Lucas metme at the entrance of the dealership once I stepped out of the car. If he was waiting for me, that meant my father’s patience had run out. I couldn’t exactly tell them I was having sex with Sable when he was looking for me.
But something told me he knew.
“They’re in the conference room,” Lucas said. “Waiting for you.”
“They?” I headed down the corridor and to the private meeting area. The one we reserved for dealings that didn’t have to do with the car business.
“Your father is with Medina and two representatives from Boston and Philadelphia.”
“Who is there on my dad’s behalf?” I hurried down the hall. “I should have been here.”
“Juan sent a few men,” he said. “But it would be best if you and your brother were by his side whenever possible. You have to show that you are strong, and the best way to do that is to stand together.”
“I’m working on getting Chello home.”
“But while Marchello isn’t here the responsibility to be your father’s second falls on you.”
“I’m not arguing that point.” I took a breath, straightened my tie, and entered the room.
Lucas followed me in and shut the door. Several members of the Boston and Philly organizations were seated at the long conference table. My father sat at the head as Juan’s men stood behind him. The chairs on either side of my father were empty. They were reserved for Marchello and I.The Trinity.
“How nice of you to join us, Milo,” Medina said as I took my seat to the left of my father. “You’ve wasted our time.”
“Maybe he would have been here had you not gone after Sable,” my dad said. “A move I’m not going to forget.”
“I didn’t ask Bello to hurt Sable. I just wanted to relay a message.” Medina spoke to his associates. “It was an unfortunate mistake.”
“A mistake that I won’t forget,” I said. “Next time, come to me like a fucking man.”
“You only have yourself to blame for Bello going rogue.” Medina tapped his hand on the freshly polished table. “You did drive a knife through his hand in front of a room full of influential men and made him look weak.”
“Because he is weak. He hit a woman.” I pointed at him. “My woman.”
“As I said, he did that on his own.”
“That’s not going unanswered.” I glanced at the representatives from the other cities. “I don’t care who sits beside you.”
My father leaned back in his chair, giving me the opportunity to control the vibe in the room. We had to get Philly and Boston on our side if we were going to shut this sex trafficking ring down once and for all.
“Bello is useful to me,” Medina said. “You can’t eliminate him. I’m not going to allow it.”
“I don’t take orders from you.”
“No.” Medina curved his lips into a smug smirk. “But you do take them from him.” He nodded at my dad. “I’m pretty certain Nico Accetti will be inclined to see things my way once he knows what I have.”
“Now who is wasting our time?” I asked.
“I have proof of Danny Collins’ whereabouts the night he went missing.” He leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. “I’m big on keeping insurance policies, because you never know when they’ll be useful.”
Shit.
“We all know Marchello will not let Lissia go down for what happened in that villa that night.”
“State your demands.” My father’s calm and steady voice unnerved me.
“Bello will not be harmed or eliminated, because if he is, I will release the information on Collins’ murder to the Feds. You know as well as I do, they will take anything I have on you and your family, including your impulsive daughter-in-law. She is, after all, a Gallanti.”
Fury churned in my stomach, kicking up enough rage to make me leap across this table and kill Medina with my bare hands. A move my father would never make because he had too much control. Impulsive urges weren't in his nature, especially not in front of an enemy. He expected Marchello and I to follow his example.
