Page 2 of Vito

I scan around the bar again.

I'm missing something.

Raf watches me. "Any idea why Aiken called you as he bled out like someone used him as a pin-cushion?"

I grunt at his analogy, but based on the number of stab wounds, it's a fair one.

Looking at Aiken lying in his blood, I crouch and drag my fingers down to close his eyelids, the litany of scars on my hand catching in the lights. Even though we weren't friends or allies, Aiken had called my cell.

He managed to get out three words while he gurgled and choked on his blood. It sounded like he tried to say more, but couldn't. Raf and I got over here as fast as we could and busted the door in, but he was DOA.

I rise to my feet. "Maybe a mis-dial."

But I know it wasn’t a mis-dial.

I haven't said anything to Raf, who is my most trusted man, but Aiken had said, "Vito…Call Ed."

Aiken knew he was calling me. He did so purposefully, even though I have no idea who the hell Ed is or why Aiken calledmeto call him.

Raf knows Aiken told me to call Ed. What I didn't mention was that he specifically said my name—keeping Raf out of the 'splash zone' in case this blows back on me. The fact that Aiken deliberately called me with his dying breath could be misconstrued that we had something more than the approved neutral relationship. It could appear that we were friends or allies when that is a huge motherfucking no-no.

It wouldn't matter that I'm basically mafia royalty. My family wouldn't be able to protect me. If they tried to, all our businesses, operations, and personnel in the city wouldbecome fair game in an open-season hunt—alliances dissolved, partnerships disbanded, and open attacks.

The powers in this city took Gilly's intent and purposesvery fucking seriously.

Gilly's is sacred ground, and anyone caught trying to gain an advantage here would face deadly consequences.

I need to tread carefully. I want to make sure whoever killed Aiken meets the same fate. However, I need to mind my P's and Q's while I assist in that endeavor.

The trickiest part will be keeping this from the Chamber, which is a collective of San Francisco's five strongest crime organizations working together. It was formed in the early days of my father's reign, and he's one of the founding members. The leaders had come together, deciding that collaborating was more profitable and productive than competing or warring.

The Chamber doesn't control Gilly's; however, it helps ensure that neutrality is respected and followed.

My father, Tommaso Santoro, represents our family. The other four factions that make up the Chamber are the Havoc Guardians motorcycle club, the Saints, the Fire Clan, and the Triads.

With the equivalent of the President of Switzerland being murdered, they're going to ensure the perpetrator is eliminated, as well as support Gus to keep Gilly's functional and open until Aiken's successor is in place.

They will also interview, AKA grill, Raf and me, since we found Aiken.

"Any idea who Ed is?" Raf asks. He grabs his jacket off the bar, broken glass crunching under his boots.

"I've never heard any staff here named that." I pull out my phone to call Massimo.

Raf's large hand rubs his face. "Fuck, Vito. This is going to look bad that Aiken called you."

Even if I don't admit to anyone that Aiken knew he was calling me, there will be questions about why he did. My only saving grace is that I would be in his recent call log, as he called me earlier, confirming the upcoming illegal gambling game that happens in Gilly's secret backroom.

And maybe that's what happened. As Aiken bled out from his many wounds, he fumbled with his phone to call someone for help and just happened to hit my number.

My gut tells me something different, though.

My call to Massimo rings twice before he answers. "Jesus, Vito. It's almost four in the morning. What the hell do you want?" His voice is deep and gruff.

"Always such a grumpy motherfucker," I taunt with a smile.

"He's drunk and needs a ride home, Mass," Raf chimes in like an asshole.

I chuckle, then turn serious and say to Massimo, "Gilly's has been hit. Aiken is dead."

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