Page 189 of Rosetti Family New York
Dale shivers. "No way. If I told my old man, you know what he'd do. What your old man would do." He pauses. "It'd be a bloodbath. I thought you might help. Quietly."
"How long's this been going on?" I already have a guess.
"Couple months," he says. "It's getting worse."
I take a slow sip.
"Can't you have someone in your crew handle it?"
He shakes his head.
"My dad would skewer me for needing help. I have to prove I've got this."
I study him. There's a flicker of worry behind his eyes.
"You sure it's not your old man?"
He shakes his head. "Not this time. He wouldn't risk it with you Rosettis in the mix. I'm trying to do right by him. And the business."
I smirk. "You think I'll cover your ass just 'cos we're juvie buddies."
"Well…," he says.
I almost laugh, but there's something in his voice, a crack I tuck away for later.
"Fine," I tell him. "Say I believe you. Think it's one of our guys?"
"Could be anyone." He meets my eyes. "We go way back. Who else can I trust?"
I shrug. "Another of your messes. I'm used to them."
He half-grins. "You're still a bastard, but at least you listen."
Silence stretches.
I consider asking him about Maddy Torres. I lean back in my seat and fold my arms, watching Dale closely as I mull over the risk.
Sloane's been poking around, looking for answers about who killed her friend. She's got theories about rival gangs and secret boyfriends. All we know for sure is that the Callahans ordered the hit. I could ask Dale what he knows, see if he's heard anything that might help, but the danger is real. He's high up, maybe even second in command. If he sniffs out Sloane'sconnection to this, that she's been digging around where the Callahan family is involved, it could end badly for her.
If word got back to Chase Callahan that some girl is snooping around... I've seen what happens to people who get in their way. Quick and brutal. End of story.
Better to keep my mouth shut for now. Get what info I can on the missing money, solve our immediate problem. Sloane will have to handle her own mess, preferably from a safe distance.
Then he stands, swinging on his leather jacket.
"Thanks for not deckin' me, Rosetti. I'll be waiting for your call."
Before I can answer, he melts into the crowd. I watch him go, knowing he's clean but wondering about his old man.
A shadow falls across the table, and I look up. She's a vision, blond, leggy, all curves and a smile that could swallow me whole. The kind of woman I usually don't walk away from.
"You Rafe Rosetti?" she asks, leaning close enough for me to smell her perfume.
This time, it's different. I shake my head. "Not interested."
She slides into the booth, pressing up against me, thigh to thigh. "C'mon, let me buy you a drink. I've heard you're fun."
"Bad rumor," I say, sliding her ass right back across the sticky vinyl seat then hopping out of the booth.
