Page 124 of The Silence Lies

Raf agrees silently, before adding, “There’s one more thing.”

Sera’s eyes flicker between all of us before she resigns to the fact that Raf is the only one in the room that knows what he’s about to say. It certainly doesn’t bode well for any of us if he’s kept this information close.

“I did some digging on the docks and the shipment of bodies. I’ve hacked into the federal databases and it’s being treated as a trafficking ring, which of course doesn’t do us any favors.”

“Way to state the obvious,” Luca mumbles, eyes glued to his fingernails like this whole conversation bores him.

Raf ignores Luca’s efforts to rile him up, remaining focused on our leader. “The good news is they don’t suspect you.”

“Is that through your efforts or sheer dumb luck?” she chides.

“A bit of both,” he smiles. “But the fact you own the docks is the main reason your name hit the headlines. Nobody, not even the police, have come here looking for you, right?”

The realization of that fact crosses my mind. While we’ve been laying low, we’ve not had so much as a knock at the door. If Bianchi was really under investigation, they would have taken her in for questioning. The mafia might have hands in everyone’s pockets, but there are just some things that are out of our control. And when dead bodies turn up at a dockyard owned by the most powerful family in La Cosa Nostra, people are bound to start asking questions.

“So, who do they suspect?” Sera quizzes, and I guess we’re all thinking the same thing because we’re looking straight at Raf for the answer.

“That’s the bad news. It’s an open case, one they won’t stop investigating until they have a lead. Access to the docks won’t be allowed until the case is closed, though, that much I do know.”

“So this isn’t the Verdi’s doing?” Sera asks exasperatedly, running her hand over face.

“Yes and no,” Raf answers. “I think the Verdis had something to do with the bodies found, but I don’t think they accounted for this to happen. Unfortunately, the only evidence I could find is through tracking their phones.”

The moment those words drop, a deafening silence descends. I don’t think any of us saw this coming. We all suspected the Verdis were behind the bodies found—maybe not this deep, but the fact the Verdis didn’t plan this is even more reassuring.

Our ears all perk up at the mention of the phones, though. I wasn’t aware Raf was tracking anyone’s phones.

“Luciano is clever,” Raf continues. “He keeps his phone off about seventy percent of the time. It’s only on when he’s at home or in the city.” Raf grabs his laptop, excitement bubbling away under the surface as I watch him flick the big TV on. A map comes onto full display, a couple of circles pulsing on the screen. “Ronaldo isn’t quite so smart.”

Raf zooms into the map, the satellite images of the docks coming into view with a bright green dot flashing at the entrance to the docks. “He’s been at the docks three times this week.”

Sera frowns, resting her elbow on her desk with two fingers pressed to her lips. “Why would he be there if access is blocked?”

“That’s what I wondered. The more I’ve tracked Ronaldo, the more I’ve realized their connection with the docks has more to do with what was there than framing you.”

“They know my incarceration wouldn’t result in any of the Verdis gaining power,” Sera realizes.

Everything is finally starting to piece together. It’s like one perfect fit of a single puzzle piece and the entire image starts slotting into place. The Verdis are in the flesh trade, and ironically, did not have anything to do with the docks closing. This could work in our favor.

“Okay, new plan,” Sera directs. “Tell the twins to go ahead to take down the warehouse. If the Verdis are in the flesh trade, the twins are going to have to check before destroying anything. I don’t want any innocents hurt.”

We all nod in agreement before Sera continues.

“Raf, I want you to keep searching for that mole. Someone is leaking shit to my father and I want it handled,” she growls.

“What about the docks?” Raf asks.

“I don’t think there is anything we can do at this point but wait.” She presses a palm to her cheek, her fingertips tapping lightly on her temple. “We keep an eye on the Verdis, though. If they’re occupied with their own problems, I can focus on my own businesses, but that doesn’t mean we’re in the clear.”

After Sera has doled out her orders and we’ve all taken on our own assignments, we start to head out.

“Luca, Levi.”

We both stop short of the door. Raf is already heading upstairs, leaving just us two lingering in the den.

“Close the door.”

Luca and I glance at one another, a nervous buzz vibrating beneath my skin. We step back into the room, closing the door behind us.

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