“Alessandro will guard you overnight,” Ben says. I open my mouth to protest, but he places his fingers to my lips, silencing me. “It’s not just that I don’t trust you to not make a run for it,” he says, and my cheeks flare up as I remember my thoughts from a couple of minutes ago. “It’s for protection.”
“It’s past midnight.” I poke my head out, looking left and right. “The neighborhood is dead. Everyone is asleep.”
“Arguing is pointless,” Ben says, stepping out of the house. He stands beside Alessandro. “Either Alessandro keeps watch out in his car or I guard you from inside. Your choice.”
“That won’t be necessary.” There is no way I want to explain his presence to Rowan. I face Alessandro. “Do you need to use the bathroom, or can I get you anything to eat or drink?”
“I’m fine, but thanks.” With another small smile, he returns to the black SUV now parked directly outside my house.
“Don’t make plans for tomorrow,” Ben says as a sleek black Mercedes pulls up to the curb. “We have lots to discuss.”
“I don’t want you to meet him yet,” I say, steeling myself for another argument. “I will drop Rowan off at Serena’s in the morning, and he can play with Romeo until we are done.”
“You can’t keep him from me forever, Sierra. I have a right to know my own child, and he has a right to know I’m his father.”
“I’m not saying that.”
“Aren’t you?”
“We can’t just spring this on him is all I’m saying.”
His shoulders stiffen. “We will talk more tomorrow.” He walks away but stops, turning back around. “He’s a great kid, Sierra. You’ve done a wonderful job with him.”
“It’s not me,” I rasp, barely able to talk over the lump clogging my sore throat. “It’s all Rowan. He makes it so easy to love him.”
“I wish I knew that firsthand,” he says as a new wave of anger skates over his face. “Good night,” he clips out, his jaw tensing as he walks off.
Leo gets out of the car, holding the door for Ben. His eyes are hostile as he stares at me while Ben climbs into the back. Having withstood enough hostility tonight, I slam the door shut and walk into the kitchen, grabbing a broom and dustpan. I walk on autopilot into the living room, cleaning up the mess and washing the wooden floor, only heading to bed when I’m sure every speck of glass is gone.
Sunlight is creeping through the blinds in my bedroom when I finally fall asleep hours later. But my dreams are troubled, and I toss and turn fitfully, hating that everything is about to change yet understanding I am powerless to stop it from happening.
20
BEN
At least hanging around Chicago for the weekend gives me the opportunity to meet with Gifoli to open proceedings. The news this morning from my father’s medical team isn’t good. He only has six months, max, left to live, and there is still much to do. We need to secure Florida’s and Chicago’s commitment to The Commission before Angelo Mazzone dies. It’s the only way to ensure we survive should the Russians use my father’s death as the catalyst to make their move. I’m hearing all kinds of rumors of planned attacks and attempts to forge alliances with other criminal entities, and they aren’t mobilizing without a goal in mind. While they don’t know about his condition, I am sure they are watching and waiting for the perfect moment to present itself for them to strike. It’s what I would do in their shoes.
Hence why I reached out to Alfredo Gifoli—the underboss in charge of The Outfit in Chicago—a couple of hours ago. One of the other New York bosses—Gino Accardi, my brother-in-law—is dealing with the stubborn don in charge of Florida.
I had Phillip send me a file on Gifoli this morning, and I was shocked and more than a little concerned to discover Serena Lawson is now Serena Gifoli. I dug a little deeper, discovering Saskia is married to Felix Barretta. Felix’s father Thomas is the consigliere to Giuseppe DeLuca, but as DeLuca rules his domain from his residence in Sicily, Barretta effectively reports to Gifoli. Felix stands to become consigliere when his father retires, as is tradition.
“It’s no accident Joseph Lawson married two of his daughters to men of power within the mafioso,” Leo deduces as he drives me from our hotel to Sierra’s house.
One of my soldiers is normally on driver duty, and it’s not often a task asked of my underboss, but circumstances necessitated it today. I would have driven myself except Leo refused to let me go anywhere without him now that I have assigned Alessandro as Sierra’s bodyguard.
I nod. “It’s widely known Lawson Pharma has been laundering money for The Outfit for years. Lawson has hundreds of reps on the road dealing directly with doctors and small-town pharmacies, and they favor cash payments purely so they can wash money for DeLuca’s organization. In return, The Outfit uses their contacts and influence inside the government to ensure significant R&D funding goes to Lawson Pharma and that key legislation is passed to enable them to rush trials through as quickly as possible.”
It’s genius, really. No one would suspect a pharmaceutical giant of money laundering. The mob usually uses clubs, bars, hotels, and casinos to wash their cash, and that’s what the authorities focus on when they are trying to find something to charge us with. One of the reasons I’m putting a lot of my energy into the construction division of our business is so we can wash cash. Focusing on high-end multimillion-dollar projects in prime locations is strengthening our redeveloped brand and enhancing our reputation within legitimate business circles as well. We still clean some money through the casinos, but it’s carefully laundered in a way that can’t be traced.
“I see the attraction for Lawson,” Leo adds, taking the next exit for Glencoe. “What I don’t understand is why powerful men like Gifoli and Barretta would agree to it.”
Arranged marriages are fairly common withinla famiglia, most usually at the higher levels, as a way to forge bonds, foster loyalty, and to ensure the bloodline continues. It is rare for Italian men to marry non-Italian women. “Both enterprises have grown wealthier over the years, thanks to the alliance. Money is a powerful motivator, and it’s the only leverage Lawson has.” I flick a piece of lint off my pants. “Gifoli must need him badly enough, or perhaps I’m not the only one challenging traditions.”
It might come across like I’m making light of it, but I’m not. Ithasraised some suspicions in my mind.
Leo eyes me through the mirror as he drives through downtown Glencoe. “Sierra getting pregnant must have saved her from a similar fate.”
“I have no doubt that’s true.”
