Page 93 of When She Unravels
DAMIANO
I tellRas I’ve decided not to trade Valentina back to her father when we sit down for lunch on the terrace the next morning.
When I finish my explanation, he places his cutlery down and crosses his arms over his chest. “This isn’t going to work.”
“Why?” I ask. It makes perfect sense to me.
“Because she doesn’t know anything. The line about the sister was just a ploy to buy herself more time.”
“It wasn’t.”
He rolls his eyes. “Mio Dio, you’ve lost your head over her. When will you admit it?”
“Admit what, exactly?”
“That you’re in love with her.”
My mouth goes dry, and something sparks inside my chest. “That’s absurd.”
“When she was still working at Revolvr, you started spending a lot more time there. All so that you could be around her.”
“I had work to do.”
“You were either talking to her or daydreaming about her in your office.”
“How would you know what I daydream about?” I retort, not wanting to pause and reflect on the truth in his words.
Ras shakes his head. “I thought you’d move on after we realized who she was, but you’ve just dug in deeper and deeper. And now this. You want to bring her into our plan. A plan that requires me, Napoletano, and many other men to put their lives on the line. You know I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth, but you’re not going to win a lot of respect from the other capos if they see your strategy for taking over as don has your dick as a compass.”
His words light the fuse of my anger, but I take a breath and put it out before it explodes. “I did realize who she was. The woman whosaved my sister. That makes her someone worthy of respect, mine and yours.”
He chuckles. “Oh, I respect her. Very much. She’s done the impossible. She’s brought you to your knees.”
My hand tightens around the fork. “Then maybe it’s respect for me that you’re missing.”
“You know that’s bullshit.” He heaves a sigh. “Goddamn it, Dem. You know I want you to be don. And not just because you’re a brother to me, but because unlike Sal, you’re a real leader.”
“Then have a little faith. She wasn’t lying. She knows something.” A flicker on the security monitor pulls my attention to it. “The guards just let in a car. Are you expecting someone?”
Ras’s brows pull together. “No. Is it Mari?”
I zoom in on the car as apprehension coils inside my gut. “She’s in the Mercedes with her driver. She shouldn’t be back from her shopping trip for another few hours. This is a white BMW. Why would the guards let someone through without checking with you?”
He walks around to look at the screen just in time for the car to park in front of the house. The door opens.
Ras swears. “It’s the Pirozzis. Nelo and Vito.”
“What the fuck.”
“They have to be here on Sal’s orders. It’s the only reason the guard would let them pass.” Ras’s phone rings, and he picks it up. “Speak.”
Not two seconds later, Ras hangs up. “The guard just confirmed it.”
“Tell Martina’s driver not to come back until we tell him it’s clear,” I say as I grab my gun from the desk drawer and check to make sure it’s loaded. “I’m going to go greet them. Stay here unless you think I need backup.”
As I walk to the front door, the bell rings. It’s a good sign they used it instead of barging in. I tuck the gun in the front of my slacks and button up my jacket. I don’t know what they’re here for, but I’d prefer not to start a war today. We’re not ready for it yet. I need to buy us time, which means appeasing whatever this is.
They’re standing on the other side of the door wearing two shit-eating grins.
