Page 73 of She Belongs to Me

The blip on my phone in my ear indicated someone was at the front door. I pulled it away for a few seconds, the updated application that had been installed on my phone not only providing me with a full view of my visitor, but options as to what to do.

Including pressing a button for the police.

As if that would happen.

Seeing Luca made me shake my head. It would seem we were all getting an early start. I allowed the front door’s security a one-minute lapse, which would allow him enough time to get inside. Too bad the system didn’t have machine guns pointed at the door just in case.

At least the old school thought gave me a smile.

“And did you find anything on Alexandra?” I shifted the subject on purpose.

“You had to know I’d have concerns. Let’s face it, brother. She means something to you.”

“Answer the goddamn question.”

Domino grumbled. “Nothing that would raise a red flag.”

“Then fucking drop it.”

I sensed he hadn’t been planning on doing so.

“I find it interesting you’re keeping her sequestered. I will be eager to meet her at dinner. I’ll let you know if I find anything else of use.”

Always the dramatic man, his quick ending of the call meant he knew he was in the wrong. But I’d remembered he was returning the favor since I’d investigated both of the women he’d been oh-so serious about over the years.

Sadly, both had been hacks, money grubbers, or worse. It was apparent he’d never forgiven me for destroying the two most precious women in his life. Right. It had taken him all of five days to move on from each horrid event.

I returned my full concentration to the pictures while fingering my phone as Luca walked in. I could swear between the two of us, we could use the bags under our eyes for suitcases. He was wearing what I’d called a suit meant for dancing yet without a tie, the color of his shirt somewhere in the vicinity of deep purple.

“Rough night?” I asked.

He had a huge to-go cup of steaming liquid in his hand, the scent of coffee permeating the room. “I worked the system pretty much all night. It would seem our boy Mattia has purchased a lovely home only two miles from this one. Not due to close for a couple weeks, but he is definitely setting up a house on your turf.”

Working, or playing? Where I’d yet to learn, but he’d likely put a spin on it that it was for work. Perhaps it was. My second in command was very creative.

Of course there were only imaginary boundaries as based on the ordained yet unwritten rules that had been around with the five families for generations. Vacationing was perfectly acceptable, but not purchasing real estate.

“Interesting.” I was fascinated. “And just where is the man staying now?”

“Only the finest hotel in Palermo. He’s living large, spotted in the new dance club last night.”

“Let me guess. You just happened to enjoy yourself at the club last night as well.”

His grin told me I was right.

“Hey. I’ll go to any lengths for my boss.”

“Right. You’re not getting a raise,” I teased. “Was Mattia handling business or partying?”

“Oh, he was partying.”

Mattia was doing nothing more than leaving his scent tainting various locations like any good alpha dog would do. It was his way of threatening me. “Interesting tactics. So you are aware, Gio has been working with Mattia for years. Domino discovered that last night as well. And both Mattia and our good buddy Adonis invested in the same land deal outside Philly.”

“We have an entire conspiracy going on.”

“Which doesn’t say anything about the Greeks and their plans. I just have a difficult time believing they’ll work with a member of the Italian Cosa Nostra.”

“As you told me dozens of times, times have changed. Business is different.”

---