Page 80 of The Mafia King's Acquisition
I let out a sigh, “This entire conversation is irrelevant. How about you all mind your damn business?”
“On the contrary, your association with the prosecutor is our business,” Salvatore retorts. “What’s going on with you, Matt?You’re supposed to have your head in the game. And yet it turns out you’re making moves behind our backs. You had something to do with Morozov’s death, didn’t you?”
The anger in his voice makes it clear he already knows the answer to that. And he’s right. I did fuck up with the entire Morozov fiasco. I should have told them.
“That wasn’t planned,” I say. “The bastard kidnapped her and tried to kill her. I intervened.”
“You impulsively murdered three men in the Bratva when we already had a carefully laid plan. Do you realize what happens if this shit comes to light? Everything gets blown up.”
My mood darkens even more. “I’m aware of the risks, but I took precautions. They won’t be able to trace it back to me.”
Salvatore is silent for a moment. “Stai facendo l’idiota.”
The words are said in Italian, his tone low and vicious. I haven’t punched my brother since we were teenagers. He’s my Don, and I’m obligated to show him respect, but he’d better not push it.
“I’d expect this type of behavior from Raf, not from you,” he continues in English, ignoring the offended grunt from Raffaele. “You’re acting like this because of a woman?”
“Careful, Salvatore. Don’t be a fucking hypocrite,” I say darkly.
“You want to compare Lindsay Beaumont with my wife?” he snaps. “Valentina belongs to this life. Even when she wasn’t a part of it, it has always been her birthright. Lindsay doesn’t. She’s a fucking prosecutor, Matteo. You think she’s going to love you? What the hell do you think is going to come out of this?”
“I say we hand her to the Bratva,” Raffaele says, his voice cutting through the tension and then fortifying it even more. “Let the Russians deal with a prosecutor who won’t stop. One less problem.”
Rage cuts across my vision. It’s not the suggestion that surprises me; Raffaele has always known exactly which nerve to press.
“How about I make you regret saying that?” I say without thinking.
His eyes widen and I hear Elio suck in a sharp breath. Raffaele recovers from his shock with a laugh. He turns to Salvatore, his eyes gleaming.
“Looks like he’s really serious about her, Sal.”
“Shut the fuck up, Raffaele.”
“How about everyone takes a breath?” Elio cuts in. He looks at me calmly. “What do you plan to do with her, Matteo?”
“Nothing,” I grit out, remembering our conversation from yesterday. “We’re not fucking together.”
“Why not?”
“Like Salvatore said, there’s no way in hell Lindsay Beaumont falls in love with me. And I don’t need to fill my head with nonsense. We have an empire to build, boys, we can’t all half-ass it like Salvatore.”
Sal rolls his eyes.
“Whatever this is, it will come to an end eventually. I need some time to get her out of my system, that’s all. Once the Bratva’s taken care of, I’ll put everything back in its place.”
None of my brothers seems to have much faith in that statement. But they must be able to tell that I’m walking on a razor’s edge. I need them not to push me any further. Eventually, Salvatore clears his throat.
“Do you know who went after the mayor?”
“I’m guessing it’s someone in the Bratva.” I shrug. “They’re growing weaker and must have tried to get the mayor on their side. He refused, so they thought to take him out.”
“Or they know about the RICO case, and this was a warning to Lindsay,” Elio points out.
Salvatore’s about to say something else when the door opens.
His wife walks in. She’s moving more slowly than usual; it’s been less than forty-eight hours since the birth and she’s navigating the room with the careful deliberateness of a woman whose body has just done something extraordinary and is not yet willing to admit the cost.
Salvatore is on his feet before she’s fully through the doorway.
