I caught glimpses of rooms as we walked: an industrial kitchen with all stainless-steel appliances and prep stations, another sitting room with a large TV in the center, a home gym, a library. We moved past all of them, and I realized that Don Leone’s house must extend through a few of the houses on the block, because we were moving much deeper than a single house could possibly go. The wood floor was polished bright, and the lighting fixtures didn’t have a speck of dust on them. There were more oil paintings on the walls of landscape scenes, and I noticed more than a few included horses of some kind, mostly big black stallions. I could smell fresh floor wax and wood spice drifting up with each step, and I ran my fingers along the wood paneling along the lower half of the wall, finding it smooth and even.
Roberto reached a large ornate wooden door at the end of the hall and knocked once. There was a muffled response, and Roberto pushed the door open. Dante and Biagio went in first, Steven next, and I went in last. Roberto shut the door behind us, and I took a sharp breath as I looked around.
We were in a large study of some kind. There were bookshelves lining the walls, and the ceiling was high, as high as the entire block. I stared up at the lights dangling so far away, and wondered who would knock out entire floors to make a room like that.
But it was beautiful. The carpet was a rich, forest green and soft under my shoes. There was a card table to the right with burgundy velvet on the top and rich wood carvings all around it. The room smelled like old books and rich alcohol, and I had to admit, I really loved it. I took a deep breath and smiled to myself as I let my eyes rest on the desk sitting in the center of the space toward the front, with Don Leone sitting behind it.
There were small horse statues placed all around his desk, and lion heads were carved into either corner. He leaned back in a huge, black chair and smiled at us, still wearing a button-down white shirt with a sweater vest over top it. He gestured at Vlas then pointed to a couch beneath a window on the left.
“Put him there, Dante,” Don Leone said.
Dante and Biagio carried the groaning and mostly unconscious Vlas over to the couch. They dumped him on it and Dante let out a sigh, stretching his back, while Biagio shook out his hands.
“I come bearing gifts,” Dante said.
Don Leone laughed. “I see that.” He craned his neck and frowned. “He’s not dead, is he?”
“No, Don,” Dante said and approached the desk. He bowed his head. “I did as you instructed me.”
“Good boy, Dante.” The Don beamed. “Maksim will be angry, of course, but so long as we don’t let the boy die, things will be fine.” He tilted his head slightly. “Might I ask how you managed this one?”
“I had my boys scour the city and we got a tip,” Dante said.
“Mysterious. Well, I won’t push.” The Don’s eyes swept the room and he smiled at Biagio and Steven then looked at me. “I’m happy you came along, Aida, darling.”
“I wouldn’t miss a visit with you, Don Leone.” I stepped up to the desk and bowed my head in respect.
“Ah, she’s learning,” Don Leone said. “Tell me, Dante, is the rumor true? Did our little sweet Aida here beat down an exotic dancer?”
Dante laughed and looked at me. “Did you?” he asked.
“No, Don Leone,” I said. “I only slapped her for getting out of line. I thought it was the best way to make a point to the other girls.”
“Good for you,” Don Leone said, smiling huge. “You have to keep her close, Dante.”
“I plan to, sir,” he said. “Did you consider that question I asked you?”
“I have,” Don Leone said. “And you don’t need my permission, but you have it, if you want it.”
“Thank you, Don.” Dante inclined his head again.
“Now, one small piece of business. Eastwick and Gray’s Ferry.”
“Both ours now,” Dante said. “Any business that wouldn’t flip to our side will be burned to the ground. But most were smart enough to see which way the wind was blowing.”
“Good. I must say, Dante, you’ve exceeded my expectations yet again. Despite our little setback, I think this will be one of our most profitable ventures yet.”
“I hope so, sir,” Dante said.
“As a reward, I’m going to give you a cut of the ransom I get for Vlas there,” Don Leone said.
“Thank you, sir. But if you could, please split it among my soldiers, sir. They deserve it more than I do.”
Don Leone laughed. “You’re a good Capo, Dante. But no, you do the splitting, you deserve the credit.”
Dante inclined his head. “Thank you, Don Leone.”
“Now, I have a meeting with the Jalisco tomorrow. We’re going to hammer down the details of the deal you started with them. Once the shipments begin arriving, I expect your people to start moving our product as soon as possible. Will you be ready?”
“More than ready, sir,” Dante said. “We’re very eager to get started.”
“Good. You’re going to need new muscle, so I recommend recruiting from your new territories.”
Dante looked surprised. “You’re giving all that new territory to me? I thought you might… name a new Capo.”
“I considered it,” Don Leone said. “If I were to raise someone up, do you know who it would be?”
Dante looked at Steven. “I would put forward any of my men, but Steven deserves it,” he said.
Steven bowed his head. “I would be honored, Don Leone,” he said.
Don Leone smiled. “What a good Capo,” he said. “Very well then. Steven, I’m going to raise you to the rank of Capo, and we’ll build you a crew of soldiers. Your territory will be all of Gray’s Ferry. Dante, you will control
