Page 82 of My Best Friend's Dad

“Wait, there’s something else,” Luca said softly.

“What is it?” I demanded.

Luca licked his lips nervously, glancing between Tony and me.

“Ricci… he’s not just framing you for the arms dealing. He’s actually started dabbling in it himself. He’s been making deals with North Korean operatives himself and moving large shipments of weapons through his network.”

My eyes narrowed. “Why would he do that? He’s already got a tight grip on his current operations. Why risk expanding into something so dangerous?”

“Power,” Luca replied, his voice trembling. “And leverage. The deals with North Korea give him access to advanced weaponry and technology. It’s not just about money; it’s about having the upper hand over his rivals and securing his position at the top.”

Tony tightened his grip on Luca’s shoulder, but he let him speak. Luca took a deep breath and continued.

“Ricci’s working with the FBI. He’s feeding them information, but it’s all part of his plan to set you up. He’s making them believe that you’re the bigger fish, that you’re the one running the arms deals when it’s really him all along. They think they’re getting a major criminal, but in reality, Ricci is using them to take you down while he consolidates his own power,” he continued.

I felt a chill run down my spine.

“He’s playing both sides,” I muttered. “He’s using the FBI to eliminate me as a threat while expanding his own empire.”

Luca nodded frantically. “Exactly. Ricci’s smart—he knows how to manipulate the system. By the time the FBI realizes they’ve been duped, he’ll have already solidified his position and removed you from the picture.”

I exchanged a grim look with Tony.

“Why tell us this now?” I asked, suspicion creeping into my voice. “What’s in it for you?”

Luca’s eyes widened with fear and desperation. I would have felt bad for him, but with my daughter and Jenna at risk, I didn’t.

“I just want to keep my family safe,” he pleaded. “If Ricci finds out I’ve betrayed him, they’re dead. But if I help you take him down, maybe you can protect them. Please, I don’t have any other options.”

I stared at him, weighing his words, and trying to decide whether or not to trust him. It was a risky gamble, but Luca’s information was invaluable. If we could use it to turn the tables on Ricci, we might have a chance to end this once and for all.

“Alright,” I said finally. “You give us everything you know about Ricci’s operations, his deals with North Korea, and his contacts within the FBI. In return, we’ll do our best to protect your family. But if you betray us, you won’t get another chance.”

Luca nodded fervently, relief washing over his features. “I’ll give you everything. Just please, protect them.”

Tony released his grip on Luca, but remained close, ready to act at a moment’s notice.

“Start talking,” he said, his voice hard.

CHAPTER 20

Jenna

Maybe it was a bad dream or something else, but something woke me up in the middle of the night. For a moment, I felt incredibly disoriented before I realized I was still safely tucked in Vincenzo’s bed.

And I was all alone. He wasn’t anywhere to be seen and when I pressed my hand to his pillow, the fabric was cold. He hadn’t been here for a while.

Where had he gone?

A pang of worry shot through me. I sat straight up, the cool sheets sliding off my skin as my heart pounded in my chest. My mind raced with thoughts of where he could be, and I chewed my lip.

What if something happened?

The rational side of me told me I should stay in bed, that I shouldn’t go and look for him and that I should just wait for himto come back, but my curiosity got the better of me like it always did.

I slipped out of bed, grabbing one of Vincenzo’s shirts and buttoning it up. The fabric was soft against my skin, and I pulled it up to my nose, noticing that his scent clung to it. It was a small comfort, but it did nothing to quell my anxiety.

Where could he be?

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