Page 58 of Filthy Little Games

“Not only did you show up on the same night, but Izaiah also went missing from Queens. I looked into you today, and I have it on good authority that your apartment is in Queens, only a few streets away from where Izaiah’s car was found by Emilio. It was almost as if his old man knew exactly where to search for him.”

“Wow. That is a quite a coincidence,” I agree. “Guess it’s a small world after all, huh?”

“Did you know Izaiah Rovina?” he asks, no longer beating around the bush.

“Did you know that you just asked that question in the past tense? Do you know something the rest of us don’t about Izaiah’s disappearance, Lorenzo?”

He stares at me, refusing to look away. I stare right back, holding my ground without cowering, and trying to figure out ifCreed put him up to this whole conversation like some sort of loyalty test.

The older man gives me a half smile. “You’re not going to answer my question?”

“How about we wait for Creed to get home and ask him? If he tells me to answer your questions, then I will. Creed is my husband. I don’t answer to anyone but him now.”

“Who did you answer to before Creed came along the other night?”

I hold his gaze, refusing to look away or say another word.

Lorenzo doesn’t scare me even if we are alone in Creed’s penthouse, and I don’t have a phone or a weapon. He doesn’t put off any psycho vibes like other men I’ve known.

How did Creed refer to him? As his advisor and security manager? I doubt Lorenzo is a hardcore killer unless he’s defending himself.

And since I’m not threatening his life, we can just sit here and stare at each other for the rest of the night if he wants because I’m not saying another word to him.

The time for being intimidated by men is over and done for me.

I’m Creed Ferraro’s wife now, and I’m not scared of anyone.

Creed

Our Council dinner gets off to a rocky start.

While Martha Rovina never made an appearance, and Stella didn’t join us at the table, Serafina Bertelli did, and Emilio can’t hide his disdain for the blonde.

“Stop glaring daggers at my daughter,” Weston Bertelli grumbles before salads are served. “Serafina is staying.”

“She’ll have to leave before we discuss any business,” Emilio tells him.

“The rule of excluding women from our business is antiquated bullshit,” Weston responds. “Sera is just as smart and tough as any man at the table. She could kill you with nothing but a fork before your guards could stop her.” The blonde woman doesn’t say a word or smile but shoots a wink at Emilio.

“Damn that’s hot.” Tristan’s comment, thankfully, isn’t overheard by anyone but Dre at our end of the table and is drowned out by snickers.

“I don’t care if the girl stays,” Aiden Sanna says.

“I care,” Gideon Marino replies. “Not because she’s female, but because she’s unvetted like your brood. They can leave with her, along with my brother, after our meal.”

Guess my assumption about a Marino and Sanna alliance was wrong.

“Creed?” Emilio asks, since I’m the tie-breaking vote once again.

“This isn’t an official Council meeting, so everyone can stay for the discussion. Whatever is said will be shared with our own non-members before we get off the street anyway.”

“Fine,” Emilio grits out, but he’s clearly not happy about it.

“Do you really think she can kill a man with just a fork?” Tristan whispers to me once the rest of the table resumes small talk again.

“Probably,” Dre answers for me. “She’s trained with his assassins since she was like fourteen.”

The rest of the meal, thankfully, goes by without any further disputes. Although I can feel the tension growing with each bite.

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