Page 35 of Sin & Secrets

“I thought Carmine was the informant.”

“But what if he wasn’t? Or if he wasn’t acting alone?”

“Great, so there’s another rat.”

“Probably in this room.”

I stand up, slamming my hand on the table. “I will not let a dead man sow discord among us.”

“What did Carmine say to you that night at the docks?”

I turn to look at the woman sitting at the opposite end of the table. So far, she hadn’t contributed at all to the meeting, but she had a habit of making people listen when she did speak up.

“Not a lot.” I match her icy gaze.

Her silver hair ripples as she shakes her head. “Perhaps you should have prevented him from blowing his brain out.”

“I’m glad you feel confident offering this adVitale retrospectively, Esther.”

The lines on her weathered face pull into a cruel smile. “Your father would have acted with greater wisdom. Maybe Giuliano would be a valuable consultant on this issue.”

“Bold of you to undermine your don at a time like this.” I let her see the wrath boiling behind my eyes.

“Who’s sowing discord now?”

The challenge in her voice has those around her murmuring nervously.

I only have a second to make a decision.

Esther is an older player with a well-known distaste for the Cartel—rooted in a cruel combination of racism and ignorance. She doesn’t fit the profile of our rat, as much as I would like to pin this on her.

And yet, this isn’t the first time she’s called me out on this. She’d been one of the last to agree to my father’s retirement conditions and she was the oldest member of his previous guard.

She believes herself to be untouchable, and that’s a very dangerous thing.

“I’d like to thank you for your years of serVitale here.” I bow my head with the little respect I can muster. “But I believe I have become weary of your council.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

I nod at Martino once more. “Please have your son briefed ahead of our next meeting; I wouldn’t want him to fall behind.”

Esther takes one look at Martino’s approach and begins to screech. “You can’t. I’m on your father’s list.”

“Giuliano Moretti holds no power in this room.” I let authority reverberate through my words. “Any suggestion otherwise is an insult to the Guild. Let this be a warning to all.”

Martino, ever a better man than I, gives Esther the option to see herself out.

It’s almost comical how everyone watches the door slam behind her, then wearily turns back to look at me.

I sigh. “Your concerns about another leak are valid. However, I will not tolerate any finger-pointing or whistleblowing in this room. I offer you all the same courtesy you gave me when I became your don. Trust.”

I make sure to look them all in the eye before continuing. “We will continue to interrogate the Cartel for more information. Until then, remain calm and vigilant.”

“You might have just solved the problem by kicking the old hag out,” Alessandro mutters.

I give the others a moment to register his words. Let them think that they’re safe again.

“If there’s nothing else, you all have places to be.”

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