Page 44 of The Celtic Resolution
“Well I’ve forgotten, so can you please?” He sweeps his arm toward the door where one of his guards suddenly steps through and offers their arm to Mary.
“Fine,” she sighs. “But I want Bruno to stay so if he’s gone when I get back then I’m going to be very cross.”
“Of course dear.”
The silence remains as Mary leaves the room and then Domenico turns to face me. His expression is impassive but his eyes are as sharp as I remember. He looks me up and down, causing a wave of prickling heat to flush down my arms and legs.
“You’re talking like you know something I should know,” he says, moving around the couch to the small drinks table in the corner. “Care to share?”
That’s the most he’s spoken to me since I got out of prison and I almost can’t bear it. Yearning surges up inside me and I know I shouldn’t care. I know he only wants to talk to me because I know something but at least he’s talking to me. If this is the opportunity I need to show him that my loyalty lies with him and prison has changed nothing, then I’m taking it.
“I’ve heard a lot,” I say, fighting to keep my voice steady. “But if you’re interested, then something tells me you’ve also been hearing a few things.”
“On the grape vine.” Domenico calmly pours two glasses of Scotch.
My stomach flips at the scent and the ache behind my eyes grows but I ignore it as Domenico hands me one glass. Hangover be damned if I’m sharing a drink with my Dad.
“Tell me,” he says. “Unless you’re about to share a childish tale like the old days in which case I have much more important things to be getting on with.”
“No,” I say quickly. “Nothing like that. In fact I—” Hesitation pulls at my words. Saoirse and I promised to keep this quiet. Is itreally wise for me to bring my father in so early when all we still have are rumors?
“You…?” Domenico prompts, sipping his drink.
“I know how important the family name is. I know everything you’ve done over the years to build it up to a name that sends most shaking in their boots just hearing it.”
“Stop blowing smoke up my ass and get to the point.”
“Our name— your name. I heard it while I was in prison.”
“Hardly a surprise given who you are.”
“Yes, but by then my surname wasn’t important. I heard it from the Triad.”
He pauses and his eyes flick to me. “Tell me.”
“They were talking about you, or at least someone using your name. Talking about how they were doing business with you but I knew that wasn’t true. The pots the Triad get into are pots you would never touch. I tried to tell you at the Gala but you…” I clear my throat and drink. “You were preoccupied.”
“Yes,” Domenico says and he briefly touches my arm as he moves toward the couch. “It was a busy night.”
“I know,” I say as my heart soars at the brief contact. “But it gets worse. Our name isn’t passed around like something to scare people. They talk like they’ve been dealing with you so as soon as I got out, I’ve been looking into it and you won’t believe what I’ve found.” It rushes out of me now like a child excitedly sharing their day of school. “I did some really deep digging and I found a circle of assholes neck deep in human trafficking but all of them claim to be working with you. I haven’tmetany of them but the thread is there.”
“What?” He barely sits before he’s back on his feet with rage burning in his eyes. It’s like a switch has flipped and the calm man has dissolved. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Don’t worry!” I hold up one hand as a nervous smile twitches across my lips. “I know it’s bullshit but Dad, someoneout there is using your name to move a lot of shit. Drugs, people, and weapons.”
For the first time in my life, my father looks stunned. Almost as if I could knock him over with a feather.
“Bruno, I?—”
“I know,” I cut in quickly. “I know how important this family is and how loyal you are to Rocky. When I got out of prison and learned what happened with Noah, and to Mary, it made sense why someone would leap at using the name of an important Italian to make a mark in the underworld. Whoever is impersonating you knows exactly how to play their cards right.”
“Hm. Yes.” Domenico’s attention drops to his glass. “It seems we have a traitor in our midst yet again.” His grip tightens around his glass until his knuckles turn white then he turns away. “I will deal with this.”
No.
No, he’s closing me out.
He can’t take this from me!
