“Does Marco know about this?” questions Avery.
“You know, I thoughtmy cousinmight be on a leave of absence, seeing as he just got shot.”
“Yes, but we need to be looped in on matters like this. Chiara’s safety is our priority.”
“Appreciate the lesson in safety protocol, Avery, but this is family business.”
I swing my eyes to Avery. His jaw is tense, and the blue of his eyes has darkened to a stormy gray.
“And we all know how quickly the family business can go south,” Avery retorts. “So keep talking so I am somewhat prepared if that happens.”
“Despite what you might think, I would not put my cousin’s life in danger. In fact, I’m trying to do everything I can to ensure it’s not. So please let me fucking speak.”
I wring my hands but sit as instructed. Avery follows suit.
“Now that we know Marco is blood, he’s protected by the family code. If we’ve been double-crossed, it’s an eye for an eye,” explains AJ. “My father has told the Rizzos that until we find out who shot Marco, any further deals between our families are off the table, including…the wedding,” he adds.
“Oh! How fucking thoughtful of him. Dangling my betrothal like a carrot to secure another deal. I am definitely going to need a bottle of wine for this.” I click my fingers around. “Can someone please get me a bottle of Chianti?” I call out into the cavernous space. No one appears, and AJ just glares at me.
“AJ, the least you can do if I have to listen to this madness is get me a bottle of fucking wine.” Then I pin him with a knowing glare and add lowly, “Need I remind you, there’s a lot at stake here.”
“I fucking know,” he hisses, genuine panic flaring in his emerald irises. “I’m on your side, Chi. You just need to fucking listen and work with me here. Xander!” he shouts to his second in charge, who appears from the shadows. He’s never far, but it doesn’t mean there are some things he isn’t in the dark about.
“Hey, Chi Chi,” Xander says, the lilt of his slight Irish twang hanging to the nickname.
“Hey, Xander. How’s your sister?” I say, tossing a quick arch of my eyebrow in AJ’s direction. He doesn’t flinch, but I don’t miss the way he white knuckles the edge of the table.
“Can you please bring out a bottle of the ’95 Chianti from the cellar and three wine glasses,” AJ shouts.
“Got it.”
When Xander is out of earshot, AJ pins me with a stare. “Please, Chiara,” he growls. “Do not fucking goad me; just work with me, yeah?”
I nod and wave my hand at him in frustration, indicating for him to go on. “Work it, baby.”
“You really are a pain in my ass, you know that,” he huffs. “Apparently, Julian Rizzo said they have intel about who the shooter might be and who may have ordered the hit on Marco. The Rizzos once boasted about their connection to Arty Bartholomew Jones and the lucrative business they had with him, but we know that Arty is on the outs with them right now, so if he’s got anything to do with the shooting at the Law Gala, they’ll give him up. Obviously, we want—no, need—this information. Except he said he’ll only part with it if he gets proof of…” He hesitates. “His promised one.”
“I am not fucking anything to him, let alone his promised one,” I spit. “Besides, doesn’t the world believe I’ve shacked up with Law Daddy?”
“Yes, but we’ve told the Rizzos it’s just for show, to get intel inside the law world.”
“Right, so I am just your regular Mafia double agent moonlighting as a photographer?”
Xander appears then, wine in hand, glasses in the other.
“Perfect timing,” I quip as I take the glass he offers me and hold it out to let him fill it. “Don’t stop there, sweetheart. This shit about to go down right here requires a glass and a half.”
“No one’s gonna tame your wild, are they, girlie?” he says with a snicker as he keeps pouring until I’m fully topped up. “Not even you, brother,” he says as he hands the other glass to AJ.
“Please don’t encourage her, Xand.”
I can feel both Avery and AJ boring a hole into either side of my head as I take a big gulp of wine. The intercom chimes, and a male voice reverberates through the intercom. Julian Rizzo.
I call after the hulk of a man returning to the shadows, “I hope there’s plenty more where that came from, ’cause it seems the party is just about to get started.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Family Drama
