“From Philadelphia.” I nodded. “What did he want?”
“He wants to arrange a sit-down between us and Medina. Apparently, Medina told him we’re not being cooperative.”
“We’re not.”
“I told him a sit-down between us and the other east coast families wouldn’t make me more receptive to allowing a trafficking scenario in my city. I’m not going to bend on this and they know it, but they’re in a tough spot. I’m sure they promised Medina they would try to get me to agree.”
“How did Canucci react?” I gripped my empty glass. “I’m guessing not well?”
“He was apprehensive to challenge me, but he is pushing for a compromise.” My father walked over to the window and stared down at the busy street. “Whatever Medina is offering them, it’s pretty lucrative.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want Marchello home before we make a decision. I’d feel better if we were all in the same location. It’s safer that way.”
He wanted us under one roof and in the scope of his protection, which meant he anticipated trouble. If Boston, Philly, and Chicago were joining forces, we were going to have a bigger problem than just Medina. None of us would be safe until we gained the upper-hand.
“So, you’ll tell them to fuck their sit-down?” What else could he do? He couldn’t allow Medina to control the narrative. That would make us appear weak. If there was one thing Nico Accetti wasn’t, it was weak.
“For now.” He turned and faced me. “But if I do that, you need to be prepared for backlash.”
“We all do.”
“You can’t have any vulnerabilities or weak spots. Do you understand? You can’t give anyone a reason to come at you through someone else.”
“I don’t anticipate any problems.”
“Those are the situations that tend to give us the most problems.” He picked his glass up from the desk and handedit to me, indicating he wanted a refill. “The ones we don’t see coming.”
FOUR
Sable
Walkingdown the street that led to my apartment, a light snow dusted the sidewalk. I stared up at the gray sky, wishing it didn’t match my mood. But even if it were sunny outside, I still wouldn’t have been cheery.
I had been a disaster for days. If I had a path forward, it hadn’t presented itself. I hadn’t seen or spoken to Milo in over a week. It wasn’t that I had expected to hear from him, but my heart was still hopeful.
As the snowflakes dampened my hair, a bitter wind kicked up, enhancing the ominous sensation that came over me. I ignored it. Chalking these dark feelings up to the emptiness and loneliness I had felt over breaking up with Milo.
We were over, and there was nothing I could do about it. I didn’t want to think about him. Every time I did, my mind managed to wander to Camila. I didn’t want to believe that Milo would move on so quickly, but what would stop him?
I’m doing it again! Stop thinking about him with her.
Heavy footsteps pounded the pavement, growing louder with each step. When I approached the corner, I hurried my pace as my building came into focus. It was cold and I wanted to get inside and forget the world existed.
I had barely made it across the street when a strong grip on my shoulder forced me to turn and face the man who had been behind me for the last block.
“Why do you walk so fast?” Romeo Bello asked. “Running from something?"
“No. It's cold out and I want to get home.” The chill that shuddered across my skin had less to do with the snow and much more to do with Romeo. I hadn’t seen him since that night Milo drove a knife through his hand. “What are you doing in this part of town?” I asked.
If he was here to see Chance, I would freak out. I’d warned my brother to stay away from him. Romeo had caused enough problems.
“I had business to deal with,” Romeo said.
“I’ll leave you to it.”
The streetlights blinked on as the sky darkened. I glanced around, realizing that no one paid any attention to me and Bello.
