Page 3 of The Secrets We Keep

Gallo claimed the middle seat across from them, his sons sitting on either side. Dante, the younger of the two and the one currently engaged to the daughter of the Don running the Syracuse territory, sat on his father’s left and fixed Luca with a sneer.

Luca fought hard not to roll his eyes. As if Dante Gallo could intimidate anyone. The kid was a notorious fuckup. Luca might feel sorry for Tessa Antonetti being stuck with the guy for life if not for who her father was. The two of them probably deserved each other.

“Well?” Gallo said in the haughty voice that had always grated on Luca’s nerves. “You didn’t drag me out here for a meeting to stare at me in silence, I hope.”

Matteo’s grin was razor sharp. “I have a proposal for you, Nero.”

Gallo flicked a glance at his oldest son, Stefano, and clasped his hands in his lap. “I can’t imagine why I’d want to do business with the Bianchis, especially not one who abandoned his own family for nearly a decade. But go on.”

Luca saw Matteo’s jaw tighten before relaxing again. “We’re both interested in the same thing.”

Gallo snorted. “I highly doubt that.”

“We both want money and power.”

At Matteo’s nod, Luca laid a file folder in the middle of the table. Gallo’s gaze danced from Matteo’s face to the folder and back again.

“I already have money and power. I doubt you can give me more when you have so little yourself.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Matteo replied. “I may have spent the last seven years away from Sicily, but I wasn’t wasting it. I’ve built quite a fortune, made some deep connections all across Europe.”

“Good for you,” Gallo said, eyeing the folder but feigning disinterest. Albeit not well. “I still don’t see what this has to do with me.”

“You saved Gallo Industries from your father’s mismanagement. Used your connections in the Italian government to make it one of the largest transportation companies in the country.”

“The largest,” Stefano corrected.

Matteo inclined his head. “The largest. Certainly in value. It’s worth quite a bit of money.” He paused for dramatic effect, and Luca bit back a grin. “It could be worth a lot more if you expanded further into Europe and Asia.”

“And I suppose you’re the one who can help me do that?” Gallo wondered.

“With my connections and an infusion of capital, yes. I can.”

Gallo tapped his fingers on the edge of the table, eyes glued to the folder. If the man was faking this level of curiosity, he was the best actor Luca had ever seen. But Nero Gallo was a greedy son of a bitch. His desire for money and the power it afforded him would win out over old grudges almost every time.

Luca suspected that’s precisely why Nero had been helping Aroldo Varda wage war against them for the last few months. Another mark in the column against him. And a useless effort since Varda was now dead and the Agrigento territory was under their control.

“And if I accepted?” Gallo wondered. “What are you offering?”

This part of Matteo’s plan to take over Sicily’s throne and rule all five territories was the most ambitious yet. It had been easy to subdue the Romanos by taking out the family’s biggest players and installing a puppet. Then moving on to Varda and eviscerating his loyal ranks.

Over half the island was now under Bianchi control. But where the Romanos and Varda had been hurting for cash, Gallo had plenty of it. Not to mention connections that went to some of the highest levels of government.

Taking him out without bringing the law down on their heads would be a study in strategy. Starting with this offer Gallo was sure to refuse.

“All the details are there,” Matteo replied, indicating the still untouched folder.

Gallo shared a look with both his sons, but ultimately, his curiosity and greed won out, and he pulled the folder closer and flipped it open. Luca watched his eyes scan the page, mouth ticking up at the corner when they widened. He was no doubt as surprised as the rest of them with how much Matteo was offering to invest. Especially because Luca knew his brother was good for it.

“Your newly acquired Romano strip clubs must be doing well if you have that much liquid capital to invest.”

“Not yet. But they will be. Giuseppe did a fine job of running them into the ground before I got my hands on them.”

“Before you stole them out from under the Romanos’ bloody bodies, you mean?” Dante said, a frown deepening under his father’s searing look.

“What’s the catch?” Gallo asked, leaning back in his chair. “You want to inject all this cash into my company for what?”

Luca sat forward, reaching across the table to pick up the top sheet and flip it over, revealing Matteo’s terms. He skimmed his finger down the page and pointed. He enjoyed watching the color rise up Gallo’s neck and stain his cheeks a blotchy red. Gallo’s head snapped up, eyes narrowing on Matteo’s face.

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