Page 3 of Freeing Denver
What do you know … Vince isn’t a total dipshit.
Massimo Morelli arrives next. The Morellis are a smaller Italian family, nowhere near the size of the Capellis, but they have strong connections. Colt has agreements with them due to an overlap in territory but has voiced his concern over Massimo taking more of a lead. Massimo isn’t maintaining the relationships his family built, so we prefer to work with his sister, Sabina. She cuts through the bullshit and does what needs to be done. Unfortunately, she isn’t in attendance, and I make a mental note to call her later to find out why.
Andrzej Nowak arrives shortly after. The head of the Polish crime family isn’t seen often, but again, his respect for Colt brings him to the door.
“It’s a social event,”Colt had told me when we first held one of these meetings years ago. A chance for people to meet Ghost, usuallysub rosato guarantee his appearance was kept under wraps.
“Social?”I’d asked, brow arched.
He’d grinned.“Among other things.”
Networking. Power. Friendships. That’s important to Colt. And this meeting was the first instance where he’d expanded the guest list because he was finally out of the shadows. The invitations were coveted, but now people know Colt won’t be in attendance, the list of attendees has dwindled. Still, it’s a busy room, and that’s good.
Denver is in deep conversation with Andrzej, the leader nodding occasionally, and though he’s listening, he’s scanning the room quietly.
Conor Gallagher arrives last.
Denver’s cousin shows up with two men. It’s the first time I’ve seen him in two years, ever since Finn attempted to buy some of the Gallaghers’ businesses. He’d told them that two Irish families building bridges would go a long way to end age-old family feuds, but they’d refused. When Finn hadn’t upped his offer, Conor had seen it as a personal insult and had tried to shoot Finn. It was smoothed over a few days later, Conor’s father apologizing for his son’s behavior, but things were never the same. I expect Conor to head straight for Denver. As far as I know, the cousins have never met, but despite eyeing her, he keeps his distance.
Conor smirks at me though, and I don’t need to nod at Keto for him to make sure that Gallagher doesn’t do something untoward.
As drinks are served, I observe the room. Everyone is in conversation with each other or their security.
Except Vince Capelli.
He’s watching Denver. No, he’s staring at Denver, running his thumb across his lower lip as his gaze drops down her outfit.
My palm meets his back sharply as I move to his side. He lurches forward and spills his drink from the impact. “I am sorry about your grandfather. When’s the funeral?”
He rolls his shoulder, and I hope I winded the fucker. “I’m still figuring out dates.”
“Are those dates written on Denver’s ass?” Vince’s eyes cut to mine. “Keep looking and I’ll remove your eyelids to allow for easier viewing. And then I’ll let Ranger know just how interested you are in his wife.”
I like to believe that Vince’s close-to-panicked expression would make Colt proud.
But he quickly schools that fear and says, “It isn’tmetextingherin the middle of the night, Alistair.”
A chill sweeps across my shoulders as he confidently makes his way to Denver. She greets him with a wide smile, and when he leans in to whisper in her ear and she laughs, he looks at me.
I don’t want to be right about Denver. Colt loves her, and he trusts her, but if he’s out of the picture and she’s already getting cozy with Vince, what the fuck else am I supposed to think?
She plays with her hair as Vince talks to both her and Andrzej, her gaze soft, and it doesn’t sit right with me.
If she is fucking Colt over, I’ll deal with it when the time is right. All I need is her face and name until Ronan and Colt wake up. I can put up with her until then.
By the time we’re all sitting at the dining table, Denver has rejoined me. I say very little to her, because I’m honestly not sure I won’t outright accuse her of sleeping with Vince. She, cleverly, stays away from him after their initial greeting, but I won’t put that as a point in her favor.
Conversation moves smoothly, careful discussions about traded territory, imports and exports, business ventures and sales. Colt told me once it isn’t only the conversation that matters, it’s the atmosphere. With fewer bodyguards and whispers from respective family members, we’re freer to make choices of our own.
“It’s the opportunity for them to meet the men they hear about without the baggage picked up over years of feuds. These meetings remind them that stories don’t make a man—the man does.”
Colt is the smartest of us. The one with the silver tongue and the calm exterior. He could tame a beast while learning the sharpness of its teeth for future reference, and it’s why he’s our leader.
I wish he were here tonight.
Andrzej says, “Colt’s absence is felt, isn’t it?”
Beside me, Denver doesn’t visibly tense, but she closes her fingers into her palm.
