“Have you never wondered why I haven’t appointed one?” he asks.
“Well, yeah, but I figured you and Leo had it covered, and there weren’t any suitable candidates for the job.”
Ben nods, and a hint of a smile graces his mouth. “Correct on both counts. I like that about you. You quietly observe, and nothing gets past you. It’s one of the reasons I chose you to be my personal bodyguard and one of the reasons I asked you to protect Sierra when she came back into my life. The role of a made man is changing. Not just because I have big plans for the business. The way we do things has to adapt with our environment. RICO laws are an ongoing concern, and the days of using our fists or our guns to settle disputes and win territory is over. The qualities I look for in my men is constantly evolving.” He taps his temple. “Smarts are as valuable to me as physical prowess. Both are things you have in abundance.”
“So does Leo,” I blurt, taken aback by the direction of this conversation.
“Leo has many qualities I admire and value, but he doesn’t have your restraint. Leo is an excellent underboss, but he would not make the perfectconsigliere.”
“I have no experience, I’m too young, and most importantly, I’m not of Italian heritage.”
Ben takes a mouthful of his bourbon, watching me intently as I sit rigidly in my chair. I’m shell-shocked and struggling to process what he’s saying. Ben sets his glass down on the desk. “Do you not want a promotion? Have I misread your ambition?”
I shake my head. “Yes and no. I’m just a little shocked right now. While I appreciate you thinking of me for such a high-profile role, I won’t be the reason the men turn against you. You must know installing me as yourconsiglierewould cause outrage. The men would not take kindly to it.”
“I’m the boss. They support my decisions or face the consequences. I didn’t say it would be easy, and it’s not something that could or would happen overnight. There are obstacles to overcome. All I want to know now is do you want it?”
“Yes. Of course, I want it. We already discuss strategy, and you and Leo include me in a lot of the decision-making.” Something I have always loved, because it’s not every day a man as powerful as Bennett Mazzone asks a lowlysoldatofor his opinion in pressing matters.
“Did you never wonder why?” Ben asks, and then he raises his glass to his lips.
I gulp back a mouthful of my scotch. “Honestly, no. I was thrilled you sought out my opinion, and I never read anything into it.”
“Leo and I discussed it, and we decided to include you in some things to see how you responded.”
“You were testing me?”
He nods, looking contemplative as he finishes his drink. “I think you would make a fineconsiglierein time. I am glad you are interested. But I want you to think about it carefully, and if you are in agreement, I will start training you. We can work in the evenings and on weekends, and it’s the perfect opportunity to do this under the radar while I figure out a way to present this to the men.” He leans his elbows on the desk, eyeballing me. “I would like your permission to dig into your background. To try to identify your father.”
I stare at him silently for a few beats before clearing my throat. “You know my mother never told me anything about my father. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, and she told me point-blank he wasn’t Italian when I asked her why she named me Alessandro. She always insisted she just liked the name.”
“Did you ever stop to think she protested too much?”
I shrug again. “Not really. I didn’t care who my father was, not even during periods when I prayed he would show up and rescue me from Mom. Back then, I didn’t give a shit who he might be. I just wanted him to exist to take me away from that life.”
Ben nods in understanding. It’s something we have in common—shitty, drugged-up moms who didn’t give a crap about their kids.
“I can relate to that,” he agrees. “And I felt the same. But after Angelo found me, I regularly wished he had remained a figment of my imagination. Yet it turned out for the best, and I think finding your father could end up being a good thing for you too.”
“You think he is Italian? And it would justify my appointment as yourconsigliere?”
He bobs his head. “That is my main goal, but it could have added benefits for you. You could have family out there.”
“You’re my family. The business is my family. I don’t need anyone else.” I drain the remainder of my drink and put the empty glass down on the desk.
“I don’t disagree, but there could be a Natalia out there somewhere for you. Could be any number of siblings who don’t know about you and who would be happy to have you in their lives.”
“No offense, Ben, but you totally lucked out with your sister. I seriously doubt mostmafiososiblings would be so charitable and welcoming. Especially, if I have a brother or brothers who might see me as a threat.”
“You aren’t a threat because you’re a part of the Mazzonefamiglia, and that won’t ever change. If anything, you’ll be an asset.”
“I don’t know.” I rub a hand across my chin. “Going there could cause more problems than it will solve. Maybe it’s best left alone.”
“Let me make some tentative inquiries. Phillip is discreet, and he can dig around without anyone knowing. If he finds something, then you can make a call on how to proceed,” Ben suggests.
Phillip is an IT genius we acquired with one of the tech companies Caltimore Holdings took over. Ben appointed him as his personal technical investigator, and he has more than earned his salary. The guy is a freaking whizz at gleaning intel, and he has already proven trustworthy, so I don’t see any harm. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
“Good.” Ben stands as the door opens, and Sierra pokes her head in. “Dinner will be ready in five minutes. Natalia has cooked up a storm.”
