“I want to thank you for coming on such short notice,” I said after swallowing several bites.
Don Morelli inclined his head. “Of course.”
“There’s a matter of some urgency, and as new allies, we have a vested interest in dealing with it as soon as possible.” Fecking hell, I sounded formal.
I sound like Da.
As if that realization summoned his ghost, a chill rattled through me, and I shivered slightly.
“What’s happened?” Messina set down his fork, steepled his hands, and stared at me. “Vincenzo told me everything was fine.”
Connor slurped his last strand of pasta.
I leveled a look at Messina. For his son’s sake, I wouldn’t harm a hair on the capo’s head. Vincenzo was a killer, but that wasn’t what stayed my hand. I respected V. Maybe even liked him. And so far, his father hadn’t done anything wrong.
“There’s a rot in your organization,” I said harshly. “I’m dealing with it before it infects mine.”
Deluca’s face turned putrid. “You little whore!”
Gabriella winced. She set her fork down, her food mostly untouched. But she didn’t drop her gaze.
No…my wife stared at her father.
Such a little warrior.
“What lies have you been spewing?” Deluca hissed.
“She hasn’t said anything.” I reached into the pocket of my jeans. Producing the slim, circular piece of metal, I set it on the table. “I figured it out.”
Gabriella paled. “Liam, I—”
Gripping her palm in my bare hand, I squeezed it. “She’s done being your unwilling spy, Deluca. If you want me dead, be a man and do it yourself.”
Don Morelli pushed to his feet, knuckles on the table’s edge, as he glared between his capo and me. “Explain.”
“Your piece of shit captain has been forcing his daughter to track my whereabouts.” I drummed my fingers against the table. The middle hit the tracker every time, driving the point home. “I’ve had enough.”
The Italian boss pressed his lips into a tight line. “I thought this was about his personal life.”
Deluca threw his napkin on his plate and began to shout in Italian.
Gabriella winced.
“I’m getting to that.” I rose and pressed a kiss on my wife’s forehead before straightening. “I just wanted to lay the groundwork.”
“Groundwork?” Morelli repeated.
“Yes,” I said smoothly. “So, they’ll be no misunderstandings between our organizations.”
“I’ve had enough.” Deluca shot to his feet. No doubt he felt the current of violence and like the rodent that he was, he knew it was time to scuttle to safety.
“Sit down,” Morelli boomed.
“No, don, he’s free to leave.” I walked to the dining room door and held it open.
Deluca gave me a wary look, before scanning the rest of the room.
He took one, pointed step toward me.
