He was quiet for a long moment. Then: "They promised me protection. A retirement package. Said after I was done working for you, they'd take care of me."
"And you believed them?"
"I didn't have a choice. My wife has medical bills. Cancer treatment. We're drowning in debt. The Costellos offered to help if I provided information." His voice cracked. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to betray you. But my wife—"
"Your wife's treatment is covered by our health insurance. We've been paying her medical bills for two years." I leaned forward. "You didn't betray us for your wife. You betrayed us for extra money. For retirement comfort. For greed."
He couldn't meet my eyes.
"Here's what's going to happen," I said. "You're fired. Effective immediately. You have twenty-four hours to leave New York. I don't care where you go. Just go far and never come back."
"What about my wife's treatment?"
"I'll make sure her medical care continues through the end of her treatment cycle. After that, you're on your own." I stood. "This is mercy, Vincent. This is me choosing not to let Matteo handle you the way he wants to. Don't make me regret it."
"The Costellos—they'll come after me if I run. They'll think I'm cooperating with you."
"That's your problem. You chose to get in bed with them. Now you deal with the consequences." I walked to the door. "Twenty-four hours. If you're still in the city after that, Matteo's instructions are to handle you permanently. Understood?"
"Understood." He stood on shaking legs. "Thank you. For not—"
"Don't thank me. Just disappear."
I had security escort him out. Watched from my window as he got into his car and drove away. Probably going straight home to pack. If he was smart, he'd be on a plane by morning.
I pulled out my phone and called Emilio.
He answered on the second ring. "Everything okay?"
"The embezzlement's resolved. Vincent Paglia was the one stealing. He's been funneling money to the Costellos." I kept my voice neutral. "I handled it."
Silence. Then: "How did you handle it?"
"Fired him. Gave him twenty-four hours to leave the city. Told him if he ever comes back, there'll be consequences." I paused. "I didn't hurt him, Emilio. I let him go with a warning."
More silence. Long enough that I thought the call might have dropped. Then Emilio's voice, quiet and warm: "I'm proud of you."
The words hit harder than they should have. "For what? Not killing someone who betrayed me?"
"For choosing mercy when violence would've been easier. For being better than what the situation required." I heard movement on his end. "Where are you?"
"My office at Inferno."
"I'm coming over. We should celebrate you making good choices."
"Celebrate how?"
"However you want. I'm open to suggestions." His voice dropped. Got darker. "Preferably suggestions that involve your bed and several hours of privacy."
Heat pooled in my stomach. "I can arrange that."
"Good. I'll be there in thirty minutes."
He hung up and I stood there holding my phone, feeling something warm and unfamiliar in my chest. Pride, maybe. Or satisfaction. Or the strange realization that I'd made a choice because Emilio had asked me to be better, and his approval meant more than revenge.
I spent the thirty minutes preparing. Had my housekeeper change the sheets. Dimmed the lights. Put on music—something low and instrumental that wouldn't distract. Poured wine and left it breathing on the nightstand.
When Emilio arrived, he looked good. Dark jeans. Sweater that hugged his lean frame. Hair slightly messy like he'd been running his hands through it. He walked straight to me and kissed me hard.
