Page 11 of Armando

“How is Cambria adjusting to life in New York? And your father?” Romeo asks Dante.

The inner circle members are all in Romeo’s office for our weekly update and assignments.

“Just fine,” Dante answers in a clipped tone. He’s not nearly as aloof as he once was, though he would claim otherwise. Still, his voice has more warmth than usual, and I know it’s all thanks to his new woman, Cambria.

“And the dumb fucks who kidnaped them have been dealt with, correct?”

“Affirmative,” Dante growls. “I took out the leader of their little group of rebels, and the Moscatellis took care of the rest. They didn’t appreciate another family on their territory, and they promised to contact me if they found any more Colombos in Chicago.”

“They’re good allies to have,” Romeo says, pacing his office. Whenever the Boss is fidgeting instead of sitting at his desk and brooding, I know it’s going to be a busy week. “While the Moscatellis keep tabs on our enemies in Chicago, we’ll do the same here. After their attempt to harm my Thalia and the lives we took to get her back, I know they’ll retaliate. I can’t say for sure how the Colombos feel about the group of thugs who came for Cambria without permission, but we can’t rule out their wrath for that incident, either. This game is about pride, and we’ve damaged theirs.”

“What do we need to do, Boss?” I ask.

My foot won’t stop tapping up and down, and I know I sound more than a little eager to get going. It’s not out of character for me to be impatient while awaiting instructions, but today I’m antsier than usual. I have a beautiful warrior goddess in my home, waiting for me to return. Fuck yeah, I’m itching to get back to her.

“We’ll focus on gathering information from our mutual connections. Dante, you and I will invite some of the financial world's bigger players to a black-tie dinner to get a read on where Colombo money is going.”

Dante nods, scribbling down notes. What a nerd.

“My specialty isn’t tuxedos and champagne, it’s back-alley brawling,” I mutter under my breath.

Romeo spins on his heel and narrows his eyes at me. “I’m used to you wanting to get out there and crack skulls, but you seem particularly restless today, Armando,” he says carefully, assessing every one of my breaths. He’s trying to get a read on me, but I don’t mind.

“I am, but I’m always ready to give two hundred percent. You know that,” I respond.

After a beat of silence, Romeo nods once before continuing. “You and Valentino will handle our contacts on the ground. Known business fronts, strip clubs, the seedier side of our city. They’ll likely talk more than the financial hotshots, but their intel can’t always be trusted. I know both of you will use your best judgment on what information makes it back inside this office.”

Valentino and I share a look, then nod in deference to the Don.

“Yes, Boss,” Valentino answers.

“Of course, Boss,” I add.

“Good. It’s settled. This is our number one priority. We need to strike while they’re still scrambling.”

Romeo dismisses us a few minutes later, and Valentino follows me into the hallway.

“You, uh, doing okay?” he asks, giving me some side-eye. “You seem ready to bolt out of here. Don’t tell me you have some chick waiting for you.”

“She’s notsome chick,” I snarl, looking Valentino dead in the eye.

Valentino is the youngest member of the Di Salvo family inner circle, but he’s proven himself loyal in a short amount of time. Valentino’s past is a bit of a mystery, and while Dante has his suspicions, I know better than to question the Boss’s decisions. If Romeo says he’s legit, then he’s legit.

Right now, however, I want to rearrange his face with my fist for disrespecting Allegra.

“Jesus, not you, too,” he groans. “First Romeo, then Dante, and now…” Valentino sighs as he gestures vaguely in my direction.

“You have an opinion about the Boss’ woman? I’m sure he’d love to hear it.”

The tall, tatted-up man raises his palms in mock surrender. “Not trying to start anything. Just saying I don’t understand. You all went so long without having these… entanglements, so why start now?”

“First, I’m only eight years older than you. Don’t talk to me like I’m elderly,” I grunt. “And second, byentanglements,you mean…?”

Valentino rolls his eyes, exasperated by my question. “I mean all the complications that come with women and relationships in general. All three of you are at the top of your game, so I don’t understand why you’re so willing to throw it all away.”

“Who says Romeo is throwing anything away? Is he not still the Boss? And is Dante not still his second in command? Why would being in a relationship change that?”

“Hey man, I’m just calling it like I see it. The more attachments a person has, the more there is to lose. I just figured men like us, having the careers we have, would think twice about falling in love.”

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