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Sloane shrugged.

“Why are you helping us?” I should be suspicious. What if Sloane was working for whoever was causing trouble between the two families?

“Look, you can either trust me or stay here. In either case, I’m screwed because I went along with your plans for escape.”

“I’m in your debt and you know I’ll feel guilty if they take it out on you.”

“I’m helping Divina. And maybe you could put in a good word for me with the De Luccis.”

Sticks started writhing on the ground and mumbling, probably cursing, behind the tape. If his eyes were lasers, Sloane would be incinerated.

“Decide. Because when I leave, your best chance of seeing your family”—Sloane looked at Divina—“goes with me.”

“You’re crazy,” Divina said, climbing into the van. “But I love you.”

“Love you too, girlie.”

“Well, hell, this is it for sure,” I grumbled. “Sorry, Sticks, I’ll be sure you get freed when we’re clear.”

Sloane didn’t dramatically screech out of here, but went the regular normal speed.

“Good. No one seems to be around. And there are only guards at the entrance to the driveway during the evening. I didn’t see any today.”

“They have perimeter sensors,” I told her. “Once you leave the driveway, they’ll be alerted.”

“Yes. But they won’t see anything, so keep your heads down.”

“Unless someone tries to contact Sticks.”

The van started rocking. I knew we’d reached the long unpaved driveway. Sloane sped up. “It’s a bouncy ride back there.”

“So where is this property, exactly?”

Sloane told me the area was around an hour from Manhattan.

Wow, okay. I could just imagine all the round trips Sandro took if his business was in Manhattan or New Jersey.

“The Rossi mansion in Scarsdale is being watched, according to Tommy. That is why it’s abandoned for now. Sandro is proposing to put it up for sale,” Divina said.

“But it’s been in the Rossi family for decades,” I replied.

“Yes, but the family needs more liquidity.”

“How bad are the finances?”

“Tommy is tight-lipped,” Divina said. “Sandro is in way better shape. He minded his business in Harlem and didn’t do crazy shit like Frankie and Joe. So it’s a good thing he has separate accounting from the family. Speaking of which, Tommy also said the Rossi accountant might be embezzling.”

I heard Tommy and Sandro talking about it, too.

“You’re handling Sandro’s books. Why don’t you handle the family’s?”

Divina shrugged. “No one suggested it, except you.”

“I like you,” Sloane told me. “You get shit done.”

“Or have shit blow up in our faces.” The two of us laughed. Divina looked ready to throw up. Maybe it was the rocking in the van, but I was sure it was because for the first time since marrying into the Rossis, she was going against a boss’s wishes.

I grabbed her hand. “Don’t worry. This won’t blow back on you. You’ll be an unwilling accomplice. After all, it was Sloane who stunned Sticks. You didn’t even take part in tying him up.”