I will own my actions and face the consequences.
It’s time to reveal all.
Ben watches me closely, nodding as he sees the resignation and resolve on my face.
I sit down, keeping my spine straight and clasping my hands on my lap as I level a cool gaze at the four men sitting across my me. Out of respect, I wait for Don Mazzone to claim his seat at the top of the table before I begin. I clear my throat and let my eyes roam between all five Commission members. “I need to start at the beginning.”
Massimo
“You should get that,” Fiero says, cutting across our lawyer as my cell vibrates on top of the table for the fourth time in succession.
“I apologize for the interruption. Excuse me for a few minutes,” I say, nodding at my friend. I hurry outside into the empty hallway, swiping my finger across the screen to accept his call. “This better be good, brother.”
“We have a big problem,” Gabe says, talking in hushed tones. “I can’t talk for long. The session is about to start.”
“What session? Where are you?”
“I’m at HQ. They have called an emergency sitting. Maltese showed up at my place and told me Bennett was invoking the predecessor rule. All he said was it was a conflict of interest. I only found out what’s going on when I got here.”
“Shit.” I rub the back of my neck as ominous dread washes over me. “Just tell me.”
“They have taken Catarina in for questioning. It’s bad, Massimo. Real bad.”
I pace the carpeted floor, trying to remain calm. They have obviously discovered something. But what? “On what grounds?”
“Caleb Accardi passed intel to Don Mazzone. He said your wife has been in bed with the Bratva and she was responsible for the death of Don Salerno. From what I can gather, Bennett wasn’t entirely convinced. Until photographic evidence was anonymously delivered to his office today.”
“Fucking Cruz. I’m going to level that motherfucker.”
I just know he’s behind this. Catarina backed him into a corner, and he retaliated. I don’t know how he found out about the Russians because I know Rina hadn’t told him about that allegiance and we covered our tracks with Salerno, but somehow, he did. Perhaps Smirnov knew who he was to Rina, and he made one final power play before he was booted out of the US. I’m betting Cruz let the information slip to Anais knowing she would tell Caleb and he’d tell Ben. This way, Cruz gets what he wants without having to implicate himself.
“Did you know?” Gabe asks, whispering into the phone.
“It’s probably best I don’t answer that.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Massimo. What the hell were you thinking? She’s a traitor, and she’s going to pull you down with her if The Commission finds out you are involved. They are already suspicious you are.”
“It’s not cut and dry, Gabe. There is so much you don’t know. When you do, you’ll understand.”
“I’ve got to go. She’s just arrived. What are you going to do?”
“Save the woman I love.” I end the call, pushing air from my mouth as I pace the hallway, churning options and looking for solutions.
I rush back into the meeting room, the door slapping against the wall as I charge inside. Fiero takes one look at my face and understands the urgency. He quickly gathers his things. “Gentlemen, we apologize, but we’ll have to pick this up tomorrow.”
We trade hurried goodbyes and stride from the room.
When we’re safely in my car, Fiero turns to me as I climb behind the wheel. “What’s going on?”
“Cruz made a move, and my wife is up to her neck in shit.” I fill him in as I exit the parking lot out into traffic.
“Let’s bury him. He’s far from innocent. He was colluding with Rina behind their backs as well. Drag him into this, and it will help her cause.”
“It won’t be enough. I know my wife.” I glance at him briefly, before I take a left down a side street and floor it. “She’s telling them everything.”
“They will kill her.”
“They’ll have to fucking kill me first.” We’re not going down without a fight, and we have leverage.
