Page 79 of Under His Control

Iwasn’t sure Franco would make it for dinner, but I hoped he’d come for a little bit. Yesterday, Liam told me that Franco was called away for a shooting on the drive back after he assassinated the middle man the MC relied on. So, like usual, Franco was on the job.

Dante and Romeo were on edge, waiting for the MC’s reaction to their “ace” being removed. Killing that assistant to the governor was just another way of staying ahead of our enemies, but I could tell Nina and Tessa wanted both of them to focus on family time for a change.

“Well, he’s got to eat,” Tessa said when I asked aloud if anyone heard from Franco and if he’d come.

“He can pick up something on the way,” Dante said. “But I agree. He needs to take a break every now and then. He’s been running nonstop ever since I met you,” he said, smiling fondly at Nina.

Which meant Franco had been working overtime for almost a year. Deep down, I suspected the reason. It was precisely what we were talking about before Tessa and Romeo had their engagement party.

Franco was now the odd one out. When Dante met Nina, we were all reacting to how deeply and quickly they’d fallen for one another. And that was my uncle, who never cared to even date over the course of a couple of decades, preferring to stay committed to working and running the Constella empire.

Then when Romeo and Tessa got together, it was inevitable to feel like love was in the air but not touching all of us. I’d suffered from that particular envy then too. I chatted about it with Franco.

But now, with me and Liam together…Franco was the only one who’d stayed solo. It wasn’t by choice. He just couldn’t seem to help himself get over Chloe from so long ago.

“Well, if he doesn’t come to dinner,” I said, “I’m taking food over to his house.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Liam said. “And I’ll help him with this latest attack.”

“Good.”

We all turned at Franco’s entrance. Like he was prone to do, he walked right into the conversations, already overhearing a snippet of them.

“I welcome your help, Liam,” Franco said as he took his seat at the table. He slumped down and sighed, rubbing his face.

If anyone’s going to tell him he’s working too hard… I’ve got my bets on Nina.

My fiancé beat her to it, and bluntly. “Franco. You’re working too fucking hard.”

I swatted his arm.

“Bad word, Dada,” Olivia announced.

“Sorry, baby girl.” He kissed her brow.

“This case is nothing like what I thought it’d be,” Franco admitted.

“How come?” Dante asked as he handed over a plate of food Nina, Tessa, and I prepared. Last night, the chef outdid himselfmaking a delicious meal for Liam and me to share in our wing of the mansion. It was a simple but classy date, and we both felt better knowing Olivia was in the house with Nina, close by in case we were needed after the trauma of the previous night.

“Tony’s convinced it’s the work of the Giovannis, but I’m not sure. The scene is…” He winced, glancing at Olivia. As though he was worrying about her listening. “It was grisly. Not like making a statement and just making a hit on us, but a massacre.”

I cringed. “That’s not what they’re after. If they want to attack, they will, but not to the point of wasting ammo, right?” I glanced between Liam and Franco, then looked at Romeo.

“I agree. That would be more like the work of the Devil’s Brothers,” Romeo replied.

“Yeah, but get this. Edward was helping Tony in the area, and he suggested this could be someone else. Like Donny.”

Dante furrowed his brow. “Donny Domino?”

Liam grunted a laugh. “Wait, that’s actually his name? Donny Domino?”

Franco nodded. “Washis name. Donny was gunned down when the Devil’s Brothers attacked the Domino Family and ended them.”

“Maybe there were more survivors than anyone realized,” Romeo said.

“But why attack a deli owned by the Constella organization?” Franco argued. He sat back and closed his eyes as he rubbed his face. The poor man looked so worn down that I felt like one of us should intervene. Liam already said he’d step up and assist, and I knew I could count on him. He, too, watched Franco with concern.

“And then the witness. The one employee who survived. They ran so far and fast, it’s been hell tracking them down.”

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