Page 45 of Maddest Temptation

“Until now, we lost three shipments and almost a quarter of our product, if my men hadn’t intervened before.”

“It’s almost as if they know when and where to attack.” Matteo Nuzio, underboss of Ohio, pointed out astutely. I glanced at my brother who was cleaning his nails with his knife. When he heard what Matteo said, he looked at me, too.

“Is there a possibility we might have a spy amongst us?” Luca asked tentatively.

I didn’t want to say no, but saying yes would also mean telling my men about the fact that we did have a spy. Code name Volpe. These were the men I was supposed to trust, but I feared that in telling them, I would scare this fox away and lose all chances of catching him before more damage was done.

“And who do you suppose it is?” Donato said from where he sat to my right, a place that should have belonged to my brother. “Are you accusing good Italian men of treason?”

Luca’s nostrils flared, like me, he didn’t like Donato. “I suggested no such thing, Donato, I was simply pointing out that?—”

“A spy is amongst us,” Donato supplied. “That you believe it must be one of us because only we give the orders.”

Luca opened his mouth to speak, but I intervened. “There is no point in arguing,” I said tiredly. “The problem with the Russian expansion in our territory remains. And their Pakhan, Grigori Petrovich, is still in hiding.”

Speaking that name was physically revolting. The thought that my sister’s killer was still out there and fucking with me… it made me see red.

“Grigori must pay with his life,” Carlo stated, and the other men nodded.

“And he will.” I deadpan even though my blood was boiling, my rage ignited.

It took another hour or so before the meeting finally ended, and I sat there as my underbosses filed out of the room. Donato remained sitting on his chair looking at my brother who was back to cleaning his nails. The animosity between them both was as clear as day. I stacked some of the papers I’d brought, numbers of our growing business’. While the Russians were growing bolder and stealing our cargo, I learned to never put all my money on a single horse.

The Outfit invested in diverse sectors, varying from real estate to pharmaceuticals to drugs to stolen cars to countless other markets. While some were taking a toll, others were multiplying like bunnies.

When it became clear Donato wouldn’t leave, I turned my attention toward him. “Is there something else?”

“I fear Luca was right,” he sighed loudly. “We might have a spy amongst us.”

One of my brows shot up, Vitelli, I knew, had his curiosity pricked. “You say that with an awful lot of conviction.”

“Think about it, Cassio.”

“Boss,” I corrected him.

Donato pursed his lips but started again. “Think about it, Boss. They had four years to act but only now they seem to be doing so.”

I said nothing.

“Grigori tried to have you and your brother killed, too, the day he killed Bella, but he failed. When your father died, it was the time to attack, and he didn’t. Why is that?”

“I don’t fucking know, Donato, I haven’t talked to the man,” I spat. Grigori had tried to kill my siblings and me. He managed to kill Arabella, but Vitelli and I survived. Ever since then, Grigori had been ruling from the shadows.

“He didn’t have the right incentivization,” Vitelli said surprising us both. “What? I listen from time to time.”

“That doesn’t answer my question, how do you know there’s a spy amongst us?” I tapped my fingers against the table.

Donato slowly and with difficulty rose from his chair, the poor thing groaning. “I’m no fool, I have been on this earth longer than you, I see and hear things,” he said with a knowing smile. “In case you’ve forgotten, I am still your consigliere.”

I narrowed my eyes and watched as Donato left the room. The moment the door closed behind him; Vitelli broke down in laughter. I turned my glare at him trying to understand what was so damned funny. “He just pulled your ear as though you were a naughty child.” He laughed.

It certainly had felt like that. So, what if Donato knew I was keeping information from him?

“Shut up, Vitelli.”

“Did you see his face?—”

“Vitelli, shut it or I’ll do it for you.”

---