Page 84 of Bellini Born

“Wonderful.”

We bid him good luck, then kept moving. Under my breath, I asked, “Did I just witness some kind of secret handshake deal?”

His smile never faltered, his chin dipping in silent acknowledgment when meeting the eyes of several other men in attendance. “Nothing more than a reciprocal arrangement where I scratch the senator’s back and, in exchange, he scratches ours. Attaching his name to our project will help bolster his upcoming campaign. Not to mention the financial donation he will receive from Bellini Real Estate. In return, we can break ground this year instead of next.”

In essence, they were in each other’s pockets. I suppose having powerful friends was necessary when you were running a partially illegal operation.

“Will your brother be joining us this evening?” A voice belonging to a middle-aged man halted our progress around the room.

If I hadn’t been watching carefully, I might not have noticed how Matteo’s jaw tightened the slightest fraction. It was enough to give away that he didn’t like whoever this guy was.

Though you’d never know it by the sound of his smooth reply. “I’m afraid not. He’s been called away on personal business.”

“I feel it’s my duty to inform you that there have been rumors circulating about his sudden disappearance.”

Matteo gave the impression of being bored, picking a non-existent piece of lint from his jacket sleeve. “Have there, now?”

“People are saying you killed him to take his position for yourself.”

My back went ramrod straight. One, this was the first mention I’d heard of Matteo having a brother. And two, I knew he was capable of murder—he’d admitted as much—but to kill his own blood? Maybe this was the reality check I needed to remind me that I barely knew him at all.

“Commissioner Logan,” Matteo began.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. How do I know that name?

Then it hit me. He was speaking to the motherfucking commissioner of the Chicago Police Department! I might not understand much about this world, but I sure knew that the cops were the “good guys” to the mafia’s “bad guys.”

“I can assure you that Gio is alive and well. In fact, there were several witnesses when hevoluntarilytransferred power to me in his absence.”

The top law enforcement officer in this city eyed him warily. “It’s quite unusual for someone in your line of business to take a sabbatical.”

“But not unheard of. Like I said before, it’s a personal matter.”

“Any idea when he might return?”

Matteo shook his head. “Not at this time. But I promise, when I know something, you’ll be the first to know.”

Commissioner Logan grunted before turning back to his cards.

“Are you trying to get yourself arrested?” I hissed once we were out of earshot.

He patted the hand I had threaded through the crook of his elbow. “Don’t worry,dolcezza. I’ve been doing this long enough to have learned that you keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.” An amused laugh filtered into the air between us. “Or in this case, keep them so indebted to you that you own their life, and it would be suicide to cross you.”

“He owes you money?” I couldn’t keep the surprise out of my voice.

A wolfish grin curved on his lips. “Hell, he can’t even afford to be down here tonight. But he just can’t stay away, hitting up the house loan department and digging the hole deeper. Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking gambling addiction isn’t very, very real.”

Well, that was an interesting development I hadn’t seen coming.

“And you have an older brother?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“Mmm. Gio, yes.”

“Where is he?”

Shaking his head, Matteo’s lifted his eyes to the ceiling. “Playing a vengeful game of hide and seek with his wife.”

“Okay . . .” I had no idea what that meant, but it didn’t sound good, so I decided to change the subject. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re planning in Englewood?”