Page 28 of Empire of Temptation

Luca

Pulling out a burner phone, I dialed Sergio. I needed an update. My brothers were sweating one of our informants tonight, trying to get information on Niccolò, and it was taking too fucking long.

Sergio answered my call right away. “Pronto.”

“What have you learned?”

“Ciao, fratello,” he said. “Nothing. This guy doesn’t know anything.”

“Cazzo!” I slapped a palm on the desk. “A Benetti does not disappear like this. Someone would be bragging about the arrest or the hit.”

“I know, which is why it’s strange. But there’s no sign of him at all. If Niccolò is being held, no one is saying where.”

“And he’s still not picking up his mobile?”

“No.”

I could hear my other brothers, Dante and Enrico, the youngest brothers, laughing in the background. I ground my back teeth together. Those two treated the mafia life likea big party. Murder, booze, drugs, women . . . they loved the money and the power. At least Sergio took things seriously.

“Allora, are you getting her on a plane?” Sergio asked. “Or are you still thinking her father shows up?”

“I want to give it a few days. If Segreto’s close, he’ll learn I’m here and show up.”

“How do you know?”

“My gut.” We took this very seriously in my world. Instinct kept up alive, so we’d learned to trust it.

“And if he doesn’t, you’ll get her on a plane.”

“If we don’t find Niccolò, then yes. But I’m still not certain we aren’t being played.”

“Just as long as you’re prepared.”

I swiveled my chair to stare through the window out to the river. The soothing view did nothing to ease the irritation I felt. “And why wouldn’t I be prepared to do whatever is necessary for the family?”

“I’m not saying you won’t.” He paused. “I hear she brought you dinner.”

Fuck, these gossiping men. I changed topics. “Did you speak to Gabriele?”

“I did. I told him women think men who drive cars like that have small dicks.”

A grin tugged at my mouth. “And?”

“And he canceled the order with the dealership.”

Thank Christ. “Grazie, Sergio. I appreciate all you’re doing while I’m away.”

“You’d do the same for any of us. And I love my nephews, the little fucks.” He told me to hold on, then yelled, “You two, make yourselves useful. Go help with the cleanup.”

Ah, so the informant was dead. We’d need to find another to replace him when I returned home.

“Anything else?” I asked my brother.

“Rossi called earlier. Wanted an update on the girl.”

Interesting that he hadn’t called me. “And what did you tell him?”

“I lied and said you hadn’t found her yet.”

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