"Mr.Russo," she said, recognition flashing in her eyes even as she looked me up and down, her lips pursing in disapproval."Mr.Luca said to tell you you’d be dealing with him instead of his brother.Dario be with you momentarily.Please, follow me."
“Dario.”Fuuuuck.Someone pulled rank.I didn't know if Tori had ratted me out, or if Tori had decided to contact Bloody Jack and Jack had told Ghost, and Ghost had called for my head on a platter.There were many ways I could die in the next few minutes.
I nodded, clenching my jaw tightly.How many times had I reported to Tori or his brothers over the years?Dozens.But this felt different.Personal failure always tasted bitter, but this time the flavor lingered on my tongue like ash.So did the fact I’d used her on Tori’s instructions.I just took it too far, no matter how inadvertent.I had information she didn’t.Namely that I was using her club as an escape route because Vittorio knew her empathy and loyalty wouldn’t let her leave me in danger and Ghost would never deny her something like that.
Vittorio’s assistant led me through double doors into a conference room that screamed money.Though this floor was Tori’s, Dario often came by for meetings.Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city below, buildings reduced to tiny models from this height.Heavy burgundy drapes framed the glass, pulled back with gold cords.A massive mahogany table dominated the center, polished to such a shine I could see my reflection distorted in its surface.
"Can I bring you anything while you wait?"she asked.
"No.Thank you."My voice sounded rougher than usual.
She nodded once and disappeared, closing the doors behind her with barely a sound.Alone, I pulled out one of the leather chairs and sprawled, tossing the folder I’d brought with me onto the table.The chair creaked beneath me, adjusting to my weight.
I drummed my fingers against the folder.Inside lay months of careful work, names and locations meticulously documented, all the evidence Vittorio needed to bring down the Copperheads' trafficking operation, including the upcoming meeting.I should have felt proud.Instead, my mind kept circling back to Wren.The hurt in her eyes when she overheard that call, the disgust in her voice, had gutted me.The way she looked at me like I existed on the same level as the men I sought to destroy.Given the betrayal she obviously felt, maybe I wasn’t much better.Since when did innocent women become our collateral damage?
The sound of the door opening snapped me back to attention.I swiveled in my chair as Dario Luca entered the room.
If I looked out of place here, Dario looked born to it.His tailored suit fit him like armor, dark charcoal with subtle pinstripes that caught the light as he moved.A pale blue tie provided the only splash of color, knotted perfectly at his throat.His cuff links flashed in the light, the diamonds at his wrist worth a small fortune.
"Rocky," he said, his voice smooth and controlled."Good to see you in one piece."If my attire offended him he didn’t let on.I was as wealthy as he was.I just didn’t show it.Vittorio had always paid me well because he believed in taking care of his family and all the Lucas considered me family.Dario took the seat next to me.
"I appreciate the meeting," I said."Everything moved faster than anticipated."
Dario leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp."Tell me what you found."
I opened the dossier and pushed it toward him.Explaining the details of the latest phone call and the resulting meeting.
Dario flipped through the pages, his expression giving nothing away."These payment records," he said, pointing to a spreadsheet."You're sure about these figures?"
"Certain.I overheard Acid talking about the take with Vex.They're pulling in close to two million a month, most of it cash that goes through the chop shop.The digital trail runs through offshore accounts registered to shell companies in Panama."
"And the buyers?"Dario asked, still studying the documents.
"High-end clientele.Politicians, businessmen, even a judge."I pulled out another packet with names and photographs."They're careful about electronic records, but Acid keeps a backup ledger in code.Took me weeks to crack it."
Dario's eyes widened slightly, the first real reaction I'd seen from him.He flipped through the pages of clients, pausing occasionally."This is way more than I expected, Rocky.Thorough and quite damning to several people."He looked up at me, a glint of approval in his eyes."With this, we can dismantle their entire operation.You came through even better than I’d hoped you would.”He grinned.“As pretty much always.”
Pride flickered in my chest, but died just as quickly.There remained the matter of Wren."There's something else," I said, my voice dropping."Something that might complicate things with Bound in Blood.”
Dario's expression shifted, interest sharpening to focus."Go on."
I cleared my throat, the words sticking like barbs."The girl you told me to befriend.Ghost's daughter, Wren.Things..."I paused, searching for the right words."Things… happened."
"Define 'things,'" Dario said, his voice suddenly cold.
"We became involved.Sexually."The clinical term made it sound hollow, nothing like the connection I felt with her."She found a Copperhead patch in my bag the morning after.I denied any connection, but then she overheard a call from Acid about the upcoming meeting."
Dario's face hardened, the temperature in the room seeming to drop ten degrees."Let me understand this correctly.You slept with Ghost's daughter, the Vice President of Bound in Blood's daughter, and then she discovered you working for the very club her family despises most."
"I mean, when you put it like that it sounds worse than I thought."No point sugar-coating it.
Dario slammed a fist on the table, his cufflink clinking against the polished wood as he stood to pace across the room."Tori said to make friends with her.Create a connection in case you needed an emergency exit.Not fuck her and blow your cover!"
"I know I fucked up," I admitted, heat creeping up my neck."But there might be a way to salvage this.I tried to explain and mentioned the Luca name—"
"You mentioned us?"Dario cut me off, incredulous."Jesus Christ, Rocky.The only reason I put you in touch with her at all happened because Ghost trusts her implicitly.She provides the direct line to Jack Mason in an emergency.And I never even told Bloody Jack about using her as a safety line for you.Never.Because I knew he'd fucking kill me for even thinking about involving her even if she would never be in harm’s way."He pinched the bridge of his nose."So now not only do the Copperheads potentially know you're connected to us, but Bound in Blood thinks we sent you to manipulate Wren.Because if they were watching you and you said something to her, they’ll know."
"She didn't believe me," I said quietly.
