Page 53 of Home Free

Finn watched his brother stiffen. “What kind of condition?”

Nico steepled his hands on the desk, his eyes watchful. “As you know, we’ve been rebuilding the Syndicate for the past several years.”

Ronan nodded.

“It’s been a painstaking process — retraining those we believed worth saving, eliminating those who couldn’t — or wouldn’t — come onboard with our new business model.”

“What does that have to do with us?” Ronan asked.

“Nothing.” Nico nodded at Finn, then focused on Ronan. “But it does have something to do with you.”

“How so?” Ronan asked.

“Nolan Burke is an admirer of your business. So is Damian Cavallo.”

Finn had no idea who these people were, but he had a feeling now wasn’t the time for questions, so he kept quiet.

“I appreciate the sentiment,” Ronan said. “But again, I’m not sure what any of this has to do with me.”

“We’ve been having trouble with the Chicago territory,” Nico said. “Bratva.”

It was a word Finn didn’t need explained: Russian mafia.

Ronan seemed to relax. “I’d be happy to contract with you on a job in exchange for the Cromwell dispensation. It’s only fair.”

“That isn’t what I have in mind,” Nico said.

“Then what is?” Ronan asked.

“I’d like you to consider taking over the territory,” Nico said.

Ronan scowled. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

“We need someone to take over Chicago, someone capable of… mitigating our competitive relationships there. I think you’d be a good fit. The rest of our leadership agrees,” Nico said.

“Thank you, but I already have a business. It keeps me pretty busy.”

Nico nodded. “So I hear. However, it’s my understanding that you might be at a fork in the figurative road.”

Now Finn was really confused, and apparently he wasn’t the only one.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Ronan said.

“Family businesses are tricky,” Nico said. “Dependent on everyone’s goals remaining aligned, everyone’s interests. I simply thought this might be a good time to consider something different.”

The subtext was obvious: Nico knew everything. About Nick and Alexa trying to adopt a baby, about Declan moving to the Walsh estate and taking on more with Griffin, and soon the new baby, so Kate could focus on her job at Walsh Media Group.

“Is this offer a necessary part of our dispensation to deal with Cromwell?” Ronan asked.

“Only its consideration,” Nico said. “I’m not in the business of forcing people to work for us. We want people whose ideals and goals are aligned with ours, people who want to be on our side.”

“So I consider it, and you give us the go-ahead on Cromwell,” Ronan said.

Nico nodded. “I trust that you’ll be serious in your consideration.” He opened the top drawer of the desk and removed a business card, then held it out to Ronan. “If it’s something you’d like to discuss, or if you’d like more information on the terms, you can call me. This is my direct line. My personal line.”

Finn wanted to stand up and shout, to tell Ronan not to be a dumbass, not to allow Nico Vitale to even entertain the possibility that Ronan might work for him.

Ronan stared at the card for almost a minute before taking it, and Finn felt like he’d lost, even as he won.

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