***
I’m tired the next day. Not that I regret it. I’m not sure Frankie’s anger is entirely extinguished, but she let me pleasure her with my mouth and fingers until the wee hours of morning when I was finally allowed to claim her with my cock.
“Are you sure it’s safe to sleep beside me without slipping me a sedative?”she’d asked tartly when we climbed into bed.
“It’s a risk I’m willing to run.”I’d kissed her softly next, murmuring the closest thing to an apology I could manage.“I’ve never wanted anything the way I wanted you to be my wife, but I swear to never do that to you again.”I’d touched the tattoo at my throat to seal the oath, and she’d given me an inscrutable look before closing her eyes. I’m a fucking bastard who doesn’t deserve her, but I will never let her go.
My father clears his throat, and I realize the men surrounding us are looking my way. Several underbosses traveled to be here for this meeting, the one I’d postponed yesterday on a whim to watch her sing.
“Any word on the hunt, Mancini?” I ask the Underboss of Pittsburg. It’s at the outskirts of our territory before entering Morelli’s territory.Nico might be willing to work with us, but I don't want his help with this.
“Nothing yet but your brother is on Donnelly’s trail with my son. Soon, we hope to have him.”
I nod, feeling confident we'll find where the Feds have stashed him at last.
One of our captains from New Jersey speaks up. “Speaking of the rat, I’ve got new information about his son.”
Ronan Donnelly was spotted in North Jersey yesterday. She begged me not to touch her brother. That would be much simpler if he’d stayed two hundred miles away in Boston instead of across the Hudson.
“Keep us updated,” my father orders. “If we can capture him, we’ll make an example of what happens to rats in front of all the men we can gather, the bloodiest example ever.”
Francesca’s words about her brother not deserving to pay for her father’s sins echo in my mind, but my expression remains neutral while our men discuss the matter with avid interest. They want Donnelly more, but his son will do for the sake of their vengeance, and they’ve had over three years to come up with cruel ways to dole it out.
As the meeting ends, I receive a text from Faro that makes my blood run colder than any torture the men around me have suggested –
Your wife is acting suspicious.
40
Francesca
“The rumor is Chris might be kicked out for it. It was practically assault.”
I blink at Harper’s terminology and realize, once again, how differently outsiders see things. She’s imagining expulsion, and I’m thinking Chris is lucky to be breathing.
The kiss upset me, and I’d half-expected Carlo to react like Da might’ve when he got home, by blaming me somehow for the bad behavior of another man. But Carlo hadn’t blamed me at all. He spent the night on his knees attempting to make things up to me for the sedative in my wine instead. A flicker of anger returns thinking about that, but anger is no longer the presiding emotion I feel when it comes to Carlo.
“Anyway, everyone’s talking about it. He’s not in class today. Did you talk to Chris afterwards?” I shake my head. “Don’t you think he’d deserve to be kicked out?” Harper asks, studying my face.
I shrug in reply. She’s been rattling on about Chris since lunch. I wish she’d drop it. Sometimes, it feels like her sole idea for making conversation is to ask me questions.
“His buddy thinks something has happened to him,” she says next, jerking her chin toward the young man I usually see Chris hanging out with between classes.
“What? Why?” I ask.
“They share a place in Greenwich Village. He says Chris didn’t come home last night, and he’s not answering texts or calls.”
I have to wonder… Carlo could have made him disappear, wouldn’t hesitate to do so. Did he?
“What are you doing now that we’re free for the day?”
I sigh overanotherquestion. “Going to see a concert.”
“Will your special friend be joining you?” Harper nods toward Faro who waits on the sidewalk for me. I don’t like the label she’s given my bodyguard.
“My husband is an important businessman. The driver works for him.”
“Never heard of a driver who hangs around the halls of your school instead of sitting in the car.”
