“Gio has to be behind it,” I told them, then recapped our earlier conversation.
Phoenix was sitting on the couch, his back resting in a corner, his ankle crossed over his knee. He put out his cigarette and adjusted his cuff. It was Saturday, and we were at my place, but we were all still in suits. “Sounds like he’s finally seeing the writing on the wall, and he’s getting nervous,” he commented.
Ciro was leaning up against the bar, a scowl on his face. “I don’t know,” he replied. “I agree he’s getting nervous, but why is he showing his hand? That’s not like him.”
“He’s trying to trip me up,” I answered. “He wants me nervous. He thinks revealing what he knows will rattle me somehow.”
Phoenix scoffed. “He must not know you very well.”
“What do Sal and Leo have to say about it?”
I looked over at Ciro. “They don’t know,” I told him. “They know Gio’s getting nervous, and they’ve pledged their allegiance to me, but they don’t know details.”
“So, Sal doesn’t know she’s the same woman who saw you guys kill a man?” Ciro asked.
I shook my head. “No. Only you guys know that.”
“It doesn’t matter if Sal knows or not,” Phoenix interjected. “Sal’s not going to go up against you.”
“So, do you think Gio sent someone to test her or scare her away?” Ciro asked, pouring a scotch.
“I think both,” I told him. The more I thought about it, the more I was confident he had sent the man to see what Remy was made of, but also to see if he could get any information out of her. Gio was getting desperate and it was showing.
Phoenix dropped his leg, leaned forward, and let out a sigh. “I know you want to wait until the end of the week to marry her, Luca, but…I think you need to marry the woman tonight.”
“I agree,” Ciro added. “You need to call in Sal and Leo, let them know, and then call a priest.” Ciro drank down some of his scotch. “I don’t like Gio thinking he can…interfere.”
They were right.
There was something in the air and I wasn’t comfortable with it any more than they were. Gio was up to something, but it was more than that. Something was amiss and I couldn’t put my finger on it. I didn’t like the uncertainty and I knew I was going to have to convince Remy to marry me sooner, rather than later.
“Do me a favor,” I said. “Go downstairs and check on the girls while I call Sal and Leo.” They both nodded and walked out. I sent messages to both my brothers and waited for their arrivals. I knew they’d back me but talking about taking over and doing it were two different things.
And hour later, Ciro texted me to let me know that Remy’s palms had been scanned, and they had given her a tour of both apartments. She was made aware of the connecting passages and it still kind of took my breath away with how much I was trusting this woman with. I knew it was too much, too fast, but it didn’t feel that way. The more Remy became permanent, the more settled I felt.
After Ciro’s text, I got a text from Sensio letting me know that Sal and Leo were on their way up. Sal and Leo had access to Kratos, however, Phoenix and Ciro’s floor were off limits to them unless they had permission. The only people with access to that floor besides us were their guards: Piero, Armando, Alessandro, and Umberto. Piero was Ciro’s guard. Armando was Phoenix’s guard. Alessandro was Francesca’s guard. And Umberto was Robbie’s guard.
I went to let Sal and Leo in, and nothing was said as I led them back to my office. Once inside, Sal opened the conversation. “What’s up?” He made himself comfortable on the couch, while Leo stood in the center of the room. I leaned back against my desk.
“Gio’s up to something,” I told them.
“Gio’s always up to something,” Sal remarked at the same time Leo said, “I know.”
I looked over at my youngest brother. “You know?”
Leo nodded. “I mentioned a couple of big withdrawals, and he told me they were none of my business.”
My brows shot up. “Since when?”
“Exactly,” Leo agreed. “I always account down to the penny. This is the first time he has ever told me something financial was none of my business.”
Sal leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “Did you push?”
“Of course, I did,” Leo snapped out. “I’m not stupid.”
Sal stood up and put his palms out. “Calm down, Leo,” he chuckled. “I was just asking.”
“What did he say,” I asked, bringing us back to the topic at hand.
“He told me he was throwing a party for his sons,” Leo grimaced.
“And you’re only telling us this now?” Sal barked.
“I wanted to find out more before I said anything,” he barked back. “I thought he was just being facetious at first, but I noticed he’s been more…distant lately. He’s acting weird.”
“He’s finding out shit about me as it happens,” I shared. “And he’s letting me know he knows.”
“So, you have a snitch,” Sal said, stating the obvious. “Good thing it could only be a handful of people.”
Leo snorted. “No, it can’t,” he argued. “Gio has someone following Luca. That’s the only explanation.”
Sal shrugged a shoulder. “What do we really know about Ciro’s new wife, though?”
“Say another word about Roberta Mancini and I will fucking end you, Sal. Brother or not,” I threatened. Sal’s chin went up, but he didn’t say anything. He knew better. They both knew better. It didn’t matter that Robbie was new to our fold. No one could talk about my family and get away with it.
“Look,” Leo chimed in, trying to defuse the
