“I didn’t know!” I yell. Why the hell is he giving me shit for that now? “It’s a little late for the big-brother routine, don’t you think? And if you’re trying to make me feel bad, don’t waste your energy. I’m already there.” I drag a hand through my hair as I lean back in the chair. I’m tired after a restless night’s sleep. “I hate Nat had to go through that alone. I hate I put her in that position.”
“I know.” Defeat registers on his face. “To think I used to like Accardi. Now I hate him every bit as much as I hated DeLuca.”
“What’s the plan?”
“The deal is made. They’ll apply for a quickie divorce with joint custody, and the boys will remain in New York for school. I have scheduled a meeting with The Commission members to discuss permanently instating Accardi as The Outfit’s don.”
“Am I demoted?”
“Don’t act stupid. I would never agree to such petty demands. He’s on shaky ground with me, and he knows it.”
I sit up straighter. “Yet you’re giving him Chicago? Or is this all part of the play?”
Ben grins. “Of course, it is. Do you really think I’d put that prick in such a position of power after the shit he’s pulled? I should put a fucking bullet in his head for disrespecting me by going behind my back and plotting with Greco to take me down.”
“Why don’t you? I can’t see The Commission arguing after his admission.”
“If I do that, I hand my ass on a platter to Don Greco. Whether he’s privy to the full facts or not, he will throw it all out on the table, and it will damage our name and cause my integrity to be called into question. It doesn’t matter that Carlo Greco died fourteen years ago or that Angelo was the one who conspired to keep that intel hidden, that I hadn’t even been initiated then. It’s a matter of honor. You can’t take out an heir without just reason.”
“We had just reason. He was plotting with the Colombians and trying to frame Accardi. I still have those pictures.”
“I can’t take that risk. Greco will call for justice. An eye for an eye.” He stares at me.
“You think he’ll want to kill me.”
“One way or another, he is going to try that, Leo.”
“I know, but he won’t succeed.” I haven’t come this far, sacrificed all these years without the love of my life, to be gunned down now.
“The other reason is it will cause a divide in The Commission. Families will take sides, and everything we have built over the past few years will be undone like that.” He snaps his fingers.
“Tell me you have a plan.”
He fixes me with a wicked grin. “You bet I do.” He leans forward on his elbows. “Rico has set up a meeting for me with Don Maltese. They have had beef with the Grecos over the years, and I think they will support me if the shit hits the fan.”
“That’s smart.”
“It was actually Nat’s idea.” Of course, it was. Mydolcezzais so fucking smart. “According to Rico, DiPietro isn’t a fan either,” Ben continues, “so if I can win both of them to my side, we have the majority. I’m going to feel Maltese out first, and if he’s agreeable, I will tell him exactly what has gone down. If I have his support, I’ll meet DiPietro and do the same.”
“But you can’t sway the vote. If Accardi doesn’t get the Chicago gig, he’ll renege on everything.”
“I’m aware, which is why he will be voted in, but his tenure will not last long. I’m going to wait until he’s comfortable and then deal with him once and for all. In the meantime, I’m going to ask Don Maltese if he’ll send his heir to Chicago as Gino’s right-hand man. We will make that a condition of the appointment.”
“So, we have eyes and ears on him at all times.” Ben nods. “It might not even come to that,” I say as my mind churns ideas. “I got word last night from one of our guys. Get this. Don Greco is behind the Colombian infiltration. He’s letting them use his ships and his distribution routes for a cut. And he knows they are selling to Caleb.”
Ben rubs his thumb along his lower lip. “Greco’s playing a dangerous game.”
“He is. And if he’s planning to double-cross Accardi, then he’s most definitely got plans in mind for us.”
“Of course, he does. I don’t think Accardi has given up on taking me down either.”
“So much for The Commission being a united entity. There are so many power plays going on I’m getting a headache.”
“You can’t change things overnight, and there will always be someone trying to take me down because they want ultimate power. As long as we are ahead of the game, they will never succeed.”
* * *
“Where is Natalia?”I ask, stepping into Ben’s kitchen with him later that night.
