Page 18 of Dangerous Rhythm

“He was with a professional. They tricked us,” Tomas defended himself.

“I want him, Tomas.”

“I know,Donna. We continued our search, but he seemed to have disappeared into thin air.”

Pointing her knife at Tomas, Serafina said, “We managed to find snitches in WITSEC. You’re telling me you can’t find one asshole rock star who is easily recognizable?”

“We haven’t tried our usual—”

“What the fuck are you waiting for?” Serafina pierced him with a look. “Get your dogs on the ground and sniff him out.”

“Yes,Donna.” Tomas said.

“Bring him to me. Alive!Capisce?”

“Yes,Donna.”

When the man left, the daughter put down the wooden spoon she used to stir the sauce and faced her mother.

“Mamma, why are you looking for this man? Isn’t it bad enough you’re openly confronting the Murphys? Rocco started this. Nobody else!”

Serafina’s earlier motherly tone had vanished completely, replaced by the ruthless woman the underworld knew well.

“They murdered my boy! Your brother! Isn’t your name Stiletto, Sofia?” Serafina demanded.

“We don’t know who did it,Mamma. How could you—”

“They all have to pay! Your brother had a reason for killing that Murphy boy. Damn stupid boy wouldn’t tell me what it is.”

Serafina pointed her knife at Sofia. “This Curtis Bisset meddled in our business and put Rocco in jail, where he was a sitting duck for those Murphy scumbags.”

Sofia trembled at the wrath spewing out of her mother. “But the Murphys have been out of the business for—”

“Bullshit! They may say they’re legit, but nobody can scrub their hands clean after dipping them in the blackest tar for decades. Not even Connor Murphy, no matter how hard he tries,” she said.

“Then why am I doing all this work to make our business above board if we can’t ever get away from our predecessors’ sins,Mamma?” Tony Jr., the eldest son, walked in. With his black suit, tortoiseshell glasses, and clean-cut, stylish haircut, he looked more like an accountant—a handsome one, but an accountant nonetheless.

“Don’t be naïve, Junior. All our businesses are legal.” Serafina jeered at the wordlegal. “If not, the police would’ve shut us down years ago. Our practices, though, are morecreative.”

Sofia exchanged looks with her brother. As a corporate lawyer, she was well versed in the legality of the family businesses. Their mother was technically correct, but these creative practices could or would be the thing that the police busted the family for. Both Sofia and Tony feared for that eventual day.

“I want you to stop your creative practices against the Murphys,Mamma,” Tony said. “The intimidations, the threats. And what’s this bounty I heard on that witness on Rocco’s case?”

Tony Jr. went to face his mother. “Rocco is dead. There won’t be any trial. It’s just bringing more scrutiny on us. This is how the police will eventually get us. Then all the work I do to protect this family will go to waste!”

The mother stared at the son. Rage filled her eyes.

“Damn scrutiny! I don’t care. There isn’t enough blood in this world to bring my Rocco back, but I will spill theirs. As long aswarm blood is running inside my veins…” Serafina slammed her knife’s sharp tip deep into the wooden cutting board in front of her. “I will get my revenge.”

nine

Over Paris, France

“We’ll descend for landing in a few minutes,” Captain Spiro informed Lina. “The ground team is standing by. We’ll go straight to a private hangar once we touch down.”

“Excellent. Thank you, Captain,” she replied and thanked the co-pilot as well.

Lina left the cockpit and approached her charges. Dr. And Mrs. Bisset looked tired. Though the seats were comfortable, the older couple couldn’t have slept well. It must be the mix of worry and time difference. It was the middle of the night on theEast Coast, but it would be five-thirty in the morning when they landed in Paris.

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