Page 88 of City of Wind and Lies

His methods lack decorum, but I've known my father long enough to understand that in his own twisted way, he’s coming from a place of love.

"Good, because I need an extra favor from you."

"Go on."

"While Rocco and I are in New York, I want Wren to stay with you and Ma. Dallas will be keeping the outfit running, including the poker game, and with Isa out of town, I don't want her by herself. Especially after what's about to come."

He nods in understanding. "She's welcome any time."

"Make her feel that way, then. After dinner the other night, she felt like you didn't like her."

"That's preposterous, I have nothing against her. But I've been meaning to ask…" he pauses to clear his throat. "Have you tried looking into her family at all?"

"There's nothing. O'Ryan pulled her CPS file and as she said, she was found outside the police station in the 21st with nothing to identify her. No one reported her missing, so she went into the system."

His platinum rings catch the light as he strokes his chin, lips pressed into a thin line. "I have a theory-"

A knock on the door interrupts him, and I shout for whoever it is to come in. It opens, and Aldo Ricci and his two soldiers, Dominic and Cade, enter.

"We'll talk more later," my father mumbles, pushing off from his stool to shake Aldo's hand.

Dominic and Cade have been working twice as hard, never shying away from an assignment since their buddy Adam met his end. In fact, it's the warehouse of Belluci's they found my drugs in that's the target this week.

Getting everyone a glass, we take our seats at the poker table. I open up the silver case that sits in the middle, peeling the cellophane off the brand-new deck of cards so everyone knows it's a fair game. Rocco collects the buy-ins and is dishing out the chips when another knock raps against the door.

"Sorry about that, Boss," Leo rushes out as he shuts the door behind him. "There was an accident on the Kennedy and traffic was a mess."

"We're just getting started," I say, then tip my chin to the bar. "Pour yourself a drink and pay up to Rocco.”

Leo does just that, taking the vacant seat between my father and Cade as I start to shuffle the deck. After rifling through the cards six times, my old man cuts the deck and slides them in front of Rocco. He starts to deal out the cards once everyone has added their chips to the middle. The game starts, and I'm ready to get to business.

"Gentleman, I'm glad you all could join me tonight." I up my bet, sliding another chip into the center as I glance around the table. "While the game is real, there are other reasons I called you here."

Aldo's eyes ping to my old man, then to Rocco, while Dominic and Cade share a look. Clocking their reactions, I'm quick to tamp down the foreboding feelings those words seem to have sparked. "Each of you brings something to the organization that is valuable, and tonight, I'm asking to exploit those assets."

Leo raises the pool and Cade folds, sliding his cards back to Rocco as he deals another round to the rest of us.

Through the next rounds, I explain what's been happening with our shipments, bringing to light Adams's shortcomings to Aldo, and by the way his head bobs, it seems he finally understands why I took him out. Then I detail how we found the drugs’ packaging over at the warehouse off Aberdeen. I gloss over the details of Adrian's murder for Leo's sake, and pepper in all the details of Dallas’ car crash with the special delivery.

My old man lays down three queens and two sixes, beating us all out until Dominic throws out four aces, trumping his full house and raking in the pot.

"Belluci has chosen to live by the same disgusting morals as his father. And this week, we will show him exactly what that has earned him," I say, taking the freshly shuffled cards from Aldo.

Everyone antes up, and I deal the next hand as I outline my plan. "Aldo, we will need three of your vans. Leo has something to install that'll scramble the built-in GPS’s and keep the trail clean. One van you won't be getting back, though."

"I've got one that needs repairs, you can destroy it and I'll file an insurance claim," Aldo offers, adding more chips to the pile.

"Good." I deal another round. "Dominic and Cade, you'll keep an eye on that warehouse. The moment it's unattended, you'll park the van and pop the hood. Leo will come by in another one and pick you up."

Rocco and Dominic fold. My father ups the bet; Cade calls his bluff. My father lays out a straight flush and Cade throws his cards in the center. Dominic gathers the cards to shuffle and Aldo turns to me, arching an inquisitive brow. "What about the third van?"

Pushing up to stand, I stride over to the bar, fill my glass with whiskey, and lean against the counter. "That one is the most important. The fire at the warehouse will call out his soldiers, leaving a house a few blocks away unguarded. Leo and the boys will meet you there, and you will load up all the girls you find and take them straight to Nicky's bar."

"What if there aren't any girls there?" Aldo asks.

"If we could only be so lucky." I swallow back my whiskey and return to the table for this hand.

The game goes on, Rocco winning the next hand while the guys ask about the specifics of the plan. Especially what we'll do with the girls afterward. I don't like involving my sister in this, but if these girls have faced even a fraction of the trauma I think they have, then a female face will do better than any of my men. She'll help us get the girls back to where they belong- or, if their families sold them, we'll help them get a new start.

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