes his head. “He’s going to come out once someone can get a message to him. Negotiations are the best way of moving forward. I won’t have him carving his fucking initials into another one of my sisters.”

Sean glowers at him, though his own brand is hidden behind the tattoo he got when he and Ellie got married. Both of them have their brands covered, but there’s going to be no outrunning the memory.

Which is why I’m not surprised when Sean shoves back from the table, the chair scraping against the tile and falling to the ground.

Branding. Now that’s a thought.

Although, to brand Gia before I kill her would be to claim her as mine again. She doesn’t deserve that—not when we were together and certainly not now. Maybe if she’s willing to submit, she might live.

Sean slams his hand down on the table in front of Aiden. “I’m not going to sit around and wait for this asshole to show his face and hurt my wife again.”

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