I do need to meet with him.
To find out why Sierra is in the dark about his mafia connections, but I have had more pressing matters to deal with, and I also didn’t want to meet him until I had dug up everything I can on him. Phillip is working on his file, but right now, everything we are finding is surface level, and that has me on edge.
Why would Lawson keep this knowledge from Sierra? Clearly Serena and Saskia are in the know, so why not his youngest? Does he hate her so much he doesn’t want her to know anything about his business affairs, or is there more to it? And why hasn’t Serena said anything to Sierra? They are close. Serena and Georgia are the only family members who check in with Sierra every few days, so I don’t understand how her mom and her sister have kept this from her.
Something is pricking my subconscious, and I’m trying to figure out what before I tell my fiancée the truth about her family’s mob connections.
“I know,” I agree when Sierra stares at me expectantly, waiting for an answer. “This has come out of the blue.” I have my arm around her while I keep watch out the window as the familiar landscape passes by.
“Why would anyone murder a business consultant in broad daylight?” she murmurs, pursing her lips. I can almost see the wheels of suspicion churning in her mind. The more her mind is opened to the ways of my world, the more skeptical she becomes. It’s a good thing though, even if I hate that she is now questioning everything.
Leo catches my eye through the mirror, and I feel the weight of his disapproval.
He has let go of his initial reservations about Sierra. Being around her, seeing how she is with Rowan, and how she handled herself when she was attacked earned his trust and his respect. He also notices how much happier I am with her and my son in my life, and I know he’s thrilled for me.
Leo doesn’t understand why I won’t just tell Sierra about her family, and explain who Felix really was. I hadn’t wanted to give her half-truths, and I was waiting until I was privy to all the facts, but Barretta’s death changes things. I can’t drag this out any longer. She deserves to know, and I’m hoping to find an opportunity to corner Lawson today and get the truth out of him once and for all. Phillip can keep digging, and I can always go at Lawson again if my intel uncovers anything of importance.
“You need to tell her,” Leo says in a hushed voice, as we hang back outside the church while Sierra talks to her family. I want to check out the grounds and the attendees and scan the area for threats before we go inside for the ceremony.
Alessandro is with my fiancée, standing back to give her privacy but still close enough to protect her. I ripped him a new one for Anais, and he knows he’s on shaky ground with me now. I made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that he needs to get his act together and deal with whatever is distracting him from fulfilling his duties to the best of his ability.
“I know, and I plan to after we get home.” I can’t tell Sierra right now because she is liable to flip. I didn’t have much time for Barretta, and I’m not overly religious, but I do believe a funeral is a time for respect.
“Why would the Russians take out the consigliere heir and not the consigliere? Hell, why didn’t they go after Gifoli?” Leo poses questions I have already asked myself.
“Thomas Barretta and Alfredo Gifoli are better protected and harder to get at. If the Russians wanted to send a message, they have achieved their goal.”
“Let’s hope The Outfit gets the message then,” he adds, pushing off the car as Sierra looks over her shoulder, seeking me out.
“If this doesn’t convince them, nothing will,” I say.
My men form a solid line behind us as I join my fiancée and her family.
“Oh, Ben!” Saskia sobs, throwing herself at me. “I’m so glad you are here.” Crocodile tears stream down her face, and her lower lip wobbles. She is putting on one hell of a performance, but it’s not hard to tell it’s completely insincere.
Sierra pulls me back just as I move to sidestep her sister. “I know you’re upset, Saskia, but Ben is my fiancé. He’s not yours to touch anymore. I’m very sorry for your loss, but you can’t fling yourself at him like that.”
Round one to my feisty Firefly. I slide my arm around her shoulders, tucking her into my side while I smother my amused grin.
Saskia scowls, and it’s remarkable how fast her tears have dried and her lips have stopped trembling. “Don’t be such a bitch! My husband is dead! And you’re not married to Ben yet.”
“Our wedding day can’t get here soon enough as far as I’m concerned,” I say because she seems to have trouble absorbing the truth.
“Saskia.” Joseph Lawson’s voice rings out loud and clear, the warning obvious.
“Sweetheart.” Georgia circles her arm around Saskia. “We should take our seats. The ceremony is about to begin.”
Saskia nods, sobbing as she resumes the mourning widow mask, allowing her mother to guide her inside.
“Bennett. Good of you to come,” Lawson says, looking behind me. “Is there anyone else from New York here with you?”
You have got to be kidding me. Did he really expect the other New York bosses to attend when there are Russians running rings around The Outfit right now? If Thomas Barretta, the current consigliere, had been murdered, rules would have dictated they attend, but we are talking about his successor, and it doesn’t warrant more than representation.
“It’s just me. I trust that is sufficient.” I’m careful not to say too much until I have fully explained things to Sierra. As it is, she is watching our interaction with a curious frown.
His lips pull into a tight line. He does not like that. Who the fuck does he think he is?
“We should go in,” he says, puffing out his chest. “After you.”
The funeral is the usual solemn affair, and we go through the motions.
Saskia puts on an Oscar-worthy performance at the graveside, sobbing and crying as she clings to Thomas Barretta. From the carefully controlled expression on his face, I’m guessing he’s buying it about as much as we are.
“She makes me sick,” Sierra whispers. “She didn’t stop looking at you throughout the entire ceremony, and now she expects us to believe this farce? She never seemed to care much about Felix.” She snuggles in closer to me as the priest brings things to a close. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she hired a hitman to get rid of him so she could make a play for you.”
“Saskia is a lot of things, but even I don’t think she would take it that far.” I hold Sierra’s hand out, running my thumb over the ring I put on her finger. “This speaks volumes.”
“To most people, yes. But Saskia is not most people.”
“She’s coming over here,” I murmur.
“Grant me patience.” Sierra sighs, turning to face Saskia and Thomas.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I tell Barretta, shaking his hand. Up close, I can see the man is severely grieving.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Yes, thank you for coming,” Saskia says, ignoring the fact Sierra is nestled into my left side as she pushes herself up against me, sobbing into my neck.