"Everything." My voice comes out stronger than I feel. "His deals with the Russians. The cops he's paying off."
His mask slips for an instant. I can see interest there. Or calculation. With men like him, they're probably the same thing.
"Why would Francesco discuss business around you?"
"He didn't. Not directly. He uses the house for meetings sometimes. Thinks I'm too stupid or scared to pay attention. But my mother taught me to listen. To remember."
"Smart woman."
"She was." The past tense sticks in my throat. "She tried to keep me away from all this. The family business. But when you're a Torrino, there's no real escape."
Lorenzo leans back in his chair and observes me.
But it's Lorenzo who scares me more. Because I can't read him. Can't tell if he's considering my offer or calculating how to dispose of my body.
"You said ten days." Lorenzo's voice pulls me back. "Why the timeline?"
"The wedding." The word tastes like ash. "Francesco made the deal two weeks ago. Daniil gets me, Francesco gets a percentage of the Russian drug trade. They're signing the final agreements at the ceremony."
"A business merger sealed with blood." There's no emotion in his voice, but his jaw tightens slightly. "How traditional."
My laugh comes out bitter. "Except I'm the one who bleeds."
Lorenzo's eyes darken, and for a second, I see something dangerous flash across his face. Then it's gone, replaced by that careful neutrality.
"You're asking me to start a war with both the Torrinos and the Russians."
"You're already at war with them." The words tumble out before I can stop them. "Francesco and the Russians. They're not your partners. They stole from you tonight."
Lorenzo's expression doesn't change, but something shifts in the air. The temperature drops a degree.
"What do you know about that?"
"The shipment from the docks. Three hundred thousand worth of product." I keep my voice steady even though my heart hammers against my ribs. "Francesco was bragging about it yesterday. Said the Sartoris were getting soft."
The man by the door takes a step forward. "How convenient. She shows up the same night we get hit, claiming to have all the answers."
Lorenzo raises a hand, and he stops. But his eyes never leave my face.
I realize I'm gripping the edge of the chair so hard my knuckles hurt. There's nowhere else to go. No other doors to knock on at three in the morning. No other devils to bargain with.
"I'll work for you." The words come out in a rush. "Whatever you need. Information, access to Francesco's operations. I know his schedule, his habits. I know which cops he owns and which judges he's buying." I swallow hard. "But I can't go back. I won't go back."
"Work for me?" Lorenzo's voice carries a hint of something I can't identify. Amusement? Skepticism?
"I'm not useless. My mother made sure of that. I speak three languages. I have a degree in accounting—Francesco doesn'tknow about that. Paid for it myself, and took classes online." My chin lifts slightly. "I'm not just some mafia princess looking for protection."
The man at the door laughs, but there's no humor in it. "Why the hell should we believe any of this? You're a Torrino. Your uncle's blood runs through your veins."
"Dante's right." Lorenzo's agreement feels like a punch to the stomach. "Blood doesn't lie. Family loyalty runs deep in our world."
My throat tightens. Of course. Why would they trust me? I'm Francesco's niece. The enemy's family. Just another potential trap.
"You want to know what I can give you?" My voice comes out harder than intended. "I can give you Francesco's entire operation. Every shipment coming in for the next six months—I helped him organize the schedules because he thinks I'm too stupid to understand what they mean. I know where he keeps his real books, not the ones he shows the IRS. I know about the warehouse in Cicero where he stores product before distribution."
I lean forward, desperation making me bold. "I know he's planning to hit your restaurant supply trucks next week. Tuesday night, specifically. The ones that run from your warehouse to your downtown locations."
Lorenzo goes completely still.
