His gaze slid to Paola—predatory, knowing.
My fist clenched.
"I need time to consider."
"Of course. You have until Monday. Three days." He checked his watch. "After that, I may need to share my observations with others. For their protection, you understand. Deceiving Dons is never a good idea Cesare."
He stepped back, smile pleasant. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."
Then he was gone, leaving us with that threat hanging like a guillotine blade.
Paola's hand gripped mine hard enough to hurt.
"Cesare—"
"Not here." Clipped. "Smile. We're being watched."
She pasted on a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"We need to leave," she whispered.
"Can't. Not yet. Leaving early shows weakness." I guided her toward the main room. "We stay. We perform. We show everyone nothing rattles us."
"How long?"
"Another hour. Maybe two."
Three days. Viktor had given us three days.
We circulated. Every moment was agony—my mind racing through options, strategies.
Piero appeared during a lull. "You look like you want to kill someone."
"Perceptive as always."
"What happened?"
"Not here. My office. One hour after we leave."
Piero's expression darkened. "Understood."
Paola excused herself to the ladies' room. I watched her go, every protective instinct screaming to follow.
Don Caruso approached again. "Your wife is lovely, Monti. You seem very well-matched."
"Thank you."
"Though I notice Viktor Kozlov spent some time speaking with you both. I hope he wasn't... troublesome."
A probe. Caruso had noticed. Others probably had too.
"Just politics," I said smoothly. "Viktor likes to test boundaries."
"Indeed. Be careful with that one. He's patient. Strategic. Dangerous."
"I'm aware."
Paola returned, and I could see the cracks in her composure. Her smile was too tight, her eyes too bright. She was holding on by a thread.
