Page 56 of Broken Promises
“No, I don’t know where you hid her,” he supplies before I can ask. “But I guess there’s a reason why you drag this dimwit with you everywhere.” He points at Julij and rises to his feet, urging me to follow. He gestures at his people to stay put before he takes me to his office at the back of the club. “Sit down, Dante. Julij’s as clueless as his father was. If not for Frank, Nikolaj wouldn’t have a thing. All he was good at was piggyback riding. If you don’t stop focusing on one thing at a time, you’ll share Frank’s fate. Julij will take advantage of your inattention. He’ll take your partners, your product, and your position.” He takes a long puff of the cigar, leaning over the small coffee table between us. “Open your eyes, Dante. You’re smart, you’ve been a part of this life for years, but ever since you met Layla, you make one mistake after another like a novice.”
“How do you know so much about me?”
“Who did I work with all those years? Frankie was consumed with envy. He despised who you became because you becamebetterthan he could ever hope. You surpassed all expectations. Everything you touch turns to gold.”
That’s plausible. Frank’s hatred started before we killed Dino. I didn’t notice it then, but I connected the dots years later. Dino died because he trusted me more than he trusted Frankie, who was his second in command. Frank felt threatened. His position in the ranks hung by a thread. Degradation wasn’t an option, and that’s how the plan of taking over Chicago came to life.
Frankie and I were close back then. He had me wrapped around his finger the same way he had Layla not so long ago. At one point in our lives, we were both manipulated and taught to believe him andinhim. To follow him blindly. It was his greatest gift: turning people around him into his puppets.
I needed several weeks of separation to emerge out of the haze. I saw through Frank’s bullshit once Dino died, and I was locked in my house with nothing but my thoughts keeping me entertained for weeks.
It’s a goddamn miracle Layla saw him for who he was when she did.
“Frank’s been obsessed with you for six years, plotting elaborate revenge. His business was in decline, and partners started to turn away, but he didn’t care. He wanted you. He wanted to leave you with nothing, not even a will to survive, and for that, he was willing to sacrifice his daughter.”
“Are you suggesting that I’m following in his footsteps?”
“You’re a racehorse in the fog. You’re wandering a maze, feeling the walls instead of opening your eyes.” He reaches for a bottle of cognac to refill our glasses. “Let me guess. You want to find Morte and force him to retract the hit. You’ll wait for a few weeks, maybe months, kill those who don’t get the message, and then bring Layla home to live a happily ever after. Am I close?”
I don’t answer. I met the guy half an hour ago, and I have no intention of sharing my plan. “Nobody knows where Morte is. My people have been looking for him for a month now. If I can’t find him, what makes you think anyone else will? Ordering a hit only conveys the message that I’m out of options and desperate. It’ll prompt more killers to act, hoping to force a mistake on me so they can get toher.”
A sad, pitiful smile crosses his lips. “Stop thinking about Layla for a moment. Stop worrying. I’m more than certain Anatolij will sooner kill half his people than let someone hurt her. He’s a damn honorable guy.”
I swallow hard, my hands damp. I really do make mistakes worthy of an amateur if Mauricio figured out where she is within half an hour. Julij shouldn’t be here. He doesn’t mean much in this world yet. There’s no reason for his presence. I let him tag along because he helped transport Layla to Moscow. Because he’s as determined to ensure her safety as I am.
“Relax. I don’t start with the Russians. I have no intention of chasing Layla. Frank hit an all-time low when he ordered the hit. It’s something I can’t tolerate and would never participate in. I’m just trying to help you see that because of how you look at the case, you miss obvious things.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“Let’s say I’m getting sentimental in my old age. My grandson was born recently; my wife acts twenty years younger... I heard about the bounty on Layla, and I tried walking in your shoes. You’re a clever guy and a great businessman. I regret that our paths didn’t cross years ago. Things would look different now.”
The short conversation is enough for Mauricio to make it onto the short list of people I respect for the kind of humans they are. If we met all those years ago, working with him would’ve been a breeze, but this is neither the time nor place to start a new business venture.
First things first.
“Thank you.” I rise from the armchair and hold my hand for him to shake. This time, he doesn’t squeeze hard—a nonverbal admission that I stand above him in this world.
“Get rid of Julij. Order the hit on Morte and find something to blackmail him with, just in case. And open your eyes,” he says again, then embraces me like the authentic Italian he is before we leave his office.
Spades and Julij rise on cue. We pick up our guns before exiting the club, getting into a limousine parked outside. I pull out my phone to check who tried to reach me earlier. Instead of a missed call, there’s an unread message from Layla.
I smile under my breath, looking at my star wearing a gold dress straight from the twenties. Feathers are pinned in her hair, and she wears a disarming smile that touches her gray eyes. A short question waits under the photo.
How do I look?
Like everything I need.
I dial the number to hear her voice. Mauricio’s right, my ever-growing obsession destroys my ability to notice the big picture. I have to draw a line between us for a while to focus on what matters most right now. I don’t think I can do that if we stay in touch.
“You look gorgeous,” I say when she answers.
“I like it too. Twenties fashion suits me. I look pretty with feathers in my hair.”
“You look pretty with a smile, baby. What time does the party start?”
“Late afternoon. It’s only nine a.m. here. I wanted to show you the dress before you fall asleep.”
“I’m glad you did. Dance until dawn and get used to it. You’ll be on the dance floor all night long at our wedding.”
