Page 97 of Sins of the Orchid

Hearing the shower water still running, I dialed up Adriano.

“What’s up,fratello?” Adriano answered.

He didn’t call mefratelloas an endearment. It was Adriano’s reminder that I should trust him more than anyone else. He wanted back into the hustle of the Cosa Nostra business. Much like me, and every other Russo, he lived for it. After all, we were the sons of our father. Just like his father, and his father’s father, we were all hustlers, ruthless cheaters, and selfish bastards. It was what caused the first feud between the Bennettis and Russos.

Margaret Regalè.

Both my father and Savio wanted Margaret Regalè for her connections to the Venezuelan Cartel. Like I said, selfish bastards. And both were willing to seduce her for it.

Why?

It was simple. For power and connections. Regina’s husband, Amore’s grandfather, was running the Perèz Cartel. From what Pà told me, she walked into their restaurant by mistake, and they both saw the opportunity. It didn’t take long for her mother to fall in love with Savio. And then she disappeared, married George Anderson, and left for Europe. Now we knew it was because she found herself pregnant. It wasn’t long after her wedding that Margaret’s father was gunned down and murdered.

“I need you to run something down for me,” I told him. “For ourbusiness.Nobody can know about it.”

I needed to know what Amore did in South America. Her heritage had connections to the Perèz Cartel, but her father and grandmother were adamant about keeping her out of it. The question was how much did Amore know?

“About fucking time,” he replied.

“Amore Bennetti went to South America last week,” I told him and heard his sharp inhale over the line. So he didn’t know either. She was his best friend. It was natural he’d worry about her. Yet, something inside me twisted and irrational jealousy slithered through my veins. I ignored it. “I want to know where she went, who she was with, and what she did. This is just between the two of us.”

“Leave it to me,” he promised, and our call ended. He knew the deal. Our loyalties were to the famiglia first and foremost. Though, I knew giving up Amore wouldn’t be an option. No matter what the fuck she was doing.

When Regina’s husband died, the family's connection to the Perèz Cartel died. There should have been no reason for the cartel to go after them. Unless they took her visit to Colombia as a way to get back into the business. From all the information I had received, neither mother nor daughter had an interest in that life or hustle. Unlike Regina.

The question was what was Amore doing?

CHAPTER31

Amore

“Where are we sightseeing?” I asked him with a smile. Now that I thought about it, I should have worn shorts, but I was too focused on looking good for Santi versus practical. Though I questioned myself now as I eyed my short dress and debated whether I should go back in to change.

I wore a sleeveless sky-blue dress that came down to my knees. Santi liked it; I could tell by the look in his eyes. Our little vacation had started off amazing, and I felt like I glowed like a hundred-watt bulb.

He was tense when I came out of the bathroom. When I questioned him, he said it was business back home, but something was amiss. Though he got himself together quickly and here we were.

“You’ll see.” He handed me a helmet, and I eyed it suspiciously.

“Is this a girl’s helmet?”

“Yes.”

I narrowed my eyes, jealousy suddenly very real in the pit of my stomach. “Have you taken other girls on your motorcycle?”

He laughed. “It’s new, Amore. Just for you.” He shook his head as if entertained. “Put it on your head. We are going for a ride.”

He stood next to a motorcycle. I knew he could ride a motorcycle and often went for rides with his own sport bike back home. Although, I had never had the pleasure of seeing him ride it. He usually preferred his fast, expensive cars.

“You’re not scared, are you?”

I raised my chin up. “Of course not. I just know that Italians drive like crazy, and I don’t want to get into an accident.”

“You trust me. Yeah?” It was an innocent question that he seemed to keep asking. Yet, it hit me hard every time because I trusted Santi. Explicitly. Deep down I trusted him and would do anything he told me. It probably showed how stupidly naive I was.

Or maybe not. Because I hadn’t told him about my little side operation I had going with DeAngelo. I wanted to avenge my mother. I made a promise, and I intended to keep it.

“Yes, I trust you,” I finally said. He tilted his head, and a strange expression passed his face. It almost felt like he could read my mind and was wondering why I was not telling him about my expeditions to South America.