Page 147 of Deception

“Adriano Diamante. Welcome, old friend.”

Hmm. Reserved. Cordial. Polite.

What angle is he playing?

“Don Vipera,” I intone, keeping it formal.

Dom rises from behind his desk, circling to pose, leaning back, casual. He tilts his head slightly, watching me like the snake his family is named for, before offering me his hand, the massive signet ring of his great-aunt Eva on his finger.

Bowing, keeping my eyes locked on his, I inch my head forward in the imitation of a kiss, a gesture that holds worlds of meaning to those of us who spent our lives in the game.

“Hmm,” he hums, cocking his head in a sign of acknowledgment.

Everything since I stepped into this building has been a test.

And I either just passed, or I just signed my death certificate.

“Adriano, I know you must be scrambling, wondering why I asked you here. You probably thought I was gonna cap you, huh?” He laughs, a musical and charming sound.

“It crossed my mind,” I blurt out, cursing in my head at the slip.

“It was a waste of talent killing your brother. Had to be done, though.”

“Naturally.”

“Look, I know you hate me. We don’t have to pretend you ever even liked me, right?”

“Not particularly.”

“Especially now. It’s perfectly understandable. Yet, I can’t help but think that you are the type of guy who can still get the job done in spite of that.” He crosses the room to the window, looking out over the river. “My people, you know, they say I should kill all three of yous.”

“Probably should.” I’m doing it again. Stop talking.

“But see, I think, and correct me if I’m wrong, that putting you to work is so much more useful. Like I said, waste of talent is one of my biggest pet peeves. And I don’t want to kill you, we’ve known each other our whole life. Makes me feel like a real villain, you know? So, keeping you and your brothers close ensures you aren’t out there plotting against me. I gotta look over my shoulder all the time, etc.”

“Better to have us plotting against you where you can see us, right?” Insert foot into mouth.

“Precisely. And it gives me a chance to prove to you that I am worth serving. I’ve never wanted anything but to run the family and do right by our people.”

Somehow I doubt that’s ever been true. But he seems to believe it.

Swallowing the seething rage trying to climb out through my ribcage, I nod, kneeling. Stay the course. Ride the line to the end of the tracks.

“Hmm. Traditional. I like it. But there’s no need to kneel. Not for myconsigliere.”

The train derails completely.

Ball of metal and fire.

To think that I could outsmart a man who's been playing this game his entire life was extremely naive on my part. Out of every eventuality that I planned for, I never expected this.

And that’s how the next few weeks go.

Each time I think I have all the possibilities laid out; he throws a curveball.

I see now why Alessandro always followed him when they were young. The man's intuitive, sharp as a razor, perceptive. Worse than all of that, he’s disarmingly clever, funny.

He sucks you in with his larger-than-life personality. He makes you forget who he is.

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