His whole family is dirty.
And they're working with the Corellis.
The same family whose name keeps appearing in my investigation. The same family someone is using as misdirection. The same family who might or might not be involved in flooding my territory with counterfeit drugs.
"How deep does this go?" I ask.
"Still digging." Keys click on Igor's end. "But if I had to guess? The father started it. Needed cash flow. The luxury car markettook a hit during the pandemic. Sales dropped. Overhead stayed the same. He got desperate."
"And the Corellis offered a solution."
"They always do." Igor's tone is dry. "Wash our money. We'll pay you a percentage. Everyone wins."
Except they don't.
Because now Rogers Senior has tied his legitimate business to organized crime. Now he's vulnerable. Exposed. One audit away from federal prison.
And his son knows.
James knows his father is dirty. Knows the family business is built on fraud. Knows they need an alliance with a powerful family to protect them if everything falls apart.
That's why he wanted Vittoria.
"He's becoming a problem," I say.
"Agreed." Igor doesn't hesitate. "What do you want to do?"
I turn from the window.
Walk back to the bar cart. Pour another drink.
"Keep watching them." I swirl the vodka.
"And then?"
"Then we deal with it." I drink. "After the gala tomorrow night."
"You're sure you want to wait?"
"The gala is important." I set the empty glass down. "We're announcing the engagement. Showing strength. Proving the Baganovs are stable despite my father's death. I won't let Rogers distract me from that."
"He might make a move."
"He won't." I'm certain. "He's too arrogant. Too convinced he still has a chance. He'll wait. Try to undermine me. Try to convince the Sartoris I'm not worthy of their princess."
"And if he does so?"
"Then we bury him." Simple. Clean. Final. "Him and his father both."
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Vittoria
The city lights blur past the tinted windows of the SUV.
I sit between Amanda and Mamma in the back seat. Dante drives. Elio rides shotgun, his hand resting near his concealed weapon like it always does when we're in transit.
Amanda chatters about something.
