Page 32 of Sin & Secrets

“Aren’t you going to fuck me every night for three months and then hand me back to Claudio like a used-up plaything?”

My bitter words make the Mafia don flinch. “I’m sorry you had to hear all that. This is, unfortunately, a delicate situation, and I needed Lazzaro to give you up without too much protest.”

“Well, I’m glad your little secret mobster mission was a huge success.”

He stares at me. “You’re upset.”

“I’m tired. There’s a big fucking difference.”

“Then rest.” He straightens himself up and reaches for the door handle. “I’ll be away tomorrow, so you’ll have the house to yourself.”

“Wait, this is your house?”

The ghost of a smile creeps onto his lips. “I told you, Miss Cassandra. The protection I offer is notoriously unparalleled.”

9

ROCCO

“Itake it your little intervention with Claudio Lazzaro went well?”

Marco Chiavari fell into step at my side as I marched through the compound.

As a child, I had been quite afraid of his stern demeanor and unflinching ability to cut to the heart of any conversation.

But over the years, I’ve come to respect the older man a great deal, and not just for his iron-clad hold of the Guild’s finances and generous personal donations to the cause.

Or his fiery-haired daughter, who’d been a pain in my ass since she could speak in complete sentences.

“Transfer the money from my personal account. His debt is settled.”

I turn the corner, heading toward the meeting room at the end of the corridor, but Marco grabs my arm to pull me back.

“I had another look at Lazzaro’s loan documents,” Marco speaks so quietly that his thick mustache barely moves.

“Oh?” I keep my face as neutral as possible.

If anyone could dig up the truth about Lazzaro besides Teo, it would be Marco. But as a member of my inner circle, I couldn’tshare my plan with him. Not if there was even the slightest possibility he could be the rat.

“Someone forged it. The original expired a month ago.”

“Is that so?”

Marco blinks as if suddenly seeing right through me. “You knew about this?”

“If you continue that line of thought to its natural conclusion,” I reply softly, “You’d realize I would have to have a very good reason for not telling anyone.”

“Claudio Lazzaro has made a mockery of my life's work,” he growls back.

He’s deadly serious, too. Marco doesn’t mess with money.

I take him in for a moment, considering. The thought of Marco willingly bending his rules for someone like Lazzaro is, in fairness, laughable.

So far, only Teo and I know of the plan to flush out the rat. Martino might have picked up a few things on a need-to-know basis, but aside from that, I was up against the entire Guild’s lieutenants alone.

Another set of eyes could be a valuable asset.

“I imagine there would only be a few behind that door over there,” I point to the meeting room. “With the knowledge to be able to accomplish something like that? It’s funny how information seems to be leaking out everywhere these days.”

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