Page 54 of The Leader

So, what was a man to do, when his wife wouldn’t budge? You went talking to the people she grew up with, and was highly protective of, to gather information. With Carmen still out of the country, Mary seemed the next best choice.

Since Hector had some business in the shelter, he tagged along. As they walked inside, Gio was pleased to see there was a guard inside, and not surprised at all that it was a woman.

“I see Mary has already chosen a security guard.”

Hector grunted. “Already? She pestered me about it the second you promised her one. The woman is tenacious when she wants something.”

They met Mary in the canteen. She was holding a small child in her lap, feeding her a bottle.

“You said it was urgent,” she said, with a glance at Hector.

He told Mary about the letter. Obviously, she knew Mike. Mary’s face was like an open book. He doubted she even knew how to properly lie.

“He had a painting sent to her after his death?” Mary seemed impressed. “I can’t really say that I’m surprised. They always had a special connection.”

He didn’t come here to hear about that special fucking connection. “Tell me who Jazzy is afraid of. She won’t tell me.”

“Oh, Jazzy won’t tell you anything,” Mary assured him, patting the baby on her lap. “She could out-stubborn an ox. You have no idea how often she went head-to-head with Grandfather, neither of them giving an inch.”

He’d figured as much, which was why he was here. “Give me his name.”

As if on cue, Hector stepped closer to Mary, boxing her in. It was like a real-life version of the Beast hovering over Beauty.

“That’s not going to work, you know,” she said, sending Hector an annoyed look. “Those scars and your huge exterior don’t scare me. I may not have seen much of the world yet, but I do know that what’s on the outside is only skin-deep.”

Maybe he hadn’t given Mary enough credit. She appeared all fragile and angelic, but the acid look she was giving Hector was anything but.

His friend was clearly taken aback by her stance as well. After a grunt, he relaxed, and took a step back.

Obviously, it was time for a different approach. “I can’t protect her if I don’t know who I need to protect her from.”

Mary visibly relaxed. “I…I can’t betray her trust like that. I’m sure she will tell you when, if ever, she’s ready to talk about it. You know, I wish she would. I tried to give her Dr. Stein’s number, but she wouldn’t take it.” She sighed and looked away for a moment. “I owe her my life, and it kills me that she carries a guilt she should not be carrying.”

Gio exchanged a look with his friend. He didn’t have to say it; they had a lead. All they had to do was find the doctor.

Hector handed him a copy of Mary’s patient file a short while later. There was a deadly scowl on his face as the big man paced in Gio’s office, while Gio went through the files.

What he read made him sick. It made him want to murder someone. Itwasgoing to end with bloody murder, probably preceded with a good torture session. Sadly, that had to wait. Marco Rossi hadn’t visited the States in over a decade. Only when his father ended up in a hospital, had he gained the courage to do so.

According to his sources, the fucker had flown into San Francisco this evening, only to take a flight back to Europe a few hours later. The only pit-stop he apparently made was at his father’s. Gio could only imagine what the old man had threatened him with.

“I’m going after him.”

After Marco. Hector didn’t have to say the name.

Gio looked up to his friend. “He’s already trailed back to Europe, and probably gone underground. It’s easier to just send some men after him. It could take you weeks, even months, to track him down.”

“Don’t care. I’ll find the fucker.”

Gio had no doubt he would. No one escaped a former Marine. There was a reason his team had dubbed him the Wolf.

After Hector left, Gio went to pay a visit to Antonio Rossi. It was time to confront the man who should have put an end to Marco in the first place.

The old man sat in his library, looking like he’d aged ten years since the last time he’d seen him. Gio knew of his health problems. The old man played it down to the girls, but Gio knew his days were numbered. Antonio must have seen something in his face, because he asked for the room to clear.

There was no need for pleasantries. He didn’t come here for chitchat. “I’m going to kill your son.”

He had to give it to Antonio, the man didn’t even flinch. He also didn’t try to pretend like he didn’t know what Gio was talking about.

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