Page 110 of Deal with the Devil
“I still don't know how you know that,” she says. “How you're so sure.”
I meet her gaze steadily, feeling the weight of everything we've been through, everything we still have to face. The answer comes to me with surprising clarity.
“Because we have to.”
The simple words hang between us in the warm Italian air. Jayla searches my face for a long moment, then nods slowly.
“Okay," she says finally. “Then we will.”
And as we continue down the sunlit promenade, I almost believe it myself.
30
RAFAEL
“It’s official,”says Adagio. “Anthony Citti’s taken over your operation in Newport. Gavino sent word he’s made it official. He’s heading the Nectar expansion and everything else that was yours.”
He’s walked into the parlor of the villa where we’re staying. I’m already seated with Maurizio as we discuss potential moves forward.
Now that the morning has faded and the afternoon has arrived, the sun has warmed up, its rays flooding the long open windows.
I sip from my limoncello in response to Adagio’s news, unconcerned by the revelation. Mostly because it’s something I’d already anticipated from the moment we left Newport. Though I had been unconscious for weeks whilehetook over my body, it’s not as if there weren’t already tensions between myself and Don Vito and his underboss.
If anything, Citti’s probably glad I’m out of the way. Now he can gradually push his junior into the role, like he won’t fuck it up the moment he tries to take over.
Adagio takes the lounge chair next to Maurizio’s and lets out a heavy breath.
“I guess it was obvious that would be the move. Who else could take over in your place?”
“Not Vincenzo,” Maurizio answers. “The operation would be better going without.”
Adagio laughs, folding his leg over his knee and stretching his arm over the back of his chair. “So what now? We bide our time in this postcard coastal village? I can’t complain too much with the beautiful woman in my bed.”
Maurizio releases a disgruntled breath. “You’ve been a player for how long? Now you’re a relationship man, belloccio?”
“What can I say? It seems the James women have something special about them.” Adagio shrugs and grins as he looks over at me.
I take another drink of my limoncello and point at them with my forefinger and pinky. “Both of you are like children. Always biting each other’s heads off. And yes—there is something special about the James women. And no—I don’t give a fuck if I’ve been replaced.”
“But you spent years building your empire in Newport. You brought the Belluccis back to glory,” Adagio says.
“I did,” I agree, nodding. “And I’ll do it again.”
A moment passes where neither Adagio or Maurizio utter a word. Maurizio shifts in his chair the leather creaking under his weight, but his face is set in concentration. He’s almost as hungry as I am, the brute more than ready for some revenge after what we’ve been through.
Adagio plays it differently, still relaxed in his posture as he stares at me with curiosity more than anything.
But both men are loyal and will be by my side no matter what.
They know what our fate could be. They know who we’ll be going up against.
And more importantly, they knowwhatI’ll have to become.
The sound of light and melodic laughter trickles in from the hall. No less than a second later, Portia and her sister appear in the arched walkway. Both of them are dressed in loose sundresses that almost reach the ground and bare feet, natural curls frizzy from the humid sea air but just as beautiful.
Portia’s smile falters when she sees our faces, her eyes narrowing as the weight in the air hits her like a sudden drop in pressure before a storm.
Jayla mutters something and then slips away, heading for Adagio’s chair. He readily accepts her, sitting up so she can perch herself in his lap.
