I did not. My wife was entitled to my entire fortune should I die. As it should be.
This time it was Ringo sending me a glare. “He didn’t. It’s against the code.” His cheek twisted up into a sarcastic grin.
Allie’s hand shook.
“Cara?”
“My net worth is currently four-hundred and eighty-six thousand.” She glanced at me with fear in her eyes.
I smiled down at her. “Multiply that by one hundred and you have mine. And the family fortune is likely another twenty thousand times that.”
Her face went pale. “No wonder someone is trying to kill me.”
Yes. “Which brings us back to the Conti agreement. Ringo?”
He scoffed. “Don Conti’s holdings are currently valued at seven hundred million in soft assets, and another five hundred million in the American holdings. But his bank owes one point eight billion in fines for money laundering. They’re broke.” He grinned and leaned into his chair, one arm draped over the ornate chair back.
Ellie stared at him. “What are you worth?”
“Me? Nothing. All my shit is tied to his. All the businesses, everything. Now that he’s married, I’m shit out of luck.”
“You own the estate.” I reminded him.
“And the bills for it.” He shot back.
“We’ll adjust the agreement.”
Firenze and Loppa squirmed. I needed to address that as well. “It was a clean shot, no?”
Firenze’s jaw shifted. “One in a million.”
I glanced at Loppa. “What is your objective assessment?”
His face searched mine. “If I weren’t your grandfather’s nephew and know exactly when he joined the family, I’d say he was born as one of ours. Yet, he stabbed you.”
Allie followed the dual conversation closely. Her mouth tightened, and she glanced at Ringo.
My friend shrugged. “Occupational hazard.”
“What are you guys talking about behind our backs?” Ellie mimicked Ringo’s casual posture, but was much more on edge than he was.
I explained, “Signorina Jacobs, we mean no disrespect. It is merely business.”
“My sister was shot at because of that business, dude.”
“Yes, and her husband was stabbed, by that traitor.” Loppa glared at Ringo.
“You stabbed him?” The conversation played across her face. She looked at Ringo, then Allie in horror. “And you married him for that?”
“Not for that.”
“But… get it annulled. Duh.”
Discreetly, I tilted my head to watch Allie’s expression.
“We can’t,” Allie said, her cheeks pinked slightly.
Ellie’s mouth fell open. Her gaze shifted to me. “You… dog.”
