Page 14 of His Deadly Lies

“Hi, ah. Yes,” a sweet, feminine voice greets me and immediately breaks off. The woman clears her throat. “Hello. This is Isabelle Balestra. I’m calling to let you know that your meeting has been moved to three this afternoon, as there is an urgent matter requiring the family’s attention. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

I still, taking a beat to assess the call, the nature of the woman’s voice, the words she’s carefully chosen. Almost as though she’s reading from a script. “And why is Edward Balestra’s middle daughter calling to deliver the news personally?” I want to know.

I zip my lips as I wait for her to answer, considering various scenarios in my head as I watch Ricardo adjust the set of his own jacket. I don’t like being caught off guard. Or not having the upper hand in a situation even when I’m the only one who realizes that I do.

Especially when it comes to going anywhere that may pose even the remotest danger to my family.

It must be something serious if Edward is moving the meeting. Something that requires his attention? That makes it personal. Something to do with his wife or his daughters, maybe…Not Isabella, clearly.

While the inner circle meetings between the Balestras, the Vittorios, and the Accardi syndicate in the city are helpful for gathering intel, having them in the Balestra compound does not make me feel safe.

Not that it’s a safe idea to meet with your enemies.

We are all just keeping each other close to maintain control.

But anyone can stab someone else in the back.

Did something really happen, or is this a power move?

“My father believes it will emphasize the nature of the meeting to have the news delivered by one of the family. It is more personal this way,” Isabella finishes.

A goodwill message. Too bad I don’t believe a goddamn word.

“Tell Edward the Vittorios will arrive at three sharp.” I press the button to hang up on Isabella without any further word.

Yet she beats me to the punch with, “Nothing is going on you need to concern yourself with. The earliest we can do is three, so it is good you will arrive promptly, as we expect to see you there. My father plans to make an important announcement.”

And with that, the Balestra daughter hangs up on me first.

“Well, she was rude,” Ricardo replies. His jacket is halfway back up to his shoulders, and he shrugs it off, throwing it down on the bed.

“It’s rude to reschedule a meeting and waste everyone’s time,” I snap back. I tap my foot on the floor in thought.

Whatever announcement the older man is going to make, though…of course, this daughter would let that be her final statement. Everyone knows better than to ignore an announcement that might impact all of us.

It’s exactly what I thought, what Ricardo and I have discussed between ourselves.

Edward Balestra’s eldest daughter, the seemingly arrogant and brainless heir to their empire, is up for grabs. Her hand unclaimed, and her virginity intact. Or so the families have been led to believe.

An engagement would be a very large announcement, one that would require the clans to convene for today’s meeting. An engagement would also make the joined crime families virtually unstoppable.

Even the Vittorios, or the Accardis.

It also means someone will be left out. Being second best isn’t usually something that people in this world take lightly. Unless they are heavily compensated for their status or lack thereof.

Ricardo stares at me, frowning. “Are you going to look into this?”

I smile at him, a quick flash of teeth. “Always, kid. Always.”

I don’t wait around with my thumb up my ass before the meeting. The loose threads in the tapestry of the current situation are easy to find and easier to pull apart. Some light interrogation and boom. They’re toast.

Men who cave under pressure are useless.

And for the Balestra family to have not one but two cowards running around on the streets…it’s a bad sign to the stability of their syndicate. What other dirty secrets are they hiding beneath a facade of absolute power?

Either the old man isn’t great at properly vetting the workers underneath him, or I’ve gotten too damn good at getting people to talk.

I blow out a breath and swipe the back of my hand across my forehead, careful not to smear any blood.

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