"Once I heard Leo and Julian…" I shouldn't have heard anything, of course. But this is too important not to share. "Once I heard them agreeing to go along with the parley to satisfy Sandro, but the truth is, they have no intention of letting AJ lead one of the Bernardi factions. No matter the outcome of the talks, theyaregoing to kill him."
I don't tell Raffi how poorly I slept that night that I overheard them talking—how my dreams were nightmares, playing out the ghoulish suggestions that Julian made about exactly what he planned to do to AJ.
Raffi's mouth twists in a bitter smile. "I thought you were supposed to stay out of Family business." I drop my hand from his arm, uncertain. But he keeps talking. "Look, I believe you,a hundred percent. But how far do you want to push it, D? It's not AJ who's dead. You think they had something to do with Clemenza?"
"Of course not," I say, too loudly, and lower my voice as I go on. "No, definitely not. But Julian…he's dangerous. If he has an ulterior motive, I don't—well, I don't want you caught up in his web."
Julian is a very tricky man to handle. I have learned that in my time here, and I have found ways to manage his behaviors. But they require a certain manipulative approach that I just don't think Raffi has. He's too up-front. Too honest.
Toohonorable.
"I'm supposed to be protectingyou, sweets," Raffi says with a chuckle. "Not the other way around."
I take a sharp breath as the nickname slips out.Sweets. He only called me that last night when…
He breezes on. "Point taken, though. And as for AJ and Gino, I don't think either of them'd do something like this on Castellani grounds, even if they didn't like some of Clemenza's suggestions."
We keep walking, a little slower this time, each of us in our own thoughts.
Mine return to Julian. I can'thelpbut like him, despite knowing the darkness that lurks in his soul. His charm is undeniable, and he always treats me with kindness—along with a touch of condescension. But Julian is mercurial. Difficult. And he would have no qualms about killing even a respected man like Tony Clemenza.
I just can't see a reason why hewould. If he planned to set up AJ Bernardi for the murder, he failed dismally—and Julian is not the kind of person who fails dismally at anything. But then, I can't see a reason whyanyonewould want to kill Clemenza. He was only a mediator. If AJ or Gino disagreed with the terms, theycouldalways refuse. Go back to open war, like it seems they might.
"Where are we going?" I ask at last, as Raffi leads me back to the foyer.
"You're going to do some butler things," he tells me. "And I'm gonna go talk to someone else."
I frown at him. "Who?"
"Doesn't matter, D. I'll get Santarelli to shadow you while I'm gone. You go do what you need to do." He makes a little shoo gesture at me, which only serves to make me feel contrarian.
"I'll come with you," I tell him. "You're supposed to be protecting me. Don Castellani said?—"
"That's what I'm doing," he snaps, but as he takes in my face, he sighs, drops the bully attitude. "I need to talk to Russo next, and I don't want you anywhere near that asshole. You get me?"
I swallow. I definitely don't want to go anywhere near Donnie Russo, but I also don't want to be wandering around Redwood on my own—or worse, without Raffi.
"I could hide again," I say. "Like I did with AJ."
"No."
I give it one last try, looking up from under my lashes, dropping my voice. "Please, Raffi?"
His jaw jumps, and he rubs a hand across his brow. "Dammit, D," he sigh. "I can't have you there. If he so much as glanced your way, I'd rip his eyes out. And then I'd be fucked, because the Boss won't hold withanyonebreaking the peace of the parley. You get it?"
I get it. I'm surprised and taken aback, but I nod jerkily and squeak out an, "Okay."
"Santarelli will stay with you while I do this. Then I'll come and collect you again."
"Will you tell me what Russo says?"
He gives me a long look. "If you swear to keep it secret, I'll tell you."
"I'm very good at keeping secrets," I assure him.
So very good.
CHAPTER 23
