“I want to address the rumors and statements I made earlier regarding Moretti Shipping. After further investigation, I realize my claims were unfounded…”
My finger skims the rim of my glass, and I take a sip.
“…Moretti Shipping has, in fact, cooperated with regulators in the past, and I regret suggesting otherwise.”
“The videos have been circulating and some of our investors in the legal businesses are returning.Tutto sta tornando in forma(Everything is coming back into shape),” Matteo explains.
Good.
“The Russians,” he adds and I clench my fist, feeling the anger building in my sternum.
It’s been three days since my damn shipment was stolen. We still haven’t got a lead on who it was. Matteo has been watching the Russians and they haven’t veered off track.
As for our men, he checked all of their phones and then set up systems in place to watch them, especially those who were privyto the shipment’s information. Not one of them has made a single wrong move.
But someone must have shown whoever was behind the theft the schedule. The fucking rat must be laying low.
“We can’t find anything solid proving they’re behind the attack. But if you still want us to atta—”
“No.” I stand up from the chair and walk toward the window that overlooks the city. It’s the one thing I like about the construction company’s office. It shows me that the world is mine for the taking.
I clench my fist, my nails digging crescents into my palm. We can’t attack the Russians without solid evidence that they’re behind the stolen shipment. It’d make me seem unstable, especially if they had no hand in it. And instability would mean I’m losing control. I don’t play like that.
“Gli altri(The others)?” I say to Matteo without turning back.
“Red Hook, Red Herring, Blue Steel. We’ve had history with them, but none of them are foolish enough to dare us.” He shakes his head. “The Russians are still the on—”
I don’t allow him to finish. “I don’t want to hear another word about the Russians until you address the source of the problem.” I grind my teeth, the urge to smash my glass against the wall overwhelming me.
“You know how I play Matteo,” I growl, and his jaw tenses, “I do not lose control. Ever!”
“Sì, Boss.”
Understanding dawns across his eyes. I straighten my spine, taking deep breaths to calm my temper.
“There is a fucking mole in this empire. Find him.Ora(Now)!”
“Yes,Capo.” He bows.
There’s silence for a while until he speaks again, shuffling through his phone.
“Report from your wife’s outing yesterday.”
My brows perch at his words.
“She spent two hours at the library yesterday. Asked for a first edition, walked out with a paperback instead. Was friendly with the librarian like they’d known each other for years.”
I frown. “Gender?”
“Femmina(Female).”
I exhale in relief.
Fuck. What’s wrong with me?
“Later on, though, a man…tried to get her attention on the street,” he continues in an unsure voice. “Mid-thirties, dock hands, cheap cologne. He didn’t touch her or anything, just tried to make conversation with her, seemed to want her to notice him—”
“Name?” I demand, my fist clenching on the edge of the desk. I’m unable to hold it anymore. Heat spikes, hot and clean, through my veins, forcing me to stride quickly to Matteo.
