Page 87 of Sins of the Orchid

Lorenzo hadn’t been successful in getting a name. Neither was Luigi. The latter owed me a long list of favors, so I decided to collect. Fuck, I’d consider them all gone if he could only get me that one name. One man to kill.

“Are you sure she saw his face?” Gabriel asked me.

Both of us were seated in my office at The Orchid. It was usually where we met. The smoke hung thick in the air and irritation practically steamed off both of us.

We had been hunting for the fucker that did a drive-by and attacked Amore. Unsuccessfully. It was as if he’d disappeared into thin air. I’d found the Venezuelans that were in on the drive-by, but the main fucker was still breathing and walking.

It. Just. Won’t. Fucking. Do.

The urge to roam the streets, killing every member of the cartel drove the restlessness that ghosted under my skin. It did nothing for either one of our tempers.

“Yes,” I gritted out. The need to protect Amore was like breathing. I needed her more than oxygen.

Gabriel questioned me several times, doubting Amore knew what she saw. The whole attack was a blur, not even the other Bennettis saw the man. But there was no hesitation when Amore answered. She knew exactly who it was.

He had been slipping through our fingers for far too long. He had fooled Gabriel, and Carrera wasn’t too thrilled about it. The man that tipped him off was found dead in the house we raided.

“Can’t you at least find out what his fucking name is, so we are not chasing a ghost?” It was a joke that we couldn’t even get that much.

“And what the fuck do you think I’ve been doing? Twiddling my thumbs?” Gabriel spat back. He was just as annoyed as I was.

“Try fucking harder.” I clenched my teeth. “Amore’s life is at risk. Not yours.”

Gabriel’s fingers clenched into fists and his lips pressed into a grim line. He was a good ally, a reliable supplier, and a reluctant friend.

“Santino, she’s safe in Italy,” he finally said. “It is the best place for her until we resolve this situation. No cartel, including my own, will ever dare step foot in that country.”

Except that I wanted her here, with me.

But he was right. She was safe there. The motherland was too high of a risk for the cartel. The mafia in Italy was deeply ingrained into every aspect of civil, political, and commercial life. The members of the cartel often got killed before they even left the airport. The mafia didn’t want to offer any window of opportunity to them to expand on their territory. Kind of like the Cosa Nostra here in the States.

Glimpsing at my clock, I noted the time. Savio was meeting me in my office.

I got up and turned to leave, buttoning my jack.

“I have to go. Let me know if you find anything.”

* * *

Ice clinked in Savio’s glass. The atmosphere was tense; the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. It didn’t bother me in the slightest.

Sitting behind my desk, I watched him closely.

“What is this about, Russo?”

I refused to tell him over the phone what the meeting was about. Face-to-face meetings were best conducted for this kind of conversation.

“I hear you have a marriage contract for Amore.” My jaw ticked. Saying those words out loud were enough to turn my blood to ice and freeze my heart.

Surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly got himself together. “So?”

“Void that contract.” My gaze found Savio’s. There was disbelief in his eyes, then he let out a sardonic breath.

“What?” Savio asked, playing dumb with me.

I thought I was rather clear. “I want her. Name your terms and I’ll have the marriage contract drafted up within twenty-four hours.”

He tossed the rest of the liquor down his throat and brought down the glass onto the table somewhat forcefully. I watched him closely for any telltale signs.