Page 55 of Deadly Target
“You.”
She didn’t know whether to laugh or give into the chill creeping over her skin. “And you think Alfie sent them after me?”
Her father nodded.
“That’s an interesting theory, especially since Alfie called six times to warn me there was going to be a hit at the courthouse.”
“Is that so? Why six?”
“Because I didn’t…”answer. Alfie refused to leave messages because he claimed they could be used against him. But how did she know for sure he had indeed planned to tell her about the hit? “I have intel that Frankie planned to kill Valiant and sent six of the Suarez Kings to take him out.”
“Did that come from Barone?”
Dammit. How did he know? “I’m not stupid, Dad. I don’t trust Alfie any more than I do you.”
He blanched. “The Kings weren’t meant to kill you, but they were supposed to hurt you. He wanted them to scare you a little, and kill Valiant, of course.”
The temperature in the car had dropped several degrees, the windows beginning to fog. Olivia started the car and hit defrost, turning up the temperature. Her fingers were cold, and she held them to the vent. “Why in the hell would he want to scare me? I’m his ticket to witness protection when he testifies against his bosses.”
Her father gave a shrug. “My guess? Barone wanted to play your shining knight riding in on his white horse afterward, except your FBI friend came to the rescue and superseded him.”
“Shining knight?”
“If you see him as a good guy, you’re less likely to stand in his way when he takes over.”
“Takes over the Fifty-seven Gang? He’s going to testify against Gino and Frankie, and then disappear with his daughter. He’s not taking over anything, except maybe some beach in a warm climate.”
Her dad rubbed a hand over his face and she could tell his patience was waning. “Do you know who killed Barone’s wife?”
“She died in a car accident.”
“It was made to look like that, but that was the handiwork of Frankie Molina. Lorenzo Barone crossed Frankie back in the day and Frankie took revenge. Not by wiping out Lorenzo or his son, but by taking out Lorenzo’s daughter-in-law only a few short months after she gave birth, letting Lorenzo know he could wipe out the entire family. The whole thing was staged, Olivia, and Alfonso knows it. That’s the real reason he joined Gino and Frankie—revenge. Got nothing to do with holding Lorenzo’s spot until he’s out of the tank. It’s taken Alfonzo a few years to move up the line, and I think he initially wanted to usurp Frankie, become consigliere to Gino, but Frankie’s tough. Tougher than Alfonzo expected. Frankie B got where he is as Gino’s right-hand man because he’s a cruel, demanding bastard. He doesn’t have any weaknesses, not one, and Barone knows it. Alfonzo doesn’t want to simply send them to prison and shut down the syndicate. He plans to take both men out, and every single person they care about.”
Heavy accusations. “Why hasn’t he done it already then?”
“The family is in Alfie’s blood now. He’s got a taste for the power, the killing. He wants to build his own empire, but to do so, he needs to have everything in place so those loyal to Gino and Frankie won’t resist. He needs to have an overwhelming, brutal force to stop any resistance, as well as a stronger network for supply and demand.”
Things began to slip into place. “The Suarez cartel.”
“He managed to get Frankie and the Kings to the bargaining table, mediated the deal, but Silvestre Santos knows he and his squad are part of Barone’s coup to take over. He’s promised them a lucrative part of the new business dealings, that’s the only reason Santos agreed to help. On top of that, Barone wants a working relationship with law enforcement, so they won’t stand in his way. He plans to clean up the cartels he works with, keep their run-ins with the cops minimal, and build an entirely new syndicate. He doesn’t just want LA. He wants the entire West Coast seaboard.”
A working relationship with law enforcement. Did he mean her? “Alfie knows I would never look the other way for him, no matter what.”
What about me?Her dad’s glance conveyed the question, the unsaid words hanging in the air between them like a challenge.
She let the silence engulf her, staring out at the rough surf. The waves seemed to match her emotions.
“I’m not proud of all the things I’ve done in my life,” her dad said, “but I’ve always been proud of you. I know you won’t turn a blind eye to Barone’s illegal dealings. Problem is, that puts you in more danger. When I got wind of this last month, I deliberately pulled some strings to make sure I could get out as soon as possible. I came here to help you.”
“I appreciate the heads up, but I can handle this on my own.”
He gave a dismissive grunt. “So stubborn. You need to understand, Olivia, this isn’t only between you and Alfonso Barone. He’s starting a war, and if you’re on the wrong side of it, he’ll take you out. He’s already working on getting your friend out of the way.”
“My friend? What are you talking about?”
Her phone rang before he answered, and she grabbed it, hoping it was Victor. The number was unknown, but it could be the hospital, so she answered. “Deputy Marshal Fiorelli.”
“Olivia, it’s Roman Walsh. Are you in LA?”
