Page 41 of Under the Influence

“Needs must.”

“Am I not a close enough friend of yours to be invited?”

“I didn’t invite any of my friends, it was all for show.”

“Who is the unlucky lady?”

“Sophia Falcone.”

“As in Don Falcone’s daughter?”

“You got it.”

“You’re not as stupid as you look,” he says, impressed.

“You might be next,” I say with a snort.

“When I tell you never, I mean never fucking ever.”

“Don’t you want to carry on the good Hatim name?”

“I have two brothers; they can do that.”

“How are things in Las Vegas?”

“The Russians and the Irish are getting in every fucking crevice,” he says in annoyance.

“Chicago are also getting brave these days, something isn’t sitting right with me.”

“No fucking kidding.”

“Rocco.” Dominic appears to look alarmed.

“What is it?” I say, narrowing my eyes at him.

“It’s Sophia, somebody got in the house. She’s been hurt.”

“What happened? Where the fuck were you?” I seethe.

“I don’t know how it happened, the place was checked before we returned. We found her at the bottom of the stairs, but she didn’t fall from the top. The doctor is with her now and thinks it’s only a mild concussion.”

“Cazzo! I want this whole fucking area swept again; we’re leaving tomorrow morning.”

“I want you to put every man we have on all the perimeters,” Tysen says to his capo, Kamal. “Leave no corner unmanned.” Kamal nods and walks off, shouting instructions in Turkish to the other men.

“Thanks,” I say frowning.

“What?” he says puzzled.

“Not that many people knew I was coming here.”

“Inside job.” He says nodding slowly.

“I’ve got to see my wife; I’ll find you later,” I say, patting his shoulder.

“Sophia?” I say, entering the dimly lit room.

“Yeah,” a small voice replies.

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