Page 71 of Brutal Power

I have to be careful here. I take a deep breath and blow it out. “She was a means to an end. That’s all she’ll ever be.”

He tilts his head, considering. “You don’t care about her?”

“I like her,” I admit and try to keep my breathing and my heartrate under control. “She’s smart and she’s beautiful. But I’m after something more than a wife.”

“What can I do for you then, Mr. Quinn?”

Everything hinges on this moment. If I overplay, Santoro will leave this meeting and I’ll never hear from him again, but if I don’t try to sell myself a little bit then all of this will have been for nothing.

“I know about your feud with Alessandro Bianco. I believe I can give him to you.”

Santoro’s eyebrows raise. “And why would you do that?”

“Because once Alessandro is dead, you’ll cede territory to my family. You’ll make it look like we took it in the war, but we’ll both know better. And my wife and her brothers will never find out that it was me who sold out their father.”

He’s quiet for a long moment. I expected him to be skeptical, but he looks almost sad, and I don’t know how to read that. He sighs and leans his head back, staring up at the roof of the car.

“I’ve made many mistakes over the years,” he says very softly. “But being with Alessandro was never one of them. We had good times together, he and I, and I often wish things weren’t like this.”

Strange, coming from this man, since he was the one who turned his back on the Bianco Famiglia and kidnapped their son. But I keep that to myself.

“If you can actually bring me Alessandro, I’ll give you the territory you want, and we’ll create a very lucrative partnership.” He looks at me, and I finally see what he’s been hiding. There’s a snake inside of him, a cold-blooded reptile willing to do anything to get what he wants, and I think all he wants is the utter destruction of the Biancos. For what reason, I can’t guess, but it doesn’t matter to me.

“My involvement with you has to remain a secret. If Simon or Davide finds out what I’m doing?—”

“You’re too valuable to waste.” Santoro’s smile is grim. “I don’t throw away assets.”

“How do I get in touch with you again?”

“You’ll reach out to Luca when you’re ready to give me what I want. Once I have Alessandro, we’ll discuss payment in detail. But from here on out, you work for me, Mr. Quinn, and you will no longer move against me in this little war I’ve been fighting with the Biancos. Do you understand? If you want to prove that you’re not full of hot air, back off, and wait for further instructions.”

I open the door. “I can do that, Don Santoro.” His face twitches at thedontitle.

“Good luck then, Mr. Quinn. I hope you’re as clever as you think you are.”

I leave his car and get back into Luca’s vehicle.

Chapter 37

Brody

The smell of a hot grill fills the oasis. Three different cooks are busy chopping, slicing, forming, and prepping for the barbecue while Freddie flits about and makes sure everyone’s wine glass is filled.

I sit at a table in the middle of the street with Elena and her sister, Laura. Stefania and Emily are nearby, chatting with each other, while half a dozen important Capos lounge about with their families laughing and eating and overindulging.

“I hate this,” Laura says, glaring down at her paper plate. It has one single potato chip, untouched, right in the middle. “Mom told me if I didn’t eat, she’d kick me out.” She picks it up, stares at it, and nibbles the corner. “There. I’m full.”

“You’re so dramatic,” Elena says, grabs the plate, and dumps a handful of chips on top. “Try to enjoy yourself.”

Laura sighs and looks like she’d rather lie down and nap on busy train tracks.

The Bianco family cookout is apparently an annual tradition where the Don brings together all the important members ofthe organization for a little gathering. It’s half informal bonding and half business. Simon’s sitting at a table in the middle of the action with Davide and a couple older Italian guys, probably important lieutenants and Capos, and they’re deep into some discussion that involves lots of gesturing and more than a few spilled beers. I’m tempted to go over and listen in, but I decide it’s better sitting with Elena.

Because she looks incredible. She’s got on short jean shorts and this black tank with mesh along the top that shows off just enough skin to make my heart skip a beat every time I look in her direction.

“You keep looking over at my brothers,” Elena says, scooting her chair closer. “Anything you want to say to them?”

“Mostly just curious about what they’re saying.” I lean against her. “What do you think? Are they planning some big heist?”

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