Page 122 of For a Price

Five seconds into our meeting and I already know why and how he’s wound up where he has.

I already know maybe I’ve found the perfect ally.

“You requested to meet,” he says, his brows raising. “Separate from the rest of the family. I found that interesting.”

“I am my own man.” I step toward the desk he sits behind. “I’m sure you can relate.”

“Am I supposed to know what the fuck you’re talking about?” he asks.

I grin, expecting no less than the question he’s asked. “You should… considering our stories are similar. You may not be familiar with me, but I’ve heard about how you came to be Don. I’ve heard all about your father.”

His gaze narrows in suspicion. The muscle in his jaw spasms. The first subtle tell he gives.

I keep going.

“Very impressive,” I add. “You were a capo with a small crew of men and you fought the rest of your father’s army. You came out on top and took the family from him.”

“If you’re looking to involve the Mancino name in your family squabbles, you can forget it,” he says. “I don’t get involved in the politics of each of the Five Families unless it concerns broader issues.”

“There have been complications between my family and the others in the Five. You know how my father, the sovietnik, has been making things difficult for them.”

“And it’s being handled,” he snaps. “I have no interest in getting involved in your father-son drama. Take it elsewhere.”

One of my men lets out a frustrated breath. This would normally be the point where violence breaks out. Russians infamously take offense to slights while Italians have fiery tempers themselves.

But I hold up my hand to signal to my men this isn’t that kind of visit.

The man on Salvatore’s side nudges his wire-framed glasses up his nose and says, “Psycho, I think there’s more to this guy’s story.”

“I missed the part where I asked for your opinion, Stitches,” Salvatore says. Then he cuts me a severe look that probably intimidates most men.

I’m not most men. The look simply makes me challenge him back. I return his glare, my own jaw clenched.

“Your capo is right. I’ve told you I heard your story. You overcame the odds by defeating your father. You took out what was known as the Neptune Society. The same society that was used to hurt your wife.”

Salvatore Mancino’s reaction is the same reaction I’d have if someone dared bring up Katerina to me. He sits up in his chair and I can sense the violent urges emerging from within. I’m one wrong word or phrase away from his wrath.

But I’m not backing down now. I’ve come this far.

“What if I told you other similar societies still exist?” I ask. “In Easton, there’s a club called the Midnight Society. The pakhan is attempting to purchase it. If he does, it’ll be a useful tool that aids him in his rise to power, much like it did with your father, Lucius. That would be bad news for you and your grip on the Five Families.

“The pakhan wants to be the head of the families. He wants to take control of what you have. He’s been building up to it for years. I have helped him. But I’m no longer under his thumb. It’s time he’s removed from his position of power and meets a fate like Lucius did.”

Silence follows my proposal. Salvatore glances at the man called Stitches, who merely stares back from behind his spectacles.

“And I can believe a word you say because…” Salvatore trails off.

“Because,” I growl, baring teeth, “they’ve come for me. They’ve come for me the same way your father came for you. The same fucking way your father considered you a threat and sought to squash you out. They took my woman, they sold her, they hurt her like they did to your wife. They will do everything they can to eliminate the threat that I am. I’m coming to you for the chance to do something about it before it’s too late.”

“The pakhan going for a power play,” Stitches thinks aloud. “I can see it, Psycho.”

Salvatore remains silent a moment longer, then says, “I’ll think about it.”

It’s as good as we’re going to get for the moment.

I take partial victory in the fact that it’s not an outright denial. In the fact that his righthand seems to be convinced and that everything I’ve learned about Salvatore Mancino tells me he’s the kind of man who will always put up a fight when he deems it necessary.

If he thought the Neptune Society needed to be destroyed, he must think the same about the Midnight Society.

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