Page 96 of Filthy Little Games

“Because he doesn’t want anyone else to die or go to prison because of him.”

My heart sinks into my stomach. “Because of Carmine?”

“That’s right. Boss thinks it was some sort of mistake that his brother took bullets, and he didn’t. But we all work for him because he deserves our loyalty. Carmine wouldn’t have blamed his brother for a second. Any of us would gladly take a bullet for him because Creed takes care of our families, even if we’re not around. He helped my grandma get into this crazy expensive nursing home when we couldn’t leave her alone anymore or afford a nurse to stay with her. And Maurice here, the boss paid for his father-in-law’s chemo and surgery. He’s been in remission for what, five or six years now?”

“He just had his cancer free scan for the fifth year.”

“That’s...wow, very sweet of him.”

Creed doesn’t just pay his employees’ wages; he takes care of everyone in Manhattan who needs it. Or at least he tries to. Even if it might get him in trouble.

“One of our men went to prison for killing the guy who touched his little boy. And you know what Creed did?”

“What?”

“First, he bitched him out for not coming to him to help kill the son of a bitch, and then” — the guard leans closer andwhispers — “he actually helped him escape, so he could be with his family.”

“That’s...amazing.” I can’t say I’m surprised. Creed is a good man, even if he can’t see that himself.

“The boss can make anything happen. That’s why he’s the capo dei capi.”

“Right. King of kings.”

I assumed Creed Ferraro ruled over the other families with fear before we met, but now I know that’s only a small part of it. He rules because he’s earned it through the respect of all the people he helps, doing what’s right even when it may be legally wrong. He loves and protects those loyal to him and would do anything for them.

Creed

“So, what information did you and Dre get out of the guards last night?” I ask Tristan as we sit in morning traffic. He’s in the back while Aldo drives and I ride in the passenger seat. Since this wasn’t a conversation that I trusted to have by phone, I decided to kill two birds with one stone.

Besides, it’s best not to show up alone when meeting with the other bosses.

“The four we picked up are all bachelors who live there in the apartment to watch the kid for Emilio day and night with the nannies. The boss visits several times a week, almost always on Fridays with the same four men — the ones who were searching everyone at his house. Izaiah would visit maybe once every few weeks with his father on Friday nights, but never on his own. Theyalso said that other than Izaiah, his family doesn’t know about the kid. Or if they do, they’ve never been to visit. The guards were surprised and thought we were lying when we told them Emilio was the girl’s father.”

“Good.” If nobody knows, then once Emilio is dead, nobody will be trying to track down Oriana and take custody from Zara. “Did they give up any information about the club raid?”

“No. They were with the kid and swear they didn’t know anything about it.”

“Tell Dre to get rid of them tonight after you question them again for anything else they know about Emilio’s entourage and schedule.”

“Will do. So, where exactly are we going?”

“I’ve got a meeting with Gideon,” I tell him just as a text comes in from Matteo, who is standing guard at the penthouse. Zara asked if the nannies could go with her, which makes sense.

“Gideon Marino?” Tristan asks.

“Do you know any other Gideons?”

“No, but why are you meeting with him? The Marinos aren’t as seedy as the Sannas, but they’re not exactly trustworthy by any means.”

“The Marinos run the majority of the exporting out of New York. Either they pay for the cargo ships or know who does. I need a favor from them.”

“What favor?”

“Putting Zara and her daughter on one of his boats along with a few of our men to make sure there’s no trouble getting them somewhere far away.”

“You sound so excited by the idea.”

“I don’t have any other choice. At least this way Zara gets to live her life. I’m sure Dre will celebrate when she’s gone.”

---