Page 55 of Empire of Seduction (New York State of Mafia #2)

I slipped away from him and pulled open the door. Without looking back, I said, “Please, do me a favor, Vito. Lose my number.”

And I was gone.

Vito

The house I’d rented for my men, while large, smelled like cat piss and cigarette smoke.

I ordered all the windows opened as soon as I moved in yesterday afternoon, yet it hadn’t helped.

But I was stuck here until I went back to Toronto.

And I couldn’t go back until I’d killed every Red Raider in the area.

“Send someone to buy more air freshener,” I snapped at Tommaso. “And air purifiers. As many as they can find.” I took out my cigarettes and lit one.

The two of us were sitting at the kitchen table this morning, waiting for intel on where the four bikers went after torching Maggie’s vineyard.

Yesterday, thanks to facial recognition software, we learned their identities and went looking in the usual spots.

Except the bikers had gone to ground, every single one hiding from me.

Enzo’s computer experts were currently hacking traffic and surveillance cameras looking for footage to discover where they went. I hoped to have answers any minute.

Paloma strode into the kitchen and frowned at me. “That isn’t going to help the smell.”

“I don’t give a fuck. Do we know anything yet?”

“No, not yet.” She eyed me carefully. “Massimo’s clothes look good on you.”

I blew out a long stream of smoke. “Thank fuck we’re about the same size.”

“I could go out and buy?—”

“No, Lo. You’re my consigliere, not my personal shopper. I’ve ordered some shit to be delivered later.”

“I haven’t officially agreed,” she noted, taking sparkling water out from the refrigerator.

Tommaso got to his feet. “I’ll go check in with the men and send someone out for those things you wanted.”

“Grazie, Tommaso,” I said, rubbing my eyes with my free hand. I was fucking exhausted.

I hadn’t slept a wink last night.

“Then you took me off to Toronto and made me feel special, while lying to me the whole time.”

I didn’t regret it. Maggie didn’t realize the danger of being with me.

A scorched vineyard was nothing compared to many of the things I’ve seen and done, and I didn’t want that for her.

So I offered what I could, while trying to maximize her safety.

It was the only way short of marrying her that I could protect her.

And neither of us were ready for that sort of commitment. At least, I didn’t think so.

She wanted me “all in,” but what did that mean? Taking her into my confidence in regards to the business was out of the question. I wouldn’t risk her by doing something so foolish.

And what of her? Was she ready to go all in? Because she certainly hadn’t confessed her feelings for me at any point.

My sister lowered herself into the vacant chair. She twisted the gold bangle bracelets on her wrist. “I spoke to Enzo last night. You know, to get the official family blessing.”

I was aware. I heard an earful from my brother earlier. Another part of my shitty morning.

“He wasn’t thrilled about the idea,” Paloma continued. “But he agreed with your reasons for asking. Honestly? I think he’s a little irritated that he didn't think of coming to me first.”

“He doesn’t need help. I do.”

“You know how he is. Enzo wasn’t always the best at sharing.”

An understatement. “What else did he say?”

“I asked if there was any kind of ritual I needed to perform or an oath I needed to take. He said my last name was enough. He’s also worried about my safety.” She waved her hand, rattling the bracelets on her wrist. “He’s acting like a protective big brother because I’m a woman.”

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, Lo. Sul mio onore. ” Swearing on one’s honor was the deepest pledge we could make.

“I know you won’t. I’m not worried. And I’m capable of taking care of myself.”

“I don’t doubt it. I remember the punches you used to throw.”

“And I took Krav Maga classes in London. I’m good.”

I finished my cigarette and stubbed it out. “So, it’s decided.”

“I guess so.”

“Thank fuck.” I motioned for her to stand up, which she did. Then I kissed both of her cheeks. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am, Paloma.”

“I know, I know.” She squeezed my shoulder, then motioned to the chairs. “Sit down. I want to start offering you advice.”

“Oh? About what?”

Once seated, she folded her arms on the table and studied me. “You look like shit.”

I rubbed my jaw. “I didn’t sleep much.”

“So I heard. Tommaso said you paced all night long in your room.”

“Checking up on me?”

“Don’t be surprised. You are my responsibility. First, as my brother. Second, as my boss. So, are you ready to talk about her?”

I instantly reached for the pack of cigarettes on the table, but Paloma moved them out of my reach. “Vito, stop it. You’re giving those up starting today. Now, tell me what went wrong yesterday. I know Maggie was pissed about the fire, but you haven’t told me what happened after.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“As you said last night. But you can’t use that excuse any longer.”

“Because?”

“Because I fucking said so! Everyone heard both of you yelling at each other, so fill me in.”

Knowing my sister was stubborn enough to keep pushing, I recounted my conversation with Maggie. When I finished, Paloma’s expression didn’t change. “You offered to buy her off to stay with you.”

“Not in the way you are thinking.”

“ Exactly in the way I’m thinking. No wonder she lost it.”

“Only because you accused her of being a gold digger.”

“I can’t believe she told you.” Paloma tapped her dark red fingernails on the table. “I thought she was better than that.”

“She didn’t tell me. I dragged it out of her on our trip—and she forbade me from interfering between the two of you. She said she’s been dealing with mean girls all her life and could handle you.”

My sister threw her head back and laughed.

“Oh, that’s cute. I like her. She’s delusional, of course, but I admire her balls.

” She grew serious. “Fratello, I know women better than you do and I had to see if she’s strong enough to handle you, handle this life.

I don’t want you to go through another Simona.

If that meant I pissed Maggie off, then so be it.

But I won’t let you marry a woman who won’t stand up and fight for you. ”

“No one said anything about marriage.”

“Vito.” She exhaled like I was trying her patience. “She can’t stay here unprotected and you love her, so marry her. Don’t make this more complicated.”

“She’d never agree to marriage.”

“Not now, of course. You will have to convince her.”

“You make it sound so easy, but you don’t know her. She can hold a grudge. Not to mention that she hasn’t once told me how she feels about me.”

“Do you want my advice?”

Part of me wanted to say no, but it was the role I’d given her. “Yes, of course.”

“Write the Fiorentino siblings a large check. Let the two of them rebuild, replant, whatever the fuck, while you’re back in Toronto attending to real business.”

I stared through the patio glass doors, out toward the river. What Paloma said made sense, but I didn’t want to leave. It felt like giving up. How was I to focus on “real” business when all I wanted was to be near Maggie?

“If you push her,” my sister continued, “she will only fight you or disappear. I know women like her—I am a woman like her—and we don’t like to be cornered. Your best course of action right now is to give her space.”

“I need to fix this. I have a meeting with Carlo this afternoon to?—”

“Vito, that isn’t what she wants. She wants to fix this, without you.”

“How do you know?”

Paloma slid out of her chair and stood. “Because like I said, she and I are similar. And you can’t force things right now. In time she’ll be willing to hear you out. Retreat so you can live to fight another day.”

“I can’t. I won’t abandon her, even if she doesn’t want me here.”

“That is a mistake. And not like you. Where is your legendary patience?”

I pressed my lips together to keep from snapping at her. Patience? Was she kidding? I could barely breathe knowing Maggie hated me. The knot in my chest wouldn’t ease, and I had to fix this before it was too fucking late. “What of the Red Raiders? We let them get away with burning the vineyard?”

Her lip curled, like she’d ingested sour wine. “Of course not. We kill every single one of those motherfuckers today.”

My mobile buzzed on the table. It was Enzo, my older brother. Thank Fuck. He must be calling with news of the bikers.

“Stay here,” I ordered Paloma, then tapped the glass. “Enzo, what have you?—?”

“Roberto Mancini is dead.”

Everything inside me stilled as that news sank in.

I knew it would happen eventually, had prepared for it, but I hadn’t expected it today.

Toronto was my territory. I would be expected to honor Mancini and play host to all the other families.

I dropped my head into my free hand. “Cazzo madre di dio.”

My brother grunted. “Exactly what I said when Gia got the news from Frankie a few minutes ago. If you were at home, I assume you would’ve heard first.”

I needed to rearrange everything. The troubles in Paesano, the Red Raiders . . . Maggie. I had to put all of this on hold and deal with the funeral first. “I’ll fly to Toronto immediately.”

“You better,” Enzo said. “Because you’re about to have a lot of fucking house guests.”