"What do you want to do with him?" Sandro’s voice was longsuffering, like he already knew what I was going to answer. Even I didn’t know what I was going to answer.
"I haven't decided yet." I kept my voice calm. "Could keep him as leverage against the Romano family. Could hand him back and demand compensation for the security breach. Or..."
"Or?"
"Or maybe just keep him." I gritted my teeth.
"Don't do anything rash," Sandro ordered. "I'll be there in an hour. We'll figure this out together."
I went back to concentrating on Stefan. His brown hair looked dark from the water of last night’s shower. He bit at his plush lower lip, worrying it between his teeth.
I was so focused on Stefan that I didn't hear footsteps until Elio spoke behind me.
"This is a bad idea."
I turned. Elio stood at the top of the stairs, impeccably dressed as always. Luca appeared behind him a moment later, looking more rumpled but alert.
"I didn't call a meeting," I said.
"You didn't have to." Elio moved to stand beside me at the window, looking through at Stefan. "Word travels fast when you lock up a rival family's son. Half the security team is gossiping about it."
Luca joined us at the window. "Giuseppe Romano's youngest. The pretty one he parades at functions." He whistled low. "You've really fucked up this time."
"I know what I'm doing."
"Do you?" Elio crossed his arms. "Because from where I'm standing, you've just kidnapped someone during a federal RICO investigation."
I looked back at Stefan.
"He came into my club wearing a disguise," I said. "He was gathering intelligence. He compromised our security."
"So send him back to Giuseppe in pieces," Luca said practically. "Send a message about what happens to spies."
"No."
"Then what's the plan?" Elio asked. "Because keeping him locked up here isn't sustainable. His father will come looking. The FBI might get involved if they think we're holding a civilian hostage. This could destroy everything we're trying to protect."
"I don't care."
Elio stared at me. "You don't care? Matteo, the trial starts in six months. We need to be focused on—"
"I know when the fucking trial starts," I snapped. "I know what's at stake. And I'm still keeping him."
Luca studied my face. "You're not going to let him go, are you?"
"No."
"Even if it starts a war with the Romanos?"
"Especially then. Giuseppe treats his sons like property. Sells them like livestock. Someone needs to show Stefan there's another way."
"By locking him in a room?" Elio's voice was sharp. "That's just a different cage, Matteo."
"It's temporary. Until I know he's safe."
"Safe from what? His family? The life he was born into?" Elio shook his head. "You can't save him from that. You can only make it worse."
Before I could respond, we heard voices from the stairs.
