Page 206 of Ricardo

“I don't doubt it.” Mario’s gaze casually slides over the room, as if observing the fruits of his labor. “You and Ricardo have made your relationship visible tonight. If he leaves suddenly and you stay behind, people will wonder where he went. Your father might wonder the loudest.”

“He can wonder.”

“He can,” Mario agrees. “But I would prefer he didn’t tonight.”

I hate that the logic makes sense.

Ricardo’s voice is low. “I can take her home before dealing with Rusk.”

“No,” Mario says. “It will take too much time.”

Ricardo’s shoulders shift.

It is slight, but I feel the violence of his objection beside me.

Mario’s tone does not change. “You have been running the Calhoun investigation. I want you to take point on this. Dante will take her.”

Everything inside me freezes.

Ricardo turns toward him.

“And he has agreed to this?”

“He has no choice.”

“Dante is barely speaking to me.”

Ricardo’s hand finds mine.

Mario says, “And still, he would walk through fire for you.” He turns to Ricardo. “I would think that would assure you.”

I look across the room before I can stop myself.

Dante stands near the east side, phone in hand, head bent toward Matteo. He says something. Matteo nods and moves away.

Then Dante looks up.

Our eyes meet.

For once, he does not look away immediately.

I cannot read his expression from this distance. Maybe because there is too much there. Maybe because he has shut all of it down before I can see it.

Mario lifts two fingers.

Dante sees and starts heading our way.

“You needed me?” he asks Mario when he’s within earshot.

Mario keeps his voice low. “Ricardo is going with Rusk. Julia needs to leave when he does.”

Dante doesn’t even look at me. He just nods.

No objections. I guess this is what it feels like to be in the Conti inner circle.

What Mario says goes.

“What about my stuff upstairs?”