Page 24 of Corrupted Memories
Luca’s head snaps back. “My Gio?”
“Ahh. I didn’t know you two made it official, how adorable.”
He scowls at me and I laugh.
“Yeah, your Gio. You know how his father is, that raping bastard.”
Luca’s jaw tics and he nods. “Done.”
I lean back in my chair, staring at him. “Someone in your organization has been planning this for years. Planted spies everywhere, and I linked them back to Chicago. I caught them on a communication channel Nico and I were tracking… for other purposes, and then slowly put the pieces together over the course of a few months. Unfortunately the hot-headed Irish did screw everything because the line has been dead since they openly picked off their traitors and declared war on your sparrows.”
Luca closes his eyes briefly, looking even more tired. “They’re not mine.”
I shrug. “But they could be. They operate under your name, they think you’re pulling the strings… so grab control.”
We stare at each other, and he relaxes in his chair, that tired expression coming back.
“Was your father really poisoned?”
His jaw tightens, his eyes flickering with fury. “Yes.”
“Why’d you tell me?”
Luca looks away. His throat bobs with a harsh swallow. “It’s hard to fight a war when there’s nowhere you can safely rest your back.” He sighs, rubbing a hand down his jaw. “I had been genuine in seeking the Irish’s alliance. Whoever is trying to kill my family destroyed that, and I need an ally. I’m not too prideful to admit that.”
It makes sense for him to seek out someone like me, a neutral party with no real stake in any organization. Granted if push comes to shove, I’ll side with the Outfit over anyone else.
“And when you find out who is behind all of it? What’s your plan? What if the Irish want their pound of flesh?”
His eye twitches. “What about the menhe killed of mine?”
“You’re the one who needs allies,” I say with a shrug.
He nods slowly with annoyance. “I wouldn’t withhold anyone’s right to revenge.”
“He’s protective of his wife. And she was attacked in her own family’s restaurant, no? I would start there.”
Grief flashes across his face before he clears his throat. He stands, pulling at his suit jacket to straighten it out. “I hope this… understanding lands a lot better than my previous one.”
I smirk. “Might be a little better if you invite us to that little speakeasy you have in the city.”
His eyebrows raise. “You want to see my girls?”
Shaking my head, I laugh a little. “No, I have my girl. But I don’t mind making an appearance with Nico.”
Understanding dawns in his eyes, and I realize how tired he must be for him to not read my intentions. As long as I’ve been playing this game with the heirs, Luca has been one of the brightest. He controls his temper and calculates his moves, but his father’s poisoning must truly have him shaken.
“Consider it done.”
I nod, standing and holding out my hand. “The next time we’re in Manhattan. I’ll let you know.”
He shakes it. “Thank you.” He pauses, his dark eyes roaming over my face. “My father always spoke highly of yours. Even if the rumors ran rampant.”
I smile, pulling back and sitting down as Nico opens the door to let him out. “We may have to guide the new era of mafia under new regulations, but there’s still a lot we can learn from older generations.”
His eyebrows furrow but he shakes his head and leaves without another word. Nico comes back once he’s escorted Luca out of the building and sits across from me.
“What did he want?”
