Page 85 of Gilded Saint

“Where’s Willow?”

“Gone a week, and you didn’t text your wife?”

It’s true, I didn’t. Electronic devices are a necessary evil. I only use them when there’s no other option.

“Told you. It’s an arrangement.”

He stops at his office door and stands in front of a glass panel. The door unlocks.

“That’s new,” I say.

“Overdue,” he says.

“How are things with the Lupi Grigi?”

“According to sources, the funeral for Leandro De Luca is this weekend.”

“Massimo hasn’t been in touch?”

“Not a peep.”

When I step into the office, he closes the door, and the click that follows sounds an awful lot like a deadbolt.

“Where’s Willow?”

He sinks into his desk chair, and his eyes narrow. “She’s sleeping off the afternoon’s festivities.”

My stomach muscles clench. When he gestures to the chair across from his desk, I can only look at it. “What do you mean?”

It takes every bit of control to remain calm as my blood pressure skyrockets.

“Chill. Your arrangement is fine.”

His emphasis on the word arrangement has me wanting to shove my fist into his face.

“Lina and Willow got high this afternoon.” Holy fuck. My hand’s on the doorknob when he calls, “They’re fine.”

An intense desire to strangle the fucktard lights from within, and he chuckles.

“Pot. Ganja. I told you. I’m not keen on Lina doing the other shit.”

“You recognize Lina has a drug problem.” It’s like I’m talking to a toddler. “No one recommends an addict do drugs. Of any sort.”

“It’s a compromise.”

“Dumb as fuck compromise.”

He snorts. “That’s what I like about you, Leo.” He points at me. “You’ve always been willing to play it straight with me. I took it as a sign of your character. But now I’m not so sure.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“Sit.” He points at the leather chair across from his desk. I never twisted the knob when I reached the door, but I’m fairly certain my only option is to do what he says. The question is…what does he know?

“The Marina Militare boarded theMina.”

“That was your plan, right?”

“Three ships within Gagliano’s shadow fleet have been detained.”

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