Page 126 of Dangerous King
He glares at me while discussing Giovanni's disappearance, calls it an inconvenience, like the man's rotting corpse didn't deserve it. Then moves on to the Venezuelans, who have swooped in and all but taken over the human trafficking enterprise that once belonged to the Giordano family. For a second, I see something flicker behind Toni's eyes. We've talked about this. Human trafficking is a disease, and men like Giovanni are the ones spreading it. Edoardo is too cowardly and greedy to clean house.
I stay silent until my father raises the one question I hoped someone would ask: "What are our plans regarding the Venezuelans?"
As much as I'm glad the Venezuelans took over that part of our business, if we let it stand, we'll look weak to all the other mafia families in the city. The Russians and the Irish are chomping at the bit to tear us apart.
"Nothing right now," Edoardo replies.
Toni leans forward. "Nothing?" He asks in a sharp voice. "We'll just sit back and do nothing?"
"I thought you, of all people, would be happy about that," Edoardo says, lacing the words with poison. "You've been on my ass to shut human trafficking down ever since my father died and I took over."
The asshole is trying to back Toni into a corner. But Toni is as sharp as ever, "That doesn't mean I'm willing to allow the fucking Venezuelans to encroach on our territory."
A few others murmur in agreement.
"Fine, if you want it, you take it," Edoardo fires back.
"It's mine," Roberto cuts in, predictable as ever.
Edoardo slams the table. "We will not go against the Venezuelans. That's an order."
What. The. Fuck? Why the hell not? My fingers curl under the table. Best case scenario, he's a coward who doesn't want to go to war. Worst case… I have no clue what could be worse. He's not just weak, he's reckless.
Then, as if on cue, Roberto brings up Camilla. His eyes bore into me.
"My sister Camilla is still missing. If you have her…" He doesn't finish the sentence. Doesn't have to.
"I don't keep vipers in my house," I say coolly, despite Camilla's disappearance being news to me. I wonder if Ledyanoy Prizrak has something to do with that, too. But Camilla is the least of my worries, and I push her aside, baiting her brother instead. "But you're welcome to come look. You'll get the same welcome as any other intruder."
The air goes taut. Only Edoardo's voice cuts through it. "I have men looking for her."
Carlos, of course, sees a vacuum and tries to fill it. "I'm sure she will show up. In the meantime, I'm all too happy to take over trafficking."
"I'm not dealing in humans," Marcello cuts in, surprising half the room. His voice is firm. Honest. Like a man who's seen enough corruption to last a lifetime.
"Nobody asked you to, boy," Carlos snaps. "I'll handle it."
"I'll say it only one more time," Edoardo barks, slapping the table again. "This business is finished. Basta! I don't want to hear another word about it."
But the energy in the room has shifted. And I know I'm not the only one ready to draw the line.
The meeting continues with a few insults being exchanged and one or two threats thrown out, but otherwise, it settles into a regular board meeting.
"Where are you with your trial, Carlos?" Edoardo asks, likely finally concluding that this morning's meeting was a waste.
"The leverage I had against the judge is gone, and Lambert,"—the judge presiding over his case—"is hiding in some secure building, under police protection." He fans himself despite the cool air conditioning; he's sweating as if he'd run a marathon. "I still have four of the jurors in my pocket. And Kevin Jaspar," Carlos adds confidently.
"Good. Good." Edoardo nods enthusiastically but doesn't bother to offer any other support. With Kingsley in our pocket now, it would be easy to get the case dismissed. But Edoardo chooses to do nothing. Carlos notices it too, and his expression turns calculatingly blank.
I don't look at Toni, but I know he's paid Jaspar a visit to ensure the State Attorney knows which side to be on.
"Well, that's too bad about the judge." Edoardo doesn't sound too upset about it, before he issues a warning to Toni not to interfere with the trial, ending with, "We can't have our capos go to jail."
"Wouldn't be the first," my father surprisingly mutters.
"Times are changing, old-timer. None ofmycapos will go to jail," Edoardo snarls.
I'm about to jump out of my chair for the insult against my father, but Dante's fingers close around my arm in warning. Our father is still the capo, and if he feels insulted, this will be his battle. If I jump in, I'll make him look weak. But fuck, my father's next words make him look even weaker. "Of course, Don Edoardo."
