“I’m a man of detail, Koen.” As if to emphasize his point, he rises out of the armchair, adjusting his impeccably tailored suit, picking a thread of invisible lint off his sleeve. “I pay attention. And I know you do too. You get that from the O’Rourkes. You have to watch who you let close. Evenfriendscan makemistakes… or worse.”
32
RECKLESS REIGN
KOEN
Now
“We’ve got a problem.”
My grip tightens on the phone as I hear Mac’s words on the other end of the line.
“What now?” My irritation comes through in my tone. I swear, ever since my father died it’s been one fucking thing after another.
“Shipment never made it to the docks.”
I start pacing the room. “What do you meanit never made it?”
“The truck disappeared somewhere between Quincy and Southie. We haven’t heard from Donny. No sign of him—and no sign of the cargo. Liam is doing his best to track him down.”
Fuck.
My phone’s been ringing off the hook all day.
Cole DeLuca and Adrik Kostalov are pissed, and neither of them are fucking around, both out for blood. The Irish aren’t too thrilled about my brother’s new little Russian bride either but they’ll get over it.
“You think it was the Russians?”
“Russians or Italians. Who do you think hates us more at the moment?”
I sigh. “Keep your ears on the ground and double-up guard rotations on every warehouse from here to Revere. Trusted men only. No new guys.”
“Understood.” Mac’s reply is tight and I can tell he’s got something else to say.
“Out with it.”
“Do you want me to cancel the meeting tonight?”
My jaw tightens. With the intel we tortured out of Carroza, I was able to confirm that Giovanni Moretti is ourinto the human trafficking trade currently exploding in the Boston Underworld.
“No. We have to keep up appearances. The Bratva and the Italians might be out for blood, but we can’t look like we’re scared. Business still moves forward. We can’t afford to look weak. Got it?”
“Loud and clear, Rí,” Mac confirms, and I hang up the phone, sinking into the couch and leaning my head against the back. Just killing guys on the ground won’t do anything to throw a wrench into this operation. I want this shit out of my fucking city, so I need to figure out who’s involved. This is no rinky-dink organization. Not with Kostalov and the Volkov involved. When we intercepted the Volkov attack on the Kostalov mansion a couple of weeks ago, it was clear the Volkov are funding the Kostalov Bratva. But to what end?
How far up the chain does this thing go? Police, city officials… maybe even state politicians?
My brothers and I decided the best course of action was to go in as an interested buyer. Seeing as how I’m the reigning mob boss for the Irish, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for me to take an interest in the trade. And that means a meeting with Moretti is the first step.
We raided their warehouse of girls, buttheydon’t know that.
Time to lean on Moretti and see what exactly I can squeeze out of the Italian rat.
The elevator dings and instinctively I reach for the gun at my waist. It’s a little too early for Liam to be home yet and I sent Aidan and his new wife, Rory, out of the city until the heat dies down, as well as Reagan with Alex for protection. Neither Aidan nor I will ever forgive ourselves if anything happens to our little sister because of this mess. But with all of them gone, no one else should have access to the loft.
Lifting my gun, I train it on the elevator doors, only to pull it up hard when none other than Reagan herself comes storming through it. She stops dead at the sight of the gun, surprise quickly turning into a glare.
“What the fuck?” I growl, flicking the safety back on and shoving the gun away.
