Page 116 of Secret Baby for the Mafia Don
His jaw tics. “Yeah, well… Blackwood uses people's weaknesses against them. He found Isabella's need for justice. What do you think he'll use against Gabriella?"
“No doubt, he’s using me and her belief that I'm trying to take over the Monti business. Luckily, she doesn’t believe that anymore.”
He studies me. “That would mean she doesn’t need your monitoring anymore, right?”
I nod.
He smirks and shakes his head.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “What?”
“You should admit you like her. Maybe then?—”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, not this again.” I’m probably overreacting, but I don’t want Roman to see the truth of his words.
He laughs. “Whatever.”
It’s not that I don’t want to admit my feelings. Well, it is because my feelings terrify me.
"Any word from Falcone about those men at the warehouse?" I move on to a more pressing subject. The ambush still haunts me. The level of coordination and manpower suggests someone is serious about ending me, and they came damn close to succeeding.
Roman's expression darkens. "Got the call this morning. The men were mercenaries. Ex-military types who'll kill anyone for the right price."
"Professionals," I mutter, remembering their tactical precision.
"Three of them had Special Forces training. Another two were dishonorable discharges from Army Rangers. Weapons were military-grade as well. Serial numbers were filed off, but Falcone is trying to trace the ammunition."
“Can’t be cheap. Who hired them?”
"That's where the trail goes cold." Roman shakes his head in frustration. "Falcone says they used cutouts and offshore accounts."
"Someone with resources, then." I tap my finger against the desk, thinking. "Someone who knows our movements. Knows we’re working with Antonio.”
I strain my brain trying to figure out who’d go to this level of effort to eliminate us. “Frank said his men were worried we’d blame Antonio.”
Roman shakes his head. “He’d shoot you in his office if he wanted you dead.”
I nod. “But what if there was someone in the Monti family who, like Gabriella, thought I was encroaching on what isn’t mine?”
Roman thinks on that for a moment. “Possible, I suppose. But it could just as well be that someone is hoping they’ll be blamed. There’s a master manipulator out there. They’ve already tried to turn Ferraza against you.”
I lean forward. “What about Blackwood? We know he manipulates.”
“But would he bring in assassins? I don’t doubt he’d do questionable shit, but I think he wants to perp walk you in front of everyone in New York.”
“Keep on Falcone. And your ear to the ground. There’s something going on and I don’t like it.”
“Someone is playing a long game,” Roman agrees.
My phone buzzes. Dominic Vitale's name flashes on the screen. Wonder what he wants.
"Marco." Dom's voice is terse, as usual. "We have a situation."
"What kind of situation?"
