Page 55 of Twisted Embrace

“I assume you have news,” I told him while my gaze remained locked on Joy. The swelling around her eye was a constant reminder that my guard had fallen. The short time it had taken to handle business with Wally had left Lucia and Joy wide open. Had the assassins been lying in wait for our defenses to fall? The question would continue nagging at me for some time.

“I do, but you’re not going to like it.”

“At this point, there is little I’d find acceptable.” I’d tasked him to make calls during the early part of our flight, testing the waters and tracking down whatever information was possible. It would seem even our most well-paid informants had slipped into the shadows, refusing to get in the middle of a possible war.

“There’s serious unrest on both sides of the pond. Even the Italians were hit in New York. I guess the Bratva thought we were connected.”

Laughing, I barely threw him a glance as I filled my drink, longing for a burn when I knew the expensive scotch would provide only a tempered coolness. “There’s always concern and Petrov is using what happened as an excuse to gain more control in New York. Nothing more.”

“The members of the Five Families aren’t happy with what transpired in New York.”

“Where did you hear this?”

He appeared more uncomfortable than ever. “I have sources inside the Caldone syndicate.”

The Caldones had control over Tuscany, Piedmont, and Lombardy. They were not as brutal as the other members of the Five Families, which in my mind left them wide open for an attack from the Russians. They had every right to be concerned.

“Keeping secrets from me could cause you to end up dead, Anthony. I think that’s important to keep that in mind.”

“I understand, sir. I thought it wise to keep a connection. The Don is more cunning than you give him credit for.”

“True enough. I’m curious. Why not tell D’Artagnan? The last I heard, he’s the Don of the family.” Family. I couldn’t call our twisted alliance anything but what it was, a powerful coup grabbing the majority percentage of both wealth and control over Italy and other parts of the world.

“Because he’s grieving.”

“Grieving?” I shifted my attention to my brother-in-law, who remained by Lucia’s side. A gurney had been acquisitioned from the hospital, IVs still secured in her frail arm. She appeared ashen but thankfully alive. “My sister and her baby aren’t dead.”

He shrugged. “Maybe not, but by all appearances D’Artagnan isn’t in control of his actions. The rumblings are that the New York Bratva should have been handled easily.”

I found it interesting how quickly news traveled. There were too many snitches on the streets of New York eager to sell their story to the highest bidder. However, given the majority of attacks had been handled in public locations, there was enough fodder to make the DeLuca–Lazarro Empire seem weak.

I snorted as I lifted the glass, inhaling the rich scent of aged scotch. “They can shove their concern up their fat asses. In the last six months since we combined our families, we’d amassed a fortune, which included adding significant funding to their coffers. I didn’t see them complaining when they weren’t required to lift a finger while counting their money.”

“No, but they’re concerned the Volkov Pakhan will see the successful attacks as a weakness, an opening. You need to remember even after your respective fathers were killed, the three remaining Dons endured assaults on their holdings.”

“You mean skirmishes.” Yes, the Volkov had successfully hacked into their systems, draining their funds before any of the three pompous sons of bitches had noticed. It wasn’t my fault they’d been caught with their pants down. Since the rearrangement of the respective empires, the DeLuca–Lazarro kingdom had successfully shifted from the old school methods of doing business to modern day successes. No longer were we involved in blackmail, racketeering, and drug running, concentrating on the lucrative gem market as well as real estate development. Everything I’d told Joy had been true.

In other words, the dark age of the Cosa Nostra had shifted into using technology more than acts of violence, our worth in the billions. However, I was beginning to think we’d been hasty in our decisions, underestimating the catastrophic power the Volkovs had on other smaller Bratva syndicates. That was a mistake that had cost lives and damaged our reputation.

“Call it what you want, Enzo, but Grigori Volkov is likely pulling Petrov’s strings. If that’s the case, there won’t be enough protection in the world to keep that woman alive.”

I bristled, hearing the way he talked about Joy. “The woman will be my wife, Anthony. I suggest you remember that, or I’ll be forced to provide a lesson that will help you with your memory issues.”

His eyes reflected surprise then a hint of amusement. “Taking a wife adds stability and shows your commitment to the Five Families. Taking the daughter of a Russian traitor highlights your refusal to acknowledge and respect the old ways.”

“The old ways? Are you serious? We’re no longer in the dark ages, my friend.”

“The Families don’t see it that way.”

“The last I heard, the three old bastards made a commitment to turning over their empires to much younger sons. I’m certain they understand the necessity of bringing our culture into a new century.”

“Don’t underestimate the power of the Families or their respective reputations.”

I took another swig, already refilling my glass. Now wasn’t the time to stop drinking. As I lifted the dense crystal, the bloodstains remaining on my hands drew my attention and I smirked. I’d thoroughly enjoyed driving the sharp blade into the monster who’d attacked Joy. If time and location would have allowed, I would have enjoyed carving out the man’s heart and shoving it into his throat.

“You seem full of advice, Anthony. I’m curious why you think I should take it seriously when you allowed your friend to betray us.” I cut him a cold glare and he bristled.

“Fuck you, Enzo. I know you don’t give a shit about anyone but yourself, but you know I’m right.”

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