Whoever poisoned that wine was aiming for Alessandro.
If they succeed next time, chaos follows.
I take another sip of cold coffee, focusing on the building as Marco Fabrizi shows up like clockwork.
Number four on my father's list, he slips from his car, glancing over his shoulder like he's expecting someone to catch him.
He's been with the family for nearly a decade but never made it to the inner circle.
"What are you hiding, Marco?" I mutter as I watch him park.
He's been doing this for three nights now, arriving at noon, staying for exactly forty-seven minutes, then leaving with nothing visible in his hands.
But something's being exchanged.
I'm sure of it.
Marco disappears into the warehouse, and I reach for my jacket. I've been watching long enough.
Time to get my hands dirty.
This mole, whoever they are, threatens everything I'm fighting to rebuild with Katerina and my son.
I'm not losing them again.
Not to Alessandro's suspicion, not to the Bratva's threats, and certainly not to some rat selling us out from the inside.
Marco Fabrizi doesn't know it yet, but he's about to tell me everything he knows, one way or another.
I trail Marco through the maze of shipping containers, staying silent. He stops and checks his watch. Classic nervous tic.
The side door creaks open. A figure slips inside. Even in the dim light, I recognize Alexei Ivanov. He’d been a punk kid when I left, but now I know he’s a Bratva lieutenant who's been climbing ranks.
My blood runs cold. One of our own, meeting with them. I’m on the verge of breaking this thing open.
I edge closer, staying in shadow as they exchange hushed words. A thick envelope changes hands, Marco to Alexei, that Alexei tucks inside his jacket.
"The shipment details for next Tuesday," Marco says. "And building access codes."
"Good." Alexei nods. "I’ll let our friend know how well you’ve done."
Friend? My mind races.
Marco isn't the mastermind. He’s just another pawn.
So who’s the friend?
Is he a Dante or a Morozova?
I have to consider that my father’s list wasn’t a list of suspects, but perhaps a network of traitors, and someone close to us is pulling the strings.
"Tell him the youngest Dante is getting suspicious," Marco continues. "Asking questions about old business."
Alexei's face hardens. "We'll handle Adriano."
Hearing them target my brother makes me want to shoot them both here and now, but one thing I’ve learned over the years is rash decisions can backfire. No, I need to wait.
To learn more.
