Page 70 of Sinful Secrets

Francesca crosses her but doesn’t say anything else.

Arturo tells everyone their jobs and what he expects from each of us during this meeting.

It’s common sense. Be respectful but not a pushover. Don’t speak unless directly asked a question. And last but not least, protect Francesca.

Rhett, Francesca, Joey, and I load up in Rhett’s truck while Arturo and Lorenzo take another vehicle.

Francesca sings along to the radio as Rhett drives to the Rossi estate.

“This is becoming too much of a habit.” Rhett grunts out as he turns down the long driveway.

“What is?” I ask from the seat behind him.

“Driving to the Rossi estate, having a friendly conversation with them, and pretending everything is hunky-dory.”

Joey chuckles. “Hunky-dory? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Yeah, hunky-dory. You know, rainbows and sunshine, or nice and pleasant?”

“I don’t particularly like them, but if we can stop the gang, then I’m all for the temporary partnership.”

Rhett parks behind Arturo, and we all climb out and head toward the newly renovated front door.

Giuseppe opens the door. “Welcome. Thank you for coming. Please come in.”

He’s a little too eager for us to come inside. It’s raising all sorts of red flags.

But we file inside the mansion as if this is just an ordinary meeting between friends.

Giuseppe leads us to the living room, where an older woman is already sitting on the couch.

By the way Francesca and Joey freeze and tense up, I assume this is their mother. Several men enter the room and move to stand around Giuseppe and Elizabeth.

I stare at her as everyone moves to take a seat on a couch. She looks like a grade A bitch.

From the tight-fitted name brand clothing to the scowl on her face all the way down to the highest fucking heels I’ve ever seen.

Giuseppe sits down next to her and places his hand on her thigh in a possessive manner.

Joey growls as Francesca makes a move toward him, but Rhett pulls her back.

I grab Joey and pull him over to the furthest couch. Rhett does the same with Francesca.

Arturo and Lorenzo take a seat on the couch closest to them. He doesn’t even look at Elizabeth.

Giuseppe glances over at our couch. “First, I need to apologize for the outburst at the funeral. I have taken care of it and I promise it will never happen again.”

Francesca nods. “What did he mean? What did my family do?”

She glares at her mother.

Giuseppe takes a deep breath. “Jax was a good kid, but he didn’t know how to process death and trauma. It’s why he wasn’thigher up in the organization. He might have been the heir, but he wasn’t taking over for my family.”

I sit still, not moving an inch, but beside me, I can feel Joey shaking with anger.

Giuseppe glances at Arturo before continuing. “Jax concocted this idea that the Marinos killed his mother, and no matter how many times I’ve told him that wasn’t true, he still believed it.”

Francesca leans forward in her seat. “How did his mother die?”

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