“Gentleman, let’s talk.” He helped himself to a glass of Blue Label whisky and swaggered over to us as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “I have to say, Niccolò, if I would've known you were coming, I would have rolled out the red carpet.”
“Stronzo,” Enzo grumbled, lurching forward, but Nicco shot him a warning look.
“We have heard some concerning things, Zander. Things that we want to give you a chance to explain.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He swept a hand through his hair.
“Let’s not play this game.” Nicco loosened his collar. “We know all about Lombardi.”
“Business is business,” Zander shrugged, “and his men came looking to spend good money.”
“I noticed Shaun wasn’t working tonight,” Enzo said. “He’s a good man.”
“He was,” Zander didn’t miss a beat. “One of the best. Such a shame what happened.”
“Something happened?”
“He was in an accident. Tragic really.”
“He died?”
Zander nodded. “It’s been hard for us all.”
“Condolences,” my father said. “It always hurts to lose someone.”
“It does.”
Jesus, this fucking asshole was good.
“But I’m sure you didn’t come here to discuss my employees.”
“I’m going to lay it out straight for you,” Nicco said, sliding his hand into his jacket. He pulled out his gun and laid it on the table pointed at Zander, keeping his finger on the trigger. “What are your plans with Lombardi?”
“Easy, Niccolò. You don’t want to do something you’ll later regret.” DiMarco smirked, lifting his hands up. “We talked, nothing more. Lombardi is looking to branch out into the strip club business. He asked for my advice.”
“That so?” Lucino snorted.
“It’s the truth. I know our agreement is irreversible. Just like I told Lombardi, Providence is Marchetti territory.”
“Seriously? You buy a single word this sleazeball is telling you?” I sneered.
“Matteo,” my father warned.
I ground my teeth together, fighting the urge to leap across the table, grab Zander by the throat, and demand answers about Caitlin and Arabella.
“Where are they, Zander?” my father said.
“They?” His brows pinched. “What are you talking about?”
“Cut the bullshit, figlio di puttana! We know you took them.” My father glared at him with enough venom that it rippled around us like a living, breathing thing. “You’re playing a very dangerous game, DiMarco. I suggest if you don’t want to end up with your brains splattered all over the wall, you pick up your cell phone, call your men, and get them here immediately.”
“Listen, Niccolò, Michele, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I—”
“Basta!” Nicco slammed his hand down, sending the glasses clattering together. “We wanted to give you the chance to fix this, to—”
His cell phone began blaring, his eyes narrowing on whoever’s name was flashing across the screen. “Get him up.” He motioned to our security guys, and they approached the booth, manhandling Zander onto his feet.
“Now, now, Niccolò. I don’t know what you’re—”
“Can it,” my father spat as he stood and brushed down his jacket.
“You can’t do this,” DiMarco kept protesting, thrashing against his man-made restraints. “We have an arrangement. One I’ve never reneged on.”
Nicco picked up his gun and stalked toward him, his eyes cold and deadly.
“N-Niccolò, I swear, man! I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Quicker than a flash, Nicco had his pistol pressed against Zander’s forehead, the safety clicked off. “Let’s get one thing straight, amico, I don’t like liars. And you, Zander DiMarco, are the very worst of them.”
“Fuck…” Sweat began beading along his forehead, fear glittering in his eyes. “Fuck, Nicco, I swear, I don’t know what—”
The blare of Nicco’s cell phone cut through the room again. He dug it out of his pocket and frowned at the name on the screen. “I need to take this,” he said. “Watch him.”
Enzo stepped into our cousin’s place. “Don’t move a fucking muscle, stronzo.”
“And here I thought we were friends.” Zander smirked.
The bastard smirked.
Fucking asshole had a death wish.
“Friends?” Enzo cocked a brow. “I don’t associate myself with women beaters.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, I think you know exactly what it means.”
“E, back up, son.” My father stepped up to his side, whispering something to him.
“It’s nothing they don’t want.” DiMarco laughed darkly. “Nothing they don’t beg for.”
One second I was standing off to the side, watching Zander sneer at Enzo. The next I was in front of him, my fist flying into his face.
“Matteo!” someone yelled, but I was lost to the anger raging inside me. I couldn’t see. I couldn’t think about anything other than hurting Zander.
“You sick motherfucker,” I roared, slamming my fist into his nose. Blood sprayed everywhere, pain radiating through my wrist, splitting open my barely healed knuckles. “Where are they?” I grabbed him by his collar, almost wrenching him out of the guards hold. “You tell me right now where they are or I’ll fucking end you, you piece of shit.”
Confusion flickered in Zander’s eyes, blood pouring from his nose and trickling down his chin. “Who are you… Caitlin?” Recognition dawned on his face.
“Don’t you say her name. Don’t you dare fucking say her—”
“Easy, cous.” Strong arms grabbed me from behind, dragging me backwards as DiMarco stared at me.
“You good?” Nicco got in my face. “If Enzo lets you go, are you going to stand down?”
Lips thinned, I nodded. He released me slowly, and I inhaled a ragged breath.
“We need to talk,” Nicco said to me. “Alone.” He motioned for me to follow him to the opposite side of the club.
“I lost it, Nic, I know. But he’s—”
“What do you know about Caitlin, Matt? Really know about her?”
“W-what? How is this important right now?” I gaped at him.
“Just think for a second. What has she told you about her past? About where she comes from?”
“She was raised in Rochester, New York. But that’s about all I know. She doesn’t like to talk about it. Why?”
Nicco dragged a hand down his face, fixing me with a sympathetic gaze. “I had Tommy run her name.”
“What?”
Tommy was the Family’s investigator. There wasn’t much about anyone or anything that he couldn’t dig up.
“Don’t act so surprised. I wanted to know who we were taking in, who we were protecting. She’s been around Arianne, my sister… Bella. It was the right call, and you know it.”