Which was why it had been a right shock to the criminal underworld to find out that the Bonadonna family of Sicily had taken up his contract. The rumor mill - criminals talked too much, a problem I had in my organization as well, especially with the Scottish twins - also implied that they would be coming for Alec soon. And were doing the work at a bargain basement price, as well.
That last bit had caused a sourly offended look to cross Alec’s face, which had been blank up until then. He sipped his coffee, breathing hard through his nose like he was a wolf, scenting where hunters might be coming from.
“Why would they be doing that, then? Are they some up and comers trying to make a name by taking out a bigwigin the UK?” I asked.
Dmytro shook his head, but before he could answer Alec spoke. “No, the Bonadonnas are an old crime family, small but successful. They are famous for wet work and make most of their fortune by using their family port to smuggle in illegals.People coming by way of North Africa who think they are paying for a way into a better life but who are then sold into what is basically modern slavery by the Bonas. Lots of other mafias, cartels, hell, even call center operators, supply their labor needs that way. It is especially useful for people making money in industries that are dangerous to the employees making their goods.”
Salty spit flooded my mouth as my stomach roiled at the idea of what was the fate of those poor, probably starving, people simply hoping for a small chance to have a proper kind of life.
“Does Lee Ville buy from them?” I asked. It didn’t seem like the moment for cute nicknames.
Alec shook his head. “No, that would have shown up when my people investigated his corporate practices. He’s a sickening bastard, but it would be business suicide to do that sort of thing. Having a thin sugar coating of respectability and paying lip service to unions and local governments by making jobs for those local economies makes it easier to work and do as he wants in whatever area he is building in.”
Hooray for Lee, the sweetheart. Though even I had to admit that a horrible job you could quit was better than a deadly job that you couldn’t.
“If they don’t have a previous relationship then why would this Bonadonna family work with him?He doesn’t strike me as being good for their business.”
“The bodies, of course.” Dmytro was filling his now empty cup to the brim with rum.
“What bodies?”
“Dmy-”
Before Alec could cut him off, Dmytro said, “Your Mr. Ville found the bodies of the Bonadonna soldiers that Alec buried at the work site, and someone who works for him was smart enough to know who they were.”
Now Iwasgoing to be sick.
“Your server farm.”
The tension between Alec and me was like an entire wall had been built between us.
“Dmytro, would you give us the room?”
“Ah. I cause trouble when I meant to help a friend. Sorry, Alec. I need to get back to my crew, anyway. I’ll send word if I find out more.” Then Kovalenko emptied his cup. “Miss Cassidy, meeting you has made this cold morning warm.”
Then he tousled Alec’s hair, which he was distracted enough to allow, and let himself out.
We were silent for a long time, staring at each other. Magda came in, saw us, and backed out. Then Noreen did the same. I can only imagine what the energy of the place was if it scared Satan’s Little Princess out of the room.
“What do you want me to say?” Alec finally asked.
“Nothing. I knew who and what you were from the start. I guess I am wondering who you might be now.”
He kept looking at me, those great green eyes of his impenetrable, beautiful and chilly. I wanted him to speak, wanted some enchanting, captivating magic to come from him that would make me forget that he was my enemy. The enemy of everything that I thought was vital to the world and the people in it.
Which was why I knew I loved him. Because Iknew those words, those lies, existed, and I was willing to hear them.
Respect, though, he stayed silent.
I stood, the scrape of the chair on that marble floor so loud in the quiet. “I had best be getting back to the farm. Da’ll be missing Noreen, and I have yet to explain my deplorable taste to Grandad. See you later, Godking.”
He let me get all the way to the bedroom I was using and halfway packed before he stopped me.
Chapter Twenty-Three
In which we learn that things are so much worse than we could imagine.
Alec…
