CHAPTER 15
Alexander
“You won’t believe this.”
Jarvis’ voice had been as jarring as a call in the middle of the night. After glancing at my sleeping companion, I tossed back the covers, shocked I’d fallen asleep. “This better be good.”
“I discovered who your father was meeting. It took some doing but I managed to strong-arm a busboy at the restaurant.”
I moved to the set of open French doors, peering out into the night. “You know my patience is shot.”
He chuckled. “Well worth waiting for. Vitelli Russo.”
“Not possible.” My reaction was quick because there was no possibility that Baptiste Prince had met with our number one enemy. The last time it had occurred, my father had nearly snapped his neck. “This busboy is merely looking for a huge payout for false information.”
“He was allowed to live, boss man. Don’t you think I did a little digging before I called you? I don’t have a death wish.”
Moving out onto the deck, I stared at the sky, remembering every detail about the meeting between the two years before. A proposed alliance of the two families by marriage of Emmeline to Lorenzo Russo.
It suddenly dawned on me that if this meeting had occurred, it was possible my father had ordered a hit on Lorenzo prior to being killed. If so, why not share the news with me? Why not have security at this meeting? Something didn’t add up. “What the hell did you find?”
“Vitelli was shot as well.”
“What?” The news did surprise me and very little did any longer. “You’re certain.”
“Positive. It took me a couple hours to track down his whereabouts, burning a few favors along the way, but I located him in a private hospital just outside the city under an assumed name. I confirmed it with the hospital.”
“Why would they eagerly provide that information? This could be a setup.”
“I dated one of the nurses in the ICU. I have charm, you know.” Jarvis laughed. When I didn’t respond, he cleared his throat. “He was admitted to the ICU that very afternoon in critical but stable condition. They successfully removed the bullet lodged in his chest. He’s since been moved to a private room, his condition is now listed as stable. She was kind enough to do some snooping since she works the night shift. There are always four guards with him.”
If what he was telling me was true, this was likely the only opportunity I’ve have to engage in a private conversation with the man. Not that I wanted to. However, Lorenzo’s murder was an irrefutable corroboration that his family was being targeted. But there were also more questions than answers.
Why was Vitelli also shot? There was no way in hell he’d go so far as to order his own shooting for some cover-up. The more important questions were who would benefit the most from both men being taken out and… I gripped the railing, taking a deep breath. And was this truly about a proposed union to strengthen power within New Orleans?
The last time the proposal had been laid out, Emmeline had been seventeen. There hadn’t been a family member who hadn’t objected to the illicit union. Now, seven years later, the landscape of the city and the strong arm of power had shifted.
With several other crime syndicates taking up slack with our corporation involved in more legal activities, the pressure of the darkest part of the underworld was borne by the Russos. They would never go legit. True savages.
“Boss? You still there?”
“I’m here. I need the address. Meet me there with several guards. Tell your friend to lay low.”
“I thought that’s what you’d say. Meet you there.”
With the call ended, I returned to the bedroom, the slender shimmer of moonlight perfectly accentuating Catherine’s long hair displayed like a fan across her pillow. Her skin appeared luminous, her lips still swollen from the rough rounds of passion.
Her soft murmurs drew my attention. Very softly I brushed my fingertips down her arm, marveling in the softness. She rolled over, fading into a deep sleep.
I didn’t consider myself a monster.
But I could be.
Up until this point, I’d never thought twice about killing a man for crossing me. I’d bloodied an expensive suit in doing my job, tossing it away instead of wasting time having it professionally cleaned.
Another risk of questions being asked, accusations made.
Perhaps in the hours since I’d met my beautiful captive, I’d been doing some soul searching, reflecting on a life that I’d mostly taken for granted.
