Page 25 of Married to the Mafia

Dante was silent for several seconds. “We need to know more about the organization behind this man. Mikey, find someone who’s up for a field trip. We’ll tap our friends for local resources, but I want one of ours running lead.”

“I’ll get you some names by this evening,” Mikey said before the call ended.

Brandi stared at the darkened phone. “You … have friends in Las Vegas?”

Mikey switched off the most recently opened monitor and turned enough to meet her gaze. “We have friends scattered across the country, and we’ve started making inroads in Europe, too.”

“Holy shit.” She was marrying into a mafia empire.

eight

Reaching Out

Mikey stopped by Dante and Iris’s home that evening at his brother’s request. He’d had a fairly busy afternoon, bouncing between one work mode and the other, and he was ready to be home. Maybe even to look at something that wasn’t a computer screen for at least an hour.

If that something was Brandi’s bright, blushing face while the softness of her skin warmed his palm, all the better.

Mikey pushed the distracting thought as far down as he could and dropped his knuckles against the doorframe to his brother’s home office. “You called?”

“Come in.”

He stepped inside, eased the door shut, and made his way to the sofa where he usually sat. “This about Vegas?” Unless something noteworthy had happened and he for once hadn’t been looped in to coordinate any part of it, he couldn’t think of what else it might be.

Dante walked around his desk and lowered into his preferred chair. “Do you have names for candidates to send on a road trip? Preferably not Ryoma. A little too close to California for anyone’s comfort.”

“I considered that,” Mikey said with an incline of his head. It was a shame, because aside from Cris, Ryoma was their next most qualified. “I came up with a couple, but I was actually thinking we should send Alessa. Maybe giving her a change of scenery and something new to focus on will help her.”

Dante’s brow pinched for a second and he leaned back. “I heard she’s not been herself since she came back to field work last month.”

Mikey shrugged. “It’s hard to blame her.” They’d be hypocrites to tell anyone not to grieve a family member’s death after only three months.

“Al was a good kid.” Dante slipped his phone from his pocket. “Before we make that decision, let’s make a call and see if it’s necessary.”

Mikey watched silently as his brother tapped on an icon and set the phone on his knee.

On the third ring, an older male voice answered. “Mr. De Salvo, what an unexpected surprise! What can I do for you?”

“You sound well, Rocco. I’m glad to hear it.” Dante didn’t pause to let the conversation fall into idle chatter. “I’m having a particular problem, and our research indicates the source of this problem is your backyard.”

On the line, the boss of the Cavallo family drew an audible breath. “Mr. De Salvo, you have my word, I’ve not sent anyone even remotely close to New Jersey. If I’d had cause, I would have reached out.”

“I believe you, Rocco,” Dante said calmly. “The man making a mess up here has made it obvious he doesn’t know who he’s fucking with. The problem is that he’s made repeated claims of being here on business, and if he’s telling the truth, his employer may just be determined enough to send a second and a third once we deal with this one. All of which I’d rather avoid.”

Rocco made a sound of distaste. “How can I help?”

“Mikey’s going to send you an image of a man named Ralph George,” Dante said. “George is the one we’re dealing with currently. I need to know if you recognize him, or if any of your men do. It would be easier for all of us if I don’t have to get too involved in the Las Vegas side of things, but I won’t turn a blind eye on this issue. Is that clear?”

Mikey lifted his own phone while Dante spoke and quickly forwarded the image he’d received hours earlier from Miguel to the secure email contact he had for Rocco Cavallo. Then he gave his brother a single, distinct nod to indicate the job was done.

“You should see the email momentarily.”

“Ah, of course, let me just— There it is, there it is.” Rocco fell quiet for a moment. “He sure is a pleasant looking fellow.”

“Rocco.”

“My apologies, Mr. De Salvo,” Rocco continued quickly. “I would certainly remember that face. But I’m happy to ask my son and the men if they recognize him. How soon do you need the information?”

Dante met Mikey’s gaze, the subtlest change in his brow indicative of the question.

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