Diego held his hands out in surrender.“It’s a possibility.”
Giovanni ran a hand down his face.“That would make sense,” Lorenzo said.“It would explain the detailed list, and perhaps, if it is someone on the inside, they know who they’re going to hit.”
“Why go to Julio?”Giovanni asked.
He looked to his friends.“To ward us off the scent?”Diego asked.“Let’s face it, we’ve been so focused on it being outsiders.What if it’s inside?”
“Do you think someone is trying to take over the Colombo Mafia?”Emilio asked.
“Someone is always trying to take over the Colombo Mafia, but they get sloppy,” Giovanni said.
He didn’t like this, but he also didn’t like that at this very moment, he was distracted with thoughts of his wife.She was home and had just learned she was pregnant.
“Who could it be?”Giovanni asked.“Because we all know the list is endless.”
“Is it?”Diego asked.“It’s pretty simple, we look at the people within the last year who have gotten a raw deal.Someone with a reason to be pissed off, hoping to undermine everything.Taking out the women is a coward’s game.”
“So, we’re now looking for cowards?”Emilio asked.“That doesn’t lighten the list of people that could be pissed off.”
“It doesn’t have to be cowards,” Giovanni said.“It could be anyone that wants to throw us off our game.Let’s face it, they’re going after women.We’re used to being ready, but our women are a weakness.”
“And they’re going after virginal women, coming to bride’s age,” Lorenzo said.“Do any of you know if there was some kind of offer, or if one of the men wanted one or more of these women?”
Giovanni sat back and rubbed a finger along his lips.“That doesn’t make sense.If it’s some star-crossed lovers’ thing, they wouldn’t be taking more than the women they want.Wouldn’t they also be running away with them?”
“Unless they’re just doing it because they can and to piss people off,” Diego said.“I know I am fucking pissed off.”
“Has anyone tried anything with your wives?”Giovanni asked.
“Nothing,” they all said in unison.
Yet there were clear descriptions of all four of their women, and not a single move has been made against them.Giovanni frowned.He felt like he was on the verge of figuring it out, but he couldn’t quite reach it.
Then, all four of their cell phones went off.
“Liana’s driving home.”
“That’s my cue to leave, because Clarissa is on her way home.”
Giovanni glanced down at his cell phone, and the call was from Mia, saying she needed to talk.He couldn’t help but check the cameras in his home, and sure enough, he found her pacing within his office.She did not look happy.
Giovanni already knew she was pregnant, but he had a feeling this was going to be the time she told him.
He finished his scotch, said goodbye to his friends, and they agreed to talk later.They were going to think about who could have a vendetta against the Colombo Mafia.The saddest truth of all was, there were a lot of people who would be more than happy to see them fall.When it came to an internal threat, he honestly didn’t know who it could be.Sure, there were always people pissed off by a certain ruling, or punishment.
Giovanni rubbed his eyes and made his way home.All he could think about was Mia.He sat in the back seat of his car, as his guards drove him home, and he watched Mia on the camera.She was still pacing the length of his office, and she hadn’t stopped.She might have slowed down a bit but that was it.
He stroked a finger lightly across his screen.Mia had no idea what he felt about her.He fucking loved her, and it wasn’t because of the pregnancy.It was Mia.All Mia.He loved her more than anything in the world.
She lightened his whole life, and nearly losing her made him realize he loved her.He hated to see the pain in her eyes, the hurt, especially knowing he had caused that.
Giovanni missed Mia’s laughter.Even now, as he looked at her, he couldn’t help but think back to her smile as she organized that autumnal party.It had been so freaking lame, but she had been so excited and had insisted he wear a tie with just a hint of orange, but not too bright, as it was not Halloween.
They were still not quite there yet, but he hoped she was learning to trust him again.
Arriving at his home, he didn’t even pretend to go looking for her, he stepped right into his office.Mia turned to look at him.She looked a little pale, but he was pretty sure she was glowing.
“We need to talk,” she said.
