Chapter 12
Domenico did not chase Bruno blindly.
Adrian wanted that.
He could see it in the man’s smile.
“You're not leaving?”
Adrian’s tone mocked him.
“I thought family secrets racing down a highway might motivate you.”
Domenico looked at Matteo.
“Who does Bruno trust?”
Matteo answered immediately.
“His brother.”
“Where?”
“North End restaurant.”
Domenico nodded.
“Send two men.”
Adrian’s smile faded.
Not because the move was brilliant.
Because it was calm.
Genevieve noticed.
She looked at Adrian.
“He expected you to explode.”
Domenico heard it.
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
Domenico turned toward him.
“Still waiting?”
Adrian said nothing.
Twenty minutes later Bruno’s brother called Matteo.
Bruno had not gone north.
He had called asking for cash.
Then changed direction toward an abandoned Ravelli social club near the river.
Domenico knew the place.
So did Genevieve.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Vale.”
Adrian looked away.
That was enough.
Lucian Vale had used the old social club years earlier for quiet meetings.
Domenico went with six men.
Genevieve demanded to come.
“No.”
Her face hardened.
“You want Vale and Adrian?”
“Yes.”
“I know how Vale thinks.”
Domenico looked at her.
“You knew how your son thought too.”
The insult landed.
Genevieve’s mouth tightened.
She stayed.
Adrian remained at the estate under guard.
Still smiling.
Still taunting.
As Domenico reached the door, Adrian called after him:
“Try not to leave Lily alone.”
Domenico stopped.
Adrian’s smile widened.
“Apparently that's when everyone gets access.”
Matteo took one step toward him.
Domenico raised a hand.
No.
He looked at Adrian.
“You're using my daughter because you're out of weapons.”
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
Domenico continued.
“That means you're almost done.”
Then he left.
The old social club sat dark beside the river.
No gunfire.
No ambush.
Only Lucian Vale at a card table with Bruno behind him.
The receiver sat between them.
Lucian smiled when Domenico entered.
“Your house has become noisy.”
Domenico remained standing.
“Give me the receiver.”
Lucian laughed.
“Young bosses.”
He tapped the table.
“Always skipping the price.”
Domenico’s eyes moved toward Bruno.
The bodyguard could not meet them.
Lucian noticed.
“Don't blame him.”
“He was tired of protecting rooms he was never allowed to enter.”
Bruno’s jaw tightened.
That was apparently the story he had told himself.
Domenico looked at him.
“You guarded Lily.”
Bruno flinched.
Lucian rolled his eyes.
“Oh, here we go.”
His voice became contemptuous.
“The sacred child.”
Domenico’s gaze turned.
Lucian smiled.
“You people act like the sun rises because she opens her eyes.”
Domenico said nothing.
Lucian continued.
“Adrian was right about one thing.”
“Fatherhood made you sentimental.”
“Sentiment makes men expensive to themselves.”
Domenico looked at the receiver.
“What did Adrian promise you?”
Lucian’s smile remained.
“East Harbor.”
“He lied.”
Lucian’s eyes sharpened.
“He promised you North Shore first.”
A small pause.
Then Lucian smiled again.
“Interesting.”
Domenico understood.
Adrian had promised different territories to different people.
Lucian leaned back.
“You have proof?”
Domenico took out the memory card.
Placed it on the table.
Lucian’s smile weakened.
“What's that?”
“Your voice.”
Silence.
“His too.”
Lucian’s eyes changed.
Domenico continued.
“He planned to give you nothing.”
Lucian looked toward Bruno.
Then back.
For the first time, the rival boss was not amused.
Domenico played the clip.
Adrian promising Lucian North Shore.
Then privately saying Lucian would get nothing.
Lucian listened without blinking.
When it ended, he looked at the receiver.
Then at Domenico.
“Your cousin is ambitious.”
“Stupidly.”
Lucian laughed.
“Not stupid.”
He pushed the receiver across the table.
“Just greedy.”
Domenico picked it up.
Bruno stared.
Lucian had abandoned him in one movement.
Bruno’s face changed.
“Mr. Vale—”
Lucian looked at him.
“You stole from your boss because another man promised you a chair closer to the table.”
A small smile.
“That's not loyalty I can use.”
Bruno realized.
Too late.
Domenico looked at him.
“You're coming back.”
Bruno swallowed.
Lucian stood.
Before leaving, he stopped beside Domenico.
“Adrian sold me one other thing.”
Domenico turned.
Lucian’s eyes narrowed.
“He said one of your own men would open the council doors when the house split.”
“Who?”
Lucian smiled.
“That was the only name he never gave me.”
Then he walked out.
May you like
One traitor had been found.
Another still sat somewhere close enough to open Domenico’s most protected room.
