Page 64 of Filthy Little Games

Glancing at my watch, I realize I need to leave now if I don’t want to be late for my meeting. I toss my napkin on the plate and go around the table to give Zara a kiss on her forehead. “See you tonight?”

“See you then,” she replies. Grabbing the front of my suit jacket, she pulls me closer to kiss me.

After that, it’s nearly impossible to leave. But I make myself walk away, heading down to Omerta, where I’ve called an emergency meeting.

It’s rare to have all my family in one place at the same time, but it’ll be easier to talk to everyone at once.

As is our usual procedure, every man drops his phone and weapon in a box as soon as they come off the elevators and are searched for wires before being allowed in the conference room, which takes up nearly a quarter of the social club on the thirty-sixth floor. Most will have to stand, since the space isn’t big enough for a group meeting this large.

Once everyone has been checked in, I take my place at the front of the conference room. Buttoning the front of my jacket, I can’t help but think about Zara in a similar one.

“Thank you all for coming,” I start. “I’m sure you already know what this is about. We have to figure out who is behind Carmine’s murder, who is responsible for setting us up at The Vault. There has to be some loose end either in the PD or in one of the families. Have your associates put out feelers, listen to gossip, and report anything you hear to Lorenzo, no matter how small or unimportant you might think it is. Any questions?”

“Do you think the missing Rovina son could be connected?” a thirty-something delivery driver asks.

“It’s possible,” I say. My men don’t need to know what I did to Izaiah unless we get dragged into a war for it.

“So should we also listen out for details on Rovina?” another one of our street soldiers who runs a food truck asks.

“Yes, absolutely. Everyone stay armed and alert.”

Once Dre finishes up with some bookkeeping matters, calling out those who still haven’t paid their dues this month, we adjourn.

“I’m starting to think we’re never going to figure this shit out,” Tristan says half an hour later once it’s just me, him, and Dre left in the conference room.

“Every secret comes out eventually,” I assure him. Hopefully, that’s not true about my own secrets. There is one secret I think I can finally trust them with.

“So, about Zara,” I start. “I know you think it’s too soon for me to marry her, but I told you I have my reasons.”

“Right? And?” Dre asks.

“And she probably won’t be staying with me much longer.”

Tristan and Dre exchange a look before Tristan says, “What do you mean, boss?”

“You know the little girl I had you look for at the Rovinas?”

“Yeah.”

“She’s Zara’s daughter. I’m going to get her daughter back from the Rovinas and then get them both out of the country, somewhere off the map where she can live without fear of…my enemies.” I start to say the Rovinas before catching myself.

“And let me guess, then you’re going to keep them up financially for the rest of their lives too?” Dre asks.

“Yes.”

“Not to sound like an asshole or anything, but why? Why go to all the trouble of marrying and helping this woman?”

“Because she’s my wife and I put her in a tough spot,” I admit. I don’t want them to know about her part in Carmine’s death. They’d never forgive her.

Nobody will know where she ends up either. I don’t plan to trust even my own family with that information.

Ready to change the subject because I already feel like a dick for keeping secrets from them, I ask Dre, “Any reconciliation in the works between you and the missus yet?”

“You think Stella returns my calls after throwing a drink in my face? Fuck no,” he grumbles. “And I’m not trying to speak to her again until she fucking apologizes.”

“Hell might freeze over before that happens,” Tristan mutters.

“Her brother is missing and likely dead,” I remind him. “Give the woman a break. Let her have a free pass this time and try to make amends. Emilio wants a wedding soon before his wife dies, so buy her a big-ass ring to show off to her friends.”

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