Page 192 of Golden Atonement

No one knew for sure how many brothers there actually were, but it was rumored to be seven of them.

Each more deadly than the other.

With Cesar Vitale as the oldest, he ran his family like a business and that business was protecting his family.

Oh, he dabbled in a lot of other things, but his family came first.

Standing, I extended my hand in greeting.

“Good to see you again, Reaper.” Cesar smiled.

Nodding, I replied, “Same. What can the Golden Skulls do for you, Cesar?”

Motioning for the man to sit down, I took my seat again when he said, “Before I begin, let me ask you something?”

“Okay,” I uttered.

“Crispin Sinclair.”

I growled, narrowing my eyes, leaning back in my chair. “What about the fucker?”

Massimo grinned. “Told ya, brother.”

“Yes, you did.” Cesar sighed, unbuttoning his suit as he took a seat. Looking directly at me, he continued, “When I took over Chicago, Giovanni only asked one thing of me. Would you like to know what that was?”

“Pretty sure you’re gonna tell me whether I want to know or not.”

And I was right.

He did.

“Giovanni asked me to follow your lead. No matter what it concerned, to listen and follow you, but if I do that it will put me in a precarious position.”

“How so?”

“Because Crispin Sinclair tasked my family to find a woman and I’ve just learned she’s not only wanted by him, but several others, including you.”

Smirking, I shook my head. “Let me guess. Thena Hartley?”

“She is the woman of the hour, it seems,” Cesar admitted. “I thought maybe you would tell me what no one else will. Who is this woman and why is she being hunted?”

Sighing, I sat up. “I probably know about as much as you at the moment. All I know is Sinclair wants her bad. Said she belongs to him. Fucker even asked me to look for her. I know she hails from the Trick Pony, like Sinclair. Apparently, she’s also Popeye’s daughter, and I’ve recently learned that this woman helped my wife escape her captors along with one other. As for the why, I don’t know.”

“What would you say if I was to tell you that the Trick Pony wasn’t just a BDSM Club? That it was a brokerage house used by theSocietyand that Scott used his affiliations with theSocietyto infiltrate the underworld to gain access to not only your club but the entire Biker Federation?”

Carefully, I replied, “Then I would say, you have my undivided attention.”

Emmanuelle stepped forward and handed me a file.

“That is everything I have on Crispin Sinclair, Silas Sharp, and Rowen Shay,” Cesar Vitale said, then added, “Or, as the underworld knows them, Mr. Ess ortheEss. You should also know that the Italian families are voting in two days for who will take over the seat at the table.”

Looking at the man, I stated, “You?”

Cesar nodded.

Quickly scanning the information, I stiffened when I saw what was before me. “Shit.”

“Now you understand why Giovanni told me to only trust you.”

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