“So, Benny,” Illiana started after everyone had gotten plates and dug in. “How are things going with Detective Alcina?”
Bennett ran a hand through his black hair, folding most of it back, but some wisps flopped forward against his will to fall in his face. “My sources tell me that he’s managed to pinpoint where the Carduccis are holed up, at least. It’s only a matter of time before he gets to us.”
Hearing the Carducci name brought me to attention. “Wait, what’s going on?”
“The Chicago PD has assigned a new detective to lead the team trying to end this wave of crime in their fair city,” Illiana sang as if she was more bored by it than threatened. “Benny’s been taking care of that particular matter.”
“The high-schooler?” I questioned, and when I looked up, Carmine was shaking his head in warning at me.
Bennett’s gaze shifted to me, but Illiana clinked her silverware together, silencing him when he opened his mouth to speak. “Your brother is quite skilled, Denise,” she said. “He’s been handling that situation very well. I believe in him to solve it, and you should too.”
“I go to school with Alcina’s daughter.” He looked at me through a cold set of eyes. “I’ve got ways of dealing with him if I need to.”
“As a matter of fact,” Illiana continued. “Benny, you could make good use of your older sister. She’s just like me and can get into sneaky places if she needs to.”
Bennett looked impressed. “I just may have to do that.” He side-eyed Cherri. “Maybe it’s time to use our queen of stealth to spy on the good detective a little bit.”
A broad grin crossed Cherri’s face. “I’m in.”
I couldn’t help but smile too. It wasn’t the way the Binachis and the Varassos had used me as just a means to an end or even the way the Carduccis were using me. In the Costa household, I was known for what I was good at. People had faith in me.
What a strange feeling.
“You okay, dear?” Illiana asked, looking at me.
“I’m great. It’s good to be home.”
“Ah.” She smiled. “It’s good to have you.”
Suddenly, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to break up the Costa family anymore, but how I would break that news to Ashton, I had no idea.
Chapter Seven:Ashton
“Fuck you!” Arturo spat.
Callista rolled her eyes. “You are the worst loser ever.”
After parting my poker hand, a flush, I reached my hands out and raked the pile of chips in the center of the card table over to my side.
“I told you not to play wit’ him, boss,” one of our captains, Monty Ylanis, graveled out. He was a tall guy, standing at almost seven feet tall, with wide shoulders and a thick belly. He kept a clean-cut goatee at all times and had long black hair that he typically kept held back in a ponytail. Monty was almost always our dealer when we played poker because Ashton liked to accuse me of cheating, even when it was obvious no such action took place. “Ash is too smart.”
Arturo flashed a middle finger at Monty. “Shut up, Monty.” He raked a hand through his dirty blond hair. “Deal ‘em up.”
“Will you stop?” Callista asked. She was an impartial third party that typically got dragged into our games but quit before she lost more than a hundred dollars. “You’re gonna go broke, and if you break something again, Dad’s gonna wring your neck.”
Arturo waved a hand in her face before stabbing a finger out at Monty. “Deal ‘em up.”
“Yes, boss.”
While Monty shuffled the deck, I started stacking the chips on my side in numerical piles, and I set aside the money of Callista’s that I’d already won and taken when she cashed out. The door to our game room blasted open, and my dad walked in, finishing a Chicago hot dog.
Callista smiled up at him. “Hey, Daddy.”
“Hi, pumpkin,” he replied before popping the last bit of the dog into his mouth. “You three, come on. We got things to discuss.”
“Oh no, really?” I said flatly. “But this was gonna be the hand where Art won all his money back.”
“You won’t be laughing when I do it,” Arturo hissed. “I’m gonna—”
