Page 58 of Empire of Seduction (New York State of Mafia #2)

twenty-five

. . .

Maggie

So many meetings. I was used to being outside, working with my hands, but since the fire I’d been stuck inside, researching and making lists. Rebuilding the winery wouldn’t be easy. Or cheap.

“Is there a way to generate more revenue that has nothing to do with wine?” Bruce asked, as we all winced at the cost of the projected renovations. “Like with the cottage. A way to bring in money while the replanted vineyard is maturing over the next five years.”

“I have an idea,” Carlo said. “But you might not like it.”

“I’m open to anything,” I said. “Let’s hear it.”

“Some wineries distill liquors in addition to wine. Gin, rum, and vodka don’t need to age.”

I was nodding before he even stopped speaking. “That’s a great idea. We could bottle it quickly, then invite people in to taste it, like influencers and writers. Maybe create a speakeasy vibe in here.” I glanced around the tasting room.

Mikey perked up. “Or what if we turned part of the cellar into an actual speakeasy? It’s private and intimate. Speakeasies are really popular in London and New York right now.”

For the first time in a week, excitement bubbled up inside me, replacing the grief. It was a relief to feel it, actually. “That one cavern, the one with the couch, would work. There’s even a bar there.”

Mikey lifted his hand to high-five me, so I slapped his palm. “That’s teamwork right there,” my brother said.

“Okay, what else?” I asked the group.

Bruce folded his arms. “What if we sold some of the archive bottles as exclusives? Collectors might want them.”

I sighed unhappily. Some of those wines had been here since my grandfather first bottled them. I’d hate to sell them. But what choice did we have? “Put some feelers out. See if there’s interest. I’m not opposed to it.”

“I know people,” Carlo said. “I can ask around. And I’ll see what I can do about getting your new plants cheaply. I have favors I can call in.”

Technically, he worked for Vito, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t grateful. “Thank you, Carlo. We appreciate that.”

A noise near the entry caught my attention. Heels on floorboards. Glancing over my shoulder, I caught Paloma D’Agostino striding into the tasting room like a model attacking the runway. Everything inside me tensed, locked up, like my muscles were walling me off to protect me.

Why was Vito’s sister here?

Then a scary-looking man walked in behind her, a serious frown stretched across his face. They bore a striking similarity to one another and instantly I knew.

This was Enzo. The older brother.

Shit.

No one moved. We all watched as the two strode confidently toward us.

Paloma’s slick ponytail bounced, her lip stain firmly in place.

She wore a jacket over a corset-ish top and tight black pants, looking like she just stepped out of the Sophisticated & Bitchy Store.

Enzo D’Agostino also dressed well, was in good shape.

I guessed he was in his early forties. The frown on his face made him look seriously intimidating.

“Ciao, ragazzi!” Paloma said to the room. The men around the table stood, but I remained seated. Cheeks were kissed and Enzo was introduced. Finally, Paloma addressed me. “Maggie, come stai?”

“Why are you two here?” I blurted. “Is the boss anxious for a report already? Not sure why he needed to send you in person, though, when email works just fine.”

Enzo chuckled. To his sister, he said in English, “She is exactly as you described.” To me, he said, “I like you already.”

“Oh, I’m so glad,” I drawled sarcastically. “Are you here to see Massimo? He’s in the kitchen.”

Paloma reached into her glossy luxury handbag and tossed a manilla envelope onto the table. I didn’t move to touch it. “What’s this?” I asked.

“Read it, per favore,” Paloma said. “Then we will talk.”

Carlo and Bruce left to give us privacy, so Paloma and Enzo took the vacant seats.

Mikey started to rise, but I pinned him with a dark stare.

“Don’t you dare.” I murmured as I reached for the envelope.

There were papers inside. I caught a flash of legalese.

Swallowing thickly, I asked, “Is he suing us?”

Paloma reached for the water on the table and poured herself a glass. “Don’t be ridiculous. Read it.”

I withdrew the papers and began reading. The words formed sentences, but I couldn’t believe it. My shocked gaze met my brother’s nervous expression. “What?” Mikey asked. “What is it?”

I couldn’t answer. I handed over the stack instead.

“Why?” I wheezed, studying Paloma.

“He’s giving us the winery back?” Mikey’s voice rose dramatically as he read. “And paying us for damages? Holy shit!”

I should be happy at this news. So, why did I feel numb? “Why?” I asked her again.

“Michael, bello.” Paloma reached over and touched my brother’s arm. “Come with me. My brother wishes to chat with your sister.”

Mikey looked unsure, his head swiveling between the D’Agostinos and me. “Sure. Mags, is that okay?

I couldn’t speak. My head was spinning and my heart squeezed like it was trying to collapse in on itself.

Vito was done with me. For good.

I thought this was what I wanted. But this felt so final.

So cold and unemotional. I hadn’t expected to be cut loose, to never see or hear from him again.

And he hadn’t even told me himself. He sent his siblings to break the news.

A fresh wave of agony ripped my insides apart. I cleared my throat as I fought tears.

“Maggie,” my brother said. “Tell me why you look like someone died.”

“Because,” Paloma answered softly, her gaze studying my face carefully. “She has just realized what this means.”

“It means we’re free,” Mikey said, then leaned over to see me better. “Right?”

“Of course.” I shook myself. I could feel sad later. “Right. This is very generous of him.”

Paloma stood and squeezed my brother’s shoulder. “Michael, come along.”

“Oh, yeah. I’ll, uh, just be in the office, Mags.”

I nodded, but my eyes never left Enzo’s piercing stare as Mikey left the tasting room with Paloma. I didn’t know what to say. I should be jumping for joy. Vito was out of my life for good, we owned the winery again . . . So, why wasn’t I celebrating?

Enzo folded his hands on the table. “Has he told you about me?”

Taking a deep breath, I shrugged. “A bit, yes. Massimo said I would hate you.”

That caused the older man to throw his head back and laugh. I exhaled in relief. Okay, a human emotion. And he didn’t look so scary when he was laughing. “Maz would say something like this. I will give him shit in a minute. First, I wish to ask you a very important question.”

The silence stretched and I waited. When he didn’t speak, I blurted, “Which is?”

“Do you have any idea of what you’ve thrown away?”

My upper lip curled. “Let me guess. This is about money again. Well, I don’t want his penthouse or his jet or his stupid diamonds.”

Enzo exhaled heavily. “The two of you, you are both very stupid.”

More insults. Of course. This family really knew how to treat people. “Well, thanks for that. And now that your errand is done, you can go back to wherever it is you came from.”

He cocked his head. “You are not scared of me.”

“Is there a reason I should be?”

“Most people are.”

“I’m not most people. And I’d really love it if you finished whatever it is you need to say, then get off my property.”

He tapped his fingers on the wooden table. I noticed one finger was missing the tip, like it had been chopped off at the first knuckle. Yikes.

Still, I didn’t cower.

“I didn’t come here to fight with you,” he finally said. “For what it’s worth, I think you would be good for my brother. Still, I encouraged him to return the winery to you. He was keeping it for the wrong reasons.”

“As a business investment? Or to make my life miserable?”

“Because he’s in love with you. He was keeping the winery in the hopes that someday you would forgive him and give him another chance.”

My jaw unhinged, my mouth falling open. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Not to Vito. He thinks far off into the future, and he honestly believed you would come around. Capisce?”

No, I didn’t understand. At all. “He doesn’t feel anything for me. I was convenient for him.”

This got another laugh out of him. “My brothers and I, we know convenient. We can have convenient whenever we like.” He grew serious, leaning back in his chair.

“But a man does not uproot his life for convenient. He does not spend millions on convenient. He does not smoke and drink and work himself into the ground when he loses convenient. Do you see the difference? You are not convenient to him.”

Enzo didn’t know the whole story. “You’re wrong. He wanted to keep me in his penthouse, then allow me to fly here every now and again. That’s not the kind of offer you make to a woman you love.”

“That is exactly the kind of offer you make to a woman you love and are terrified of losing.”

I could hear my heart beating inside my ears as I considered this. “He never said he loved me. And he wants to keep his life separate from mine. How can that possibly work?”

“Did you make a counter offer?”

“Oh, so this is all my fault?”

He tilted his head and regarded me. “Have you heard of the famous designer, Gianna Mancini?”

I’d discovered this when I looked Enzo up online. “Your wife? Yes, I have. She’s awesome.”

Enzo’s eyes shone with genuine affection. “Yes, she is very awesome. I bring this up not to impress you, but rather to prove to you that compromises can be made. Do you think I like the idea of having a wife who is in the spotlight, who travels around the world?”

“I’m guessing by your scowl the answer is no.”

“Correct. It gives me pain here—” he put a hand on his stomach “—and causes nightmares for my security team. Because they know what will happen to them if something should happen to her .”

“Yet you do it anyway.”

“Yes, because this is the only way she will be happy. And I want to keep her happy.”