"Did you know I caught Jack and Uncle Gino?"
The words floor me. And all kinds of things fill my head. I mean, I thought Jack had that girlfriend we rescued that time?
"Doing what?"
Cade just stares at me and shakes his head. "Not whatever filth is in your head. They were stoned. Honestly. Violet's mad I never secretly filmed it. Never cross her. She's diabolical."
And I've never heard a man sound so proud.
My heart starts to thump loud.
"How did you get your dad to agree to a non-church wedding, by the way?"
I shrug. "Lola. Plus, Dad got in the most modern Catholic priest he could find. Fucking Dad's not even religious. But he is mafia, and there are rules."
"Speaking of, are you taking over?"
I breathe out. "One day, maybe. But he's allowing me to modernize things."
"Are you out of the Syndicate? Is that what the new IT office is about?"
"Don't be an ass. Of course not. We'll do work for him, boost connections and income, and...I don't know, have something worth taking over one day. All of us." I watch for his reaction, but he just offers a small secret smile and a nod.
"And we'll be using Barwon, too. Lola is the CEO, and she is running it like a dream. We'll have a few hubs to work from. It's better, I think."
Silas comes in, rubbing his cheek, catching the tail end. "That why we've started using your place for certain jobs? And others out of mine?"
"It's like how we usually do it. But this time, it's more organized. I want to elevate our hacking business and also keep it in the shadows." Then I frown. "Why's your cheek red?"
"That Ruby chick is violent."
Cade throws his hands up. "The rule is never fuck with a bridesmaid until after the wedding."
Zayne and Jack come in, too. Both grinning.
Jack has grown up, and one day, he might find a place with us. But I know his brother too well. Any job would be blind. He'd never know what goes on.
Louie's fate doesn't overly bother me.
Costa hasn't killed him, but I'm betting the rich boy with the formerly soft hands is wishing he had at times.
I never asked what Costa has him doing, I don't want to know. But it's going to be brutal, worse than Costa's beating and torture.
Mind, I did interfere there. I pointed out Louie's rich and respectable family would pay for Costa to bring their sonhome and elevate him somewhat in certain circles if he plays his cards right.
Zayne comes up to me and hugs me, patting me on the back. "Proud of you, man. Lola's a great girl, and that baby...perfect little family. Don't fuck it up, or I'll arrest you. Like I should be doing with most of this fucking wedding."
"Don't arrest anyone."
"Hell, no. I'm undercover. One wrong move..."
I don't ask if he's telling the truth.
But as he pulls back, he straightens his cuffs. "I wish I was up there, taking my place as one of the best men, but I can't. I don't want my agenda at the precinct blown open by that. I can fucking get away with being here, the wedding, the dancing, but there are one too many prominent gangsters here. So... I'll be in the front row. And my stand-in is going to do a good job."
Behind him, Jack gives the thumbs up and shows me a small photo. It's of Zayne, and he tucks it in the top pocket with the handkerchief.
Cade checks his watch. "Time to move, guys. This man is about to get himself hitched."
