“Boss, Don Mazzone is at the gate asking to be let in. He says it’s urgent.”
“Let him through.” I pull on a pair of shorts, slip my feet into slides, and head downstairs to greet Ben.
I watch my fellow don and Commission colleague climb out of the back of a black Lexus, dressed in a suit and wearing a grim expression. I’m instantly on high alert.
“This isn’t a social visit,” he confirms as he walks up to me. “Massimo has convened an emergency sitting of the board, and I’ve been asked to escort you.”
“What’s this about?”
“I’m not at liberty to divulge that until we get to HQ.”
I didn’t have any missed calls from Massimo. If he couldn’t warn me, then the shit has hit the fan. “You know about Ferraro.”
Ben nods tersely but doesn’t say anything.
“Come on, Bennett. We’ve known each other a long time. I know I’ve fucked up, but surely, you can give me something?”
He leans against the wall and sighs, his professional façade cracking. “Caleb’s in the hot seat too, and he doesn’t need this with a baby on the way. I wish you had come to me. I understand why you left Massimo out, but I could have advised you to take a better path.”
“He was hurting what’s mine, Ben. He was always going to die by my hand. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t have done the same if it was Sierra.”
“No, you’re right.” His blue eyes drill into mine. “I can’t.”
“How bad is it?”
“Cesco Ferraro emailed us drone footage, and it’s pretty damning. He’s demanding the board take action against you and Caleb for breaking protocol and murder.”
That little shit was behind the drone after all. He must have sent one of thesoldatito shadow Dom and his men because he was in Miami at the time it went down. It shows cunning that might impress me if he wasn’t trying to steal my reason for living. “He wants Valentina.”
Ben rubs the back of his neck. “He’s put in a request to marry her. Vitto has endorsed it.”
That double-crossing snake. Guess he’s appeased his guilty conscience after all. A smirk rolls over my lips. “Can’t marry someone if they’re already married.” I flash him my wedding band.
“You’ve got balls, Maltese. I hope they’re big enough to get you out of this mess.” He rakes his gaze over me. “Get dressed. We need to leave.”
I turn around, stalling in the doorway when he calls my name. I arch a brow as I look over my shoulder.
“Congratulations on your marriage. Never thought I’d see the day.”
“You and me both, buddy.” I run upstairs, debating whether to wake Valentina, but I decide against it. She needs her sleep, and she’ll only freak out. So, I pen her a note instead explaining Cesco has fingered me for Dominic’s murder and I’ll likely be tied up with the board all day. I advise her not to worry, that I’ll get myself out of this mess.
Then I walk downstairs and join Ben in his car, settling in for the journey to Manhattan.
37
VALENTINA
Ialmost have another meltdown when I wake and read Fiero’s note. I should have told my husband everything last night so he has the information he needs to extricate himself from this mess with the board. But I conked out before telling him the rest.
I race into my closet with my cell in my hand watching as the call connects.
“I’m guessing you’ve heard the news,” Catarina says when she picks up.
I set the phone down on top of a shelf and remove a bra and underwear set from my lingerie drawer. “Yes. Why has Massimo let this happen? He could at least have warned Fiero.” I’m a little pissed at Fiero’s best friend.
“He wanted to, but he didn’t get an opportunity. The intel was sent to Volpe, not Massimo, and Volpe showed up at Massimo’s office, demanding he handle this immediately and that he didn’t tip off his buddy. Massimo couldn’t compromise himself. He knows Fiero wouldn’t want that. It’s why he hasn’t been confiding in us, right?”
“Yes,” I say, shimmying into a white, pink, and purple knee-length dress. “He knew there was a chance this could blow up before he had fixedthings, and he didn’t want Massimo involved. He worried it would reflect badly on him as our president and threaten his position if he was implicated at all.”
