Chapter 9
Until that moment, Rocco had assumed Grant was the architect.
Grant knew the businesses.
Grant controlled the employees.
Grant had threatened witnesses.
Grant attacked Michael.
Bianca seemed like the person benefiting from her brother’s scheme.
Andrew’s statement disturbed that picture.
Rocco reviewed the footage again.
On every night meeting, Grant arrived first.
But Bianca stayed later.
Sometimes much later.
Michael found another detail.
Three of the business owners who secretly paid for Bellandi protection had first met Bianca at charity events.
Not Grant.
She had made the introductions.
Rocco remembered dinners over the previous year.
Bianca casually mentioning restaurant owners.
Developers.
Club members.
People who “might be useful.”
He had assumed she was trying to participate in his world.
Maybe she had been building her own.
That evening Grant requested a meeting.
Rocco agreed.
They sat across from each other in the empty tennis-club dining room.
Grant looked exhausted.
“You want your money?”
“This isn’t about money anymore.”
Grant laughed bitterly.
“It’s always about money.”
“Why was Mia punished?”
Grant looked away.
“She wandered somewhere she shouldn’t.”
“She’s three.”
“She heard things.”
“What things?”
Grant remained silent.
Rocco leaned forward.
“Bianca told her to stand downstairs for nine hours because she heard something?”
“I told Bianca to take her home.”
Rocco studied him.
That was the first time Grant had separated himself from the punishment.
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t she?”
Grant’s mouth tightened.
“Because Bianca doesn’t like being challenged.”
Rocco watched him carefully.
“And you do?”
Grant gave a humorless smile.
“You still think I’m the dangerous one.”
Before Rocco could answer, Grant stood.
May you like
At the doorway he turned.
“You should ask your wife why every person paying us knew her before they knew me.”
