"What was the deal with you and Emilio?"
"Why do you want to know?" He grates out the words.
I give a casual shrug. "Just trying to understand business from your standpoint. The family business. You were friends, and then you weren't."
"Because the man was a lying snake. You don't question me or my authority."
One reason I couldn't work for him. Even in the Syndicate, we question things. It is the only way to get the best job done, to tease the truth from the crap when the job seems messy or too good to be true.
But I shrug. "I'm not."
Dad's eyes narrow, and he takes a gulp of his drink. "Are you in contact with Lourdes? I hear she's real pretty."
That bothers me. Not that he says that, but that he heard that.
Who the fuck is he talking to? And who else is watching her?
"No—"
"She might be a knockout and have a sweet demeanor. Or maybe she's a tiger in the sack. Don't know. Don't care. Stay the fuck away from her, Enzo. From all her family, whoever else is there."
"I thought—from memory—Emilio was all she had."
Dad slams his glass down. "Enzo... Keep the fuck away. Or there will be consequences."
My heart beats a little fast as adrenaline surges.
Is this just the hate from the fallout or something else?
"Relax, Dad. It was just a question, you know?"
But Dad eyes me with suspicion. "It's never just a question where you're concerned, my boy."
"I'm curious, is all. I was a young teen, so I don't know much about what went on between you and Emilio, other than he betrayed you."
"He did. Leave it alone."
"Dad—"
"He betrayed me in a business deal, so I did what I do. I completely ruined the rat's life." And Dad takes a seat.
My head spins.
There is more to this, I'm sure of it.
Right? There has to be.
"Let's talk about you, Enzo," Dad says, with poisoned silk in his voice. "Word on the street is you just bought out a computer tech company."
"A small startup."
"I wasn't aware the money Louie Bradley and his family has is small."
I shrug. "It's no big deal. It is just a business venture, that's all."
"I see." But Dad isn't done. "When are you going to come to your senses and get back to what's important?"
"And what's that?" I take a sip of my drink as I cross my legs on the sofa.
