“That means rebirth in Italian. You think it’s theirs?”
I purse my lips as a long sleek black Mercedes pulls up alongside us. “They aren’t listed as company directors or employees, but it wouldn’t be that difficult to hide behind others if they wanted to keep it a secret.”
Renzo shakes his head. “I can’t see it myself. When would those fuckboys have had the time to build a business like that? Neither of them has the smarts,” he adds, enjoying sticking the knife in. “They must be there for another reason.”
I wouldn’t be so sure about that.
There is a lot I don’t know about my husband.
Massimo disappears every day, and he is vague about where he is going and what he’s doing. When I pry, he says he’s working on the handover with Gabe, but I smell a rat.
His official ceremony is set for a month from now—when he will be officially sworn in as Don Greco, head of the Grecofamiglia,and take up his seat at The Commission.
When that happens, we will officially be the most powerful couple within themafiosoand a big part of me gets an enormous thrill out of that.
“We can continue this later,” I say as Ezio opens my door.
“Be careful,” Renzo cautions, like always.
I nod as I climb out of the car and get into the back seat besidePakhanSmirnov.
“I don’t like all this cloak-and-dagger stuff,” he says, instantly handing me a vodka.
“Neither do I, but it’s necessary. Greco has a PI tailing me. I’m using Nicolina as a decoy, but I still can’t afford to take any risks. We can discuss what we need to discuss here as easily as we can at your penthouse or your office.” I swallow a mouthful of the clear liquid, eyeing my business partner with a hint of concern.
Something is off.
There’s a tension in the air I can’t quite put my finger on. “What was so urgent we needed to meet immediately?”
“Moscow grows impatient. They need to see progress in New York.”
“And they will, in due course. Everything is lined up. We will remove the Mexicans and the Chinese very soon, and an agreement has been secured with the Irish.”
“That was not part of deal.”
“I had to be adaptable. This plan will still see us supplying all the narcotics coming into the Big Apple. Per our arrangement, sixty percent will ship from Russia and forty percent from the Colombians.”
“Yet the Italians will not know that.”
“Not yet,” I snap, irritated at his line of questioning. I knock back another mouthful of vodka before turning to face him. The leather squelches under my butt as I swivel around. “What is this really about? These plans were set in motion years ago. You helped to plan it. Why is it no longer good enough?”
“Like you say, we need to be adaptable.” He waves his hand in the air. “There are political changes happening in Moscow. My new boss is an impatient man. He wants results now.”
“You currently supply forty percent of all narcotics coming into the US.”
“We want it all.” He is quick to reply.
“And you will get it. In time.”
“My boss needs to see more progress.”
“You need to temper his expectations and stall him. We are so close to our goals, but it can’t be rushed. I don’t have their trust yet.”
“Pfft.” He swirls the clear liquid in his glass before tossing it back. “Spread your legs like you always do, and speed this up.”
Indignation and anger rush to the surface, boiling my blood. “Do not cross a line you can’t come back from, Anton.”
“I don’t see what the problem is. Fuck Mazzone. Fuck them all. Get them on our side. Do what you must to earn their trust quickly.”
