“Sì, ma io non sono . . .” the man started to say in Italian before the police pulled Ryker off of him.
Kenzie was plunged into police questions as Ryker was questioned separately. The police had gotten notice from Ryker’s SUV that there had been a collision. They hadn’t expected an armed shootout with an Italian mobster when they arrived.
Thirty minutes later, Agent Peter Castle of the FBI had swooped in, sworn the officers to secrecy, and taken over the case. While Peter and Ryker were talking about the Porzio family, Kenzie pulled up a translation app.
“Sì, ma io non sono,” she spoke into the app.
“Yes, but I am not,” the app spoke back in English.
“Ryker?” Kenzie’s mind went a mile a minute trying to figure out this puzzle piece. “I don’t know what this means, but the man said to you that he understood you, but that he’s not . . . and that’s all he said before the police arrived.”
“He’s not, what?” Peter asked.
“Ryker was telling him to tell Porzio something,” Kenzie said slowly as she was remembering what had happened. “Then Ryker asked if he understood.”
“Obviously he did,” Ryker said, but he now had the same confused look on his face. “But I’m not . . . not what? Not in contact with Porzio? Not sure who hired me? Not guilty?”
“I’ll get a translator and question him in the hospital before he gets transported to jail. I’ll let you know what I learn,” Peter said to Ryker before turning to her. “I’m sorry we keep meeting this way. My girlfriend, Karri, and I both hope we’ll see more of you soon.”
Peter left and they stood watching her and Ryker’s cars being towed for evidence. “Look at it this way,” Kenzie said, turning to Ryker, “at least your car doesn’t have death cooties.”
Kenzie smiled as Ryker started laughing. An expensive sedan rolled to a stop and a perfect Olivia Townsend rolled down the window. “From the texts I got, I wasn’t expecting laughter.”
“Hi, Olivia,” Kenzie said as Ryker held open the back door to Olivia’s sedan for her.
“I’m glad you’re both alive. So, Kenzie, while I have you in the car, what’s your taste in jewelry like and how do you feel about the Maldives?”
“Olivia,” Ryker said with a warning tone that made Kenzie laugh when Olivia just rolled her eyes at him.
“Fine, can we at least have a girls’ lunch later today?” Olivia asked.
“That sounds good. Peter Castle mentioned his girlfriend has a restaurant next to Harper’s bar. Could we go there?” Kenzie asked, getting excited to make a new friend.
“Only if Olivia promises to behave,” Ryker muttered.
“Me?” Olivia sounded so innocently that Kenzie giggled.
Ryker put his arm around Kenzie as he and Olivia began talking. They included her in the conversation, but before she realized it, she felt herself being lifted into the air.
“What?”
“Shhh, angel. We’re home. Go back to sleep. Shootouts really do tire you out,” Ryker whispered against her head. It was then she felt the soft bed beneath her. Ryker pulled off her shoes and covered her with a warm blanket before kissing her softly on the lips. When she blinked her eyes open the room was dark, thanks to the blackout curtains, and Ryker was gone. Kenzie gave into the exhaustion and cuddled up to the pillow that smelled like Ryker. She was sound asleep in seconds.
24
“These are all the assets of the Porzio family. I also pulled all the assets I could find of the other mob bosses in New York and New Jersey. It’s surprising how out and about they are. Everyone knows who they are. I wanted to show you the entire landscape,” Olivia explained to Ryker over coffee in his kitchen. “Porzio has a decent reputation as a boss. Back in the heyday was another story. He was ruthless, but he mellowed as he had children. Porzio has narrowed down his criminal activity somewhat, conceding some of the lower-level crimes to street gangs. However, Joseph Porzio and Michael Di Maio are the two most powerful bosses. Joseph is known for being level-headed and fair but won’t think twice about punishing those who cross him. Michael Di Maio is the opposite. He’ll kill someone for sneezing. His nephew here in Charleston is gathering the same reputation.”
“What’s your point?” Ryker asked as he glanced over the assets of the two families.
“If Porzio is taken down, Di Maio will fill the void and that will be worse than leaving Porzio in power,” Olivia said bluntly.
Ryker nodded. Power vacuums could be deadly. “Here,” Ryker said, tapping two spots on the massive report. “They both have some money in this bank. Buy the bank and freeze their accounts. I’m betting it’s illicit and we can call in the authorities. Don’t call them until I have it all set up. I’m taking care of hitting their soldiers, now I want their money.”
Ryker then looked for other weaknesses and found them. The mob was good at hiding illegal assets by propping up their legal ones that most likely helped launder money. He highlighted the businesses that would hurt the most for each family to lose. “This will be phase two.”
“You’re going for the throat, aren’t you?” Olivia asked rhetorically.
“Not yet. I want you to find out who supplies their illegal assets—the drugs, weapons, and such. Use my Keeneston family if you can’t track it down. They’ll get you answers quickly,” Ryker told her, standing up and stretching as he reached for his suit jacket hanging on the back of the chair.
“Why?” Olivia asked as she gathered all the paperwork.
“Because that’s the kill shot. I’ll make a deal with the suppliers to stop selling to Porzio and Di Maio.”
“That’s crossing a big line, Ryker,” Olivia warned.
“I know, but they could have killed her, Olivia. I won’t stand for that.”
Olivia didn’t need to ask who her was. Kenzie had come to mean the world to him and he’d cross each and every line there was to keep her safe.
Ryker didn’t want to wake Kenzie so he quietly left through the back as Olivia got to work at the kitchen table, buying a bank and tracking down the scum of the earth so Ryker could turn them on their best clients.
Kenzie woke up to the sound of a horn honking. She was instantly awake and running downstairs. She hadn’t meant to sleep so late and would be late for her lunch with Olivia.
“Good afternoon,” Olivia said at the front door with a huge smile on her face. “You have a delivery.”
“Me?” Kenzie asked, slowing now that she knew she wasn’t leaving Olivia sitting by herself at the restaurant.
Olivia held the door open and there was a brand-new SUV. It wasn’t the luxury one that Ryker had, but it was definitely not cheap either. It was mid-sized, navy blue, and had a big red bow on it. A man stood next to it smiling with keys dangling from his fingers.
“Kenzie Carys?” he asked.
“Yes,” Kenzie said slowly, trying to understand what was going on.
“A gift from Mr. Faulkner.” The man strode forward and handed her the keys and then an envelope.