“Already thought of that.” Matt types some more, and the display changes to show a high-end apartment complex in town. I’m familiar with the place, as I lived there before moving into the house with Emily. Tito sold it long ago, though, so it’s no longer one of our holdings. Does Matt intend to buy it back?
“You’re going to give them their own apartments when our loyal men are doubled up here?”
Matt shakes his head. “No. I’m moving the veterans to the complex and keeping the new recruits here.”
That might be an even dumber idea. “Matt, you can’t keep the criminals here. What if my dad already got to some of them? You said yourself he was scouting. We could be setting ourselves up.”
“Our men who work at the prison say otherwise. Javier’s attorneys have tried to get in to visit the prospects, but they haven’t been successful. We’ll be safe enough going this route.”
I don’t like this, but it’s clear that Matt won’t back down. The best I can do is amp up security and keep an eye on these new prospects.
“Fine. But we’re keeping Jules here.”
“Jules is our most senior enforcer. The only person who was with Dad longer was Javier. He’s going to want a private home, and until I can start buying up housing properties, an apartment is the best we can offer him.”
I level a glare at Matt. “Jules is loyal. He’s also ruthless. If one of these criminals steps out of line, he’ll reign them in faster than anyone. If we’re buying out the apartments, we can certainly move enough people around to give him his own wing here. It won’t be a private residence, but he’ll have some autonomy, and out of all the vets who are left, I trust him the most.”
The room falls eerily quiet as Matt and I stare each other down. Cinder seems amused, and Gia looks bored.
“Done.”
The don has spoken.
With that settled, we get dressed for the day. Matt calls in one of our associates to carry out the plan. Rico listens silently to his orders before disappearing to rouse the attorneys. We’ll need to act fast if we’re going to beat my dad to the punch.
Gia and I spend the next couple of days arranging the transport of the more senior Syndicate operatives to the apartment complex, amping up security on the rooms in the mansion, and, of course, keeping an eye on our charges. Matt and Cinder rarely separate, so it makes our job easy enough, though I do find it humorous that, after taking a beating from his dad for refusing a wife, he’s now playing house with a woman for appearances’ sake.
Once the legal obstacles are obliterated—thanks to some savvy negotiations on Matt’s part—our mansion is now home to some of the city’s most brutal and devious convicts.
Holly and Hank, twin hackers who immediately bypass every firewall we have, earning instant punishment by being relocated to the pool house, which is devoid of internet access.
Mike, Jimmy, Carl, Rudy, and Tim, who in my opinion are bottom-of-the-barrel quality thugs but who each have higher body counts than even my dad.
Thaddeus, Stephanie, Evan, and Lyta, expert thieves whose seized acquisitions have a combined net worth greater than the amount Dad stole from Tito’s funds.
And, last but not least, Grady, a killer so dangerous that the prison hands him over to us still in full chain restraints.
Once the last new resident is settled in their room, I follow Matt back to his office. He greeted each parolee personally, offering both warm welcomes and veiled threats. The understanding is that if they behave and toe the line, they’ll earn more privileges. Any fuckups, though, and instead of prison walls they’ll be staring at the sides of a pine box as it gets buried with them screaming inside.
Everyone except Grady seems cowed by the threat, and I make a mental note to keep a closer eye on him. Of all the inmates we’ve sprung, he’s the one I trust the least. It doesn’t help matters that he grinned savagely when we unlocked the restraints, showing a vicious steel grill with fanged canines.
“You know, Don Matteo,” he said as Matt started to leave, “I knew your father. Such a shame you weren’t with him in the end.”
To Matt’s credit, he didn’t react. He kept his cool, and we left the room without taking the bait.
Back in his office, Matt seethes. “That fucker! If he hadn’t been locked the fuck up when Dad was killed, I’d swear he was the hitman.”
“He was just trying to goad you, Matt. To test you. He probably hoped you’d react and give him an excuse to attack. It’s better if you don’t let him know he got to you.”
“Double the guards and surveillance on his room. I don’t want that asshole getting loose, and I don’t want any ‘accidents’under my roof.” He slams his palm down on his desk. “And for fuck’s sake, do some research! Find out why this dickweed is so fucking giddy that Dad’s dead.”
Matt’s getting anxious. Stressed. For all that he puts on a stoic front around others, I know this is getting to him.
If only there was some way to ease that stress …
Chapter 16
Matt
