Page 56 of Red

“Was she with anyone?” Nico pressed.

Erik shook his head. “No. Alone and with a suitcase.”

“She just ran out like that?”

“As far as she knew, Melinda wasn’t going home.” Erik put his phone away. “The plan wasn’t to let her, remember?”

“We should find a way to contact her,” Nico said with more force. “If she learns the situation has changed, she’ll come home. Or we can bring Melinda to her.”

Erik shook his head. “Not yet. I want some answers, and I think her grandmother might be the key to figuring out Bertucci’s obsession with my wife.”

“So, what do you want to do, then?” Nico crossed his arms over his chest, frustration seeping from his stance.

“We’re going to continue on like normal. I have a meeting set up with Peter Titon tonight to discuss a real estate deal. He owns the strip of buildings across the street from Tower. It’s the perfect location for the casino and hotel.”

The muscles in Nico’s throat worked into a tight knot. “And what about Melinda’s grandmother? And Bertucci? Should we ignore all of that while you keep pushing for your damn casino?”

Erik pressed his thumb against the gold band on his finger. “No. Once I have a few answers, I’ll have a better idea of how to proceed.” Erik advanced on his brother, keeping his glare locked with his. “You don’t go charging in on a man like Bertucci. Do you know how much power he holds?”

“I didn’t mean to attack him—”

“Our uncle didn’t just get himself killed with his stupidity. He ruined the entire fucking family, Nico. Where is everyone?” Erik held out his arms and glanced around. “Nowhere. They all fucking ran off or joined other crews.”

“They’ll come back now that you’re in charge.” Nico’s chin thrust forward. “Raul and Joey will for sure.”

Erik waved off the comment. “Good. Then they can be first in line for the busboy jobs.” Erik would never repay their distant cousins’ cowardice with any piece of the business.

“Kristoff had a solid business. As much as we all fucking hated him, there was money to be had.”

“You want to start selling women, Nico? Is that it? You want to open up the basement and start collecting some stock?” Erik’s neck heated. Nico had never spoken of going back into the shit Kristoff had dealt with.

“No. Of course not. He had other dealings, not the girls—”

Erik inhaled a long breath. “Yeah, and Jansen and Bertucci ate up all of those deals. Most of his men went to work for Jansen. This family isn’t going down that path. The casino will be enough.”

Nico’s tongue ran over his teeth. “For you. It’s enough for you.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means Ian’s right. Everything we’ve been doing here is so you can get that fucking casino. If we had half the manpower that came with putting our hat in the ring, we’d be able to find Melinda’s grandmother faster. We wouldn’t be relying on the fucking Titons to get us in contact with someone at the police department who is willing to dig around for us.”

“We will find her grandmother, and we will figure out this Bertucci mess. All you have to do is protect her when I can’t be there. That’s it, Nico.”

“Right. I’ll play bodyguard while you keep working toward everything you want with no fucking regard for what anyone else wants.”

Erik took a step toward him but checked himself. “Why the sudden desire to get your hands dirty?”

Nico blew out a long breath. “You have what you wanted. You have the inheritance, and now you’ll get your casino.”

“No. We have the casino. It’s our venture, not mine alone.”

Nico shook his head. “And if I don’t want the casino?”

Erik’s jaw slacked. Nico never mentioned going off on his own before. He never objected to his elder brother’s plans. Something had changed.

“Then you take your money and figure out what you want to do with it.” There was enough money in the Komisky estate to be split three ways and keep them all worry-free for the rest of their lives.

Nico wiped his hand across his mouth.

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