Santino lounged on the sofa but straightened when we entered. His similarities to Enzo were distant, but unmistakable. He walked up to me and shook my hand then Giovanni’s before he moved toward Rocco.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Rocco said with false bravado and pushed to his feet.
Santino shoved him back down into the chair. “You sit unless your Capo tells you otherwise.”
Arturo gave me a curt nod then focused on Rocco once more. Rocco pushed two fingers into his collar and tugged nervously then he looked at me. He didn’t quite meet my eyes. “Would you explain to me what’s going on?”
Giovanni snorted but Rocco’s eyes were on me.
A tight smile pulled at my mouth. “You really don’t know?” I moved toward him, noticing the fine sheen of sweat on his forehead despite the cold in the building.
Rocco’s eyes flitted to Santino who towered behind him then to Arturo who had barely blinked while he watched him. “Dante, this must be a misunderstanding.”
“Is it? So you didn’t tell your men to attack and kill Fabiano and the Falcones?”
Santino raised his dark brows. Arturo let out a small sound that might have been a laugh.
I stopped right in front of Rocco, forcing him to tilt his head back to look at me. “I gave you an order. It was clear and easy to understand. Capture Fabiano and bring him to me. And what did you do? You didn’t try to capture him. You tried to assassinate him.”
“I did what I thought was right,” he said, the hint of panic creeping into his voice. Maybe he was beginning to realize what this meant for him.
“You went against my orders! I told you to capture Fabiano, not start a shooting in Las Vegas.”
“It got out of control.”
“Don’t lie to me,” I growled. “You sent your men out to kill Fabiano because you wanted him dead. For God’s sake, Rocco, you attacked the Camorra. You shot at Remo Falcone and his brothers. That means open war with the Camorra!”
I had trouble controlling my rage but I wouldn’t lose it in front of my men. “I wonder why you were so eager to kill your son if not to prevent me from finding out whatever secret of yours he keeps.”
Rocco blanched. “We’re both good at keeping secrets, don’t you think? I’m not the only one who killed without his Capo’s orders.”
And I lost it. I clutched his throat, pressing my thumb into his Adam’s apple, making him choke. His eyes watered. I lowered my mouth to his ear. “You won’t say another word, or I’ll do with you what the Falcones did to your men. I’ll start with your tongue then move on to your ears. Arturo’s good at extracting eyes without killing the victim and Santino is very good at breaking bones, one after the other so the torture lasts as long as possible. But you know that, Rocco, don’t you? After all, you were my Consigliere.”
Rocco’s face flickered with fear. I released him and straightened, smoothing down my vest. “Take him into one of the rooms. I’ll need to chat with him.”
“Dante,” Rocco said pleadingly. “This is all a misunderstanding. I’ve always been loyal.”
“I think our understanding of loyal is very different, Rocco.”
Arturo pushed to his feet with an eager gleam in his eyes but I held up my hand.
“Let Santino handle this. I intend to keep Rocco alive for a long time until he can serve a better purpose than to become fish food.”
Arturo nodded but the disappointment was clear in his eyes.
Santino jerked Rocco to his feet and dragged him toward the underground cells. He was a tall boy—man, even taller than Enzo, and had no trouble keeping Rocco in check.
Giovanni sighed. “I’ll organize guards to do the shifts on Rocco. We can’t choose just anyone in case Rocco opens his big mouth.”
I gave a curt nod, then removed my jacket and thrust it over the sofa. Rolling up my sleeves, I moved toward the cell Santino had chosen for Rocco. Giovanni was close behind me.
Santino waited in front of the cell. “Do you want me to be present?”
“Wait outside for now. I’ll call you if I need you.”
Santino glanced at Rocco. “It must be strange dealing with someone you’ve known for so long.”
“It makes his betrayal all the worse,” I said only.
PART THREE
Valentina
Anna and Sofia giggled as they rushed out of the bathroom in their blush-colored bridesmaid dresses. Every time I saw them together, I was surprised how similar they looked when one didn’t pay close attention. Anna’s hair was slightly darker than her cousin’s but they had the same eyes. The Cavallaro blue.
Dante, I and the kids had booked the suite right beside Ines and Pietro’s suite in the best hotel in Indianapolis, so the girls could spend time together. The suites were even connected by an adjoining door. Last night they’d watched movies together in bed until midnight, not willing to part from each other until absolutely necessary. I really wished those two lived closer.
I kept an eye on Sofia and Anna while Ines helped her daughter Serafina get ready for her wedding. I couldn’t wait to see her in her dress. She was gorgeous, an angelic appearance and would look magnificent in white.
I peered into the bedroom to see how far Leonas and Dante were. Leaning against the doorframe, I smiled as I watched Dante help Leonas bind his tie. Leonas looked dapper in his grey three-piece suit, wingtip shoes, and carefully styled hair. The similarity was absolutely startling and got more prominent the older Leonas got. At only seven he was already his father’s spitting image. Their personalities, on the other hand, weren’t as similar. Leonas could be temperamental and rash at times, even if he was already good at keeping up a mask in public.
Dante glanced up, noticing me. His eyes took in my dress, a form-fitting dark green mermaid-style piece. I wore the emerald jewelry that Dante had gifted me over the years.
Leonas peered up as well. “Do I really have to wear this suit? The shirt scratches and the vest is too tight.”
Dante touched his shoulder. “We have to convey a certain image in public. Not to mention that this is the biggest social event in a while.”
“Weddings are boring,” Leonas mumbled.
Anna stepped up beside me. “They aren’t. You don’t know what you’re talking about. We get to dance all night!”
Sofia nodded enthusiastically, linking fingers with my daughter.
Leonas made a puking sound.
“Behave today,” Dante said firmly.
Leonas nodded but he gave Anna a murderous look. She grinned.
Dante touched Leonas’ head then came my way with an exasperated expression.
“No fighting in church today, you hear me?” I said sternly, glancing between Leonas and Anna.
“He always starts it,” Anna said.
“Liar.”
“I don’t care who starts it. I’ll end it,” Dante said, sounding stern.
Anna moved toward him and hugged his middle. “I’ll make sure Leonas behaves.”
Dante chuckled. “I’m not blind, Anna. I saw how you kicked your brother under the table during breakfast this morning.”
Anna flushed. Leonas jutted out his chin. “See. Liar, liar, pants on fire.”