His men exchange glances, no smiles, looking as if they think I’m crazy. Good.
“Do you know who I am?” the man asks.
I think for a moment. I’ve made a point of learning about the high-ranking Hungarians, but mainly, we just try to stay out of each other’s way when I’m here for business.
“Odon,” I say.
He nods. “You do your research.”
I say nothing.
“What is it you want to know?”
“Why the fuck would you back my cousin Tony in a bid against me. Did you really think that’d end well for you, that you’d stand a chance against all my men and me if it came to real war?”
The three men bristle, but Odon looks at me in genuine concern.
“No one is trying to start a war with the Bellini Family,” he says evenly.
I take a step forward, staring Odon in the eye. He’s a little taller than I am. It’s a strange feeling, looking up, even slightly. He swallows. His men bristle, and the one with the broken nose moves as if attempting to do something. But Odon waves a hand, and he settles down.
“Shall we sit?” Odon says.
Through gritted teeth, I say, “Sure.”
We go to a nearby table. Odon sits, drumming his fingers against the table. “Tony was using this bar, and others, to launder some of his money, business as usual,” Odon says, glancing around like a trapped animal.
This is what many people don’t understand about real power. I don’t even need a gun to make this bastard understand the danger he’s in. The danger they’reallin.
“How long?”
“About a year and a half.”
I rub my chin, thinking of the lie Nico told. Tony knew I’d trust Nico’s word. And he also knew that if I discovered Ava was pregnant, I’d come back here, perhaps stumble upon what he was doing.
“He hired your men to send after me last year.”
Odon holds his gold, flashy hands up. “Now, see, Mr. Bellini, that’s not as simple as you think it is.”
I lean forward. “Then make it simple.”
“He convinced afewof our men to go after you, filled their heads with ideas of glory. But the higher command didn’t know. The lieutenant didn’t know.”
I grunt out a laugh. Does he expect me to believe this crap?
“Where is Tony now?” I snarl.
“I swear, I don’t know. He just launders money here. That’s it. It’s a business arrangement, nothing more.”
“You might be telling me the truth, Odon,” I say. “Youmight.”
I stand, lay my fists against the table. He gestures frantically to his men when it looks like they might get up. I want them to. Don’t even care if my backup comes in here or not, just want the wild fury of a fight.
“Give me the names of the men he tricked,” I tell him.
“You can’t expect me to?—”
“The names,” I cut in quietly. “Or I burn down this bar, and a real war starts. I only play nice because I don’t like conflict; it’s a waste of money. But those men were fools who listened to a fool, who also tricked you right. So cough them the fuck up. Now.”
