My head snapped up, and an uneasy feeling filled my chest. Where was Gio Bianchi? Although knowing him, and his complete lack of understanding of his predicament, he was probably sunning himself on some Sicilian beach with a bimbo or two.
He had never been a good businessman. He was more of a fuck boy than a leader.
No wonder his family was in such shit.
“London, England.”
I did a double-take. That was not what I was expecting.
“And what is he doing there?” I searched my memory. Did we have business there? Did Gio? As far as I knew, there were no prominent Italian families in that city.
Maybe some of our bratva associates? I would have to make some calls and try to find out what Gio’s new game was.
“That’s why his men are here.” Finally, Marco met my eyes. “They are here to talk about a possible alliance. Gio has gone to try and arrange it on his end.”
“Why is he in London?” I punctuated each word, but deep down I already knew.
There was only one person in the world that Gio would offer and think I would agree to.
In a flash, her face filled my thoughts.
“His sister Sophia is there.” Marcos’ eyes met mine, but he kept his face completely neutral. “She’s been there the entire time.”
I reeled back so violently that my chair almost tipped over. At the last minute, I righted myself.
So that’s where she had escaped to six years ago. I’d looked in the beginning. In fact, I had looked everywhere. I had asked Gio over and over again back before he had killed my parents, and his answer was always the same.
She was safe with family. Like a fool, I had thought it was for the best. She would be safer away from me until they found the culprits and brought them to justice.
And then the car bomb had gone off on Gio’s orders, and I knew I was never going to see her again because she knew what he was planning.
Sophia Bianchi had played me, used her sweet face and perfect body to find out my secrets. She had used my weakness for her to—
Again, for the second time in twenty minutes, I forced my mind back on the here and now.
Sophia had left without any explanation. Just minutes after promising she was mine forever, and I had spent the last six years dreaming of ways I could make her pay for that.
Now was my chance to make those dreams a reality.
“You can show them in.”
I didn’t bother standing as Marco opened the door and two men walked in. Both middle-aged. Made men.
“Thank you for seeing us, Don Romano.”
I motioned to the seats opposite me, and they fell into them. Not in a relaxed way. Both of them knew that there were no friends here.
They were literally in the lion's den. One wrong move, and I’d eat both of them alive.
“What can I do for you both today?” Leaning back on my chair, I studied them both before letting my eyes drift around the room. It was all clean lines, complete with glass and silver. A white sectional couch was on one wall next to the bar.
“How can I help you?” My voice dripped with sarcasm. “Drink?”
Not waiting for an answer, I moved around the desk and toward it.
“Don Bianchi,” the younger of the two said as he followed me with his eyes. That was smart. I wouldn’t have taken my eyes from me either. “Misses your friendship.”
“He is proposing an alliance.”
