“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Caputo says in his signature toneless way.“But the Codelli woman was right to stop you.We shouldn’t make a move until we have all the pieces in place.And a guaranteed path to victory.”
I still remember the way Goldie stopped me.Touched my arm and extinguished the flame of hate and rage in my chest just like that.I wish she were touching me now.Because once we get in there, I just might do something I’m gonna regret.
“You can be the one to stop me tonight,” I say and grin at him.Then I ascend the steps to the entrance.
The elderly porter, John something or other, remembers me very clearly.He glances back after Moretti, then sees the ring on my pinky and his whole expressions changes.From confusion to respect.He’s a professional, no two ways about that.
“I’m no longer with Moretti’s party,” I tell him.“Do you think we could find a jacket for my friend.”
I’m in a suit, but Caputo is wearing black fatigues and they’re very strict about the dress code in here.
“Oh, it’s that kind of place,” he mutters, while John happily replies that it will not be a problem while he holds the door open for us.
As soon as we’re inside, another man in a butler’s uniform—white gloves, red jacket with a strip of gold and black pants with same—holds out a black dinner jacket for Caputo to put on.He grumbles but does it.
And then another door opens for us and it’s like we’ve entered old England.Wood everywhere, leather chairs too, stag heads, shields, swords, and axes mounted on the walls and so much whiskey in crystal glasses the whole room sparkles in soft amber tones.The only thing that’s probably different from every other such club in England are the waitresses.All gorgeous, all young and all wearing outfits that would make even strippers blush.
“Follow me, Mr.Rovina,” the butler says.“Your table is ready.”
He means my family’s regular table near the fireplace, which is burning brightly tonight, despite the near summer temperatures outside.
“I’d like to sit closer to Moretti tonight,” I tell him and pass him on my way to the man.
He’s deep in conversation with the two guys he came in here with, but stops talking mid-sentence as he sees me approaching.He even flinches, looks around for his bodyguards.But then he remembers he left them all outside, sitting in the Range Rovers and he looks even more scared.
I stare at him all the way to an empty table next to theirs.By the time I’m sitting the two guys he’s with are both looking at me too, trying to place me.
“You were saying,” one of them says to Moretti pointedly once they realize they don’t know me.
But I know them.
“Those are the guys from Hydra that he was meeting with the night I escaped,” I tell Caputo.
“It kind of seems like they’re not too happy with him,” Caputo says.“But they are talking.”
One of the barely-dressed waitresses deposits two whiskeys in front of us.I send her away with mine and tell her to bring me a club soda.Caputo does the same.
“Moretti’s deal with them involved getting them my sister’s boyfriend,” I say.“I fucked that up for him too.”
“They wanted your sister and her boyfriend?”Caputo asks.“Why?Just because that’s the guy she chose over Moretti?”
I shake my head.“I thought so at first, but there was more to it than that.Her boyfriend is high up in a local biker club and Hydra wanted him.I have no idea why.But if they’re still talking then maybe they still do.”
“You should warn them,” Caputo says.“And recruit them to our cause in the process.The more the merrier.”
I take a long swallow of my club soda, welcoming the pain in my throat.It distracts me from my sister’s betrayal, which still stings despite all the years that passed and the fact that I understand where she was coming from.It’d be easier if I could just forgive her, but I can’t seem to do that.
“I will.But later,” I say and stand up.“Right now, I’m gonna go say hello to Dante.”
Caputo gives me a look that plainly says he doesn’t think that’s a good idea.But he doesn’t say anything.Just stands up and follows me to Dante’s table.
Moretti looks like he’s in the process of shitting himself as he watches me approach.His jaw is so tight that his lips are shaking, and his eyes are darting all around, looking for the exits, for help, even though he’s trying to look calm.
“Dante, fancy running into you again,” I say as I reach him.I glance at the other two guys.“And I see you’ve all made up while I was gone.”
“Who is this?”
“What’s he talking about?”
