Chapter Sixteen
Noah
I no longer knew if my feelings were my own or if they were influenced by my father’s ultimatum.
Sailor was enjoyable to talk to, if for no other reason than she had brains in her head.
Unlike the usual suspects I went out with, she was brilliant and witty.
When she let her guard down, she even made me laugh.
Of course, we mostly had our walls up around each other, making conversation awkward at times. The idea that she’d never been on a date and was therefore most likely a virgin intrigued me. There was always the possibility that she dabbled in one-night stands, but I couldn't picture it.
I’d never been with a virgin. My father followed the old mafia tradition of bringing in a group of women—who he shied away from calling hookers—to help me ‘become a man’ on my sixteenth birthday.
At the time, I thought it was the best thing in the entire fucking universe.
What teenage boy wouldn't want to participate in an orgy with gorgeous, experienced women?
Twenty years later, I found it to be a disgusting ritual I would never push onto a child of mine.
Over the years, I’d been with women from other mafia families, or occasionally with a relative of one of our soldiers who was positive she’d become the next Mrs. Costa.
More than once, I’d discovered a few of them thought they could use me to get to Dad.
Even when Mom was alive, they thought they could ingratiate themselves into the goomah title if they got close enough to him.
More than once, I kicked a woman out on her ass when I brought her to the house and she started flirting with my father right in front of me.
I hadn't been looking for long-term companionship with any of them.
I hadn't been thinking of making a marriage between families, not until I found an ounce of the type of love my parents had for each other. And, yes, Dad was right when he said Mom’s passing had put the brakes on dating or thinking of the future.
But I hadn't tried to find anyone after healing, either.
Not with the idea that anyone I associated with could become collateral damage just like she had.
As I thought about texting Sailor to see how she was doing, I couldn't help but wonder if my burgeoning feelings were overshadowed by the stopwatch looming over my head. I had to make her fall for me, or find myself forced into marriage with a rival’s daughter, niece, or granddaughter. The very idea made me ill.
Frankly, both choices made me ill. The lesser of two evils for me was Sailor, but to exploit her need for love and affection made me want to punch something.
Preferably, my old man’s face.
“Leonardo Russo wants a sit-down,” Dad announced as he came into my room without knocking.
“Good for him,” I responded without looking up from my computer.
“Says he’s willing to come here.”
That got my attention. “Why?”
“He has news he wants to share, since we’re all peaceful and shit.”
“Is that what we’re calling it?” I asked, leaning back in my chair.
Dad shrugged. “If he’s willing to come to the lion’s den, then he must be serious.”
“It’s not quite a lion’s den when we’re in a public location,” I reminded him. “But I’ll get Roman and John down here to sit with you.”
“Us.”
I frowned. “Pardon?”
“To sit with us. Don't think I’ll take the meeting without you by my side.”
Steepling my hands, I tried to hold back the sigh threatening to make its way out. “You’re well enough to take back the reins.”
“And you’ve always been by my side, so why would today be different?”
Because I’m mad at you seemed like a childish response. “Fine. I’ll tell Gio and Vicki I’ll be later than planned.”
We went downstairs together an hour later, both in bespoke suits.
My father had a fondness for gaudy jewelry, while I preferred a tie clip, cufflinks, and nothing else.
Leonardo Russo was older than my father by about a decade, which showed in his snowy white hair and spotted hands.
He had daughters but no sons, and was reluctant to name one of his nephews or cousins as his successor.
We all expected him to announce his oldest daughter’s husband as his heir, but he hadn’t yet.
“Benito, old friend,” he greeted my father, grasping his hand and slapping him on the back.
Roman Barrett and John Brennan stood discreetly beside the door of the conference room we’d booked for privacy. Roman had checked for bugs before we came down, and John had patted down Leo as he entered the room without guards.
“What brings you here, Leonardo?” my father asked as he sat at the head of the table.
“I have a new man, a fence jumper, who was eager to tell me everything he’d learned in his time in the Lombardi famiglia. I didn't expect anything groundbreaking, but he did have a piece of information that should be valuable to you.”
“And what will this information cost me?” Dad asked dryly.
Leo smiled. “A small percentage of your babania earnings.”
“What makes you think I sell heroin?”
Shrugging, Leo said, “Word on the street.”
Tilting his head, my father pondered that. “The word is wrong. We don’t step on toes, and other families have the drug market cornered.”
“Then you could just cut me a check.” Leo grinned. “My information is valuable.”
“Just spit it out,” I snapped. “And then the two of you can negotiate payment.”
With his brows raised, Leo looked me up and down. “I see your reputation is accurate.”
Russo probably didn't realize how volatile I felt at the moment, or he wouldn't provoke me. “Say what you came to say or leave.”
I thought Dad might intervene, but he folded his hands on the table and remained silent. Perhaps he was as impatient as me.
“Fine, take the fun out of it,” Leo grumbled. “The Lombardis have decided to go back on their promise of peace. They were the ones to bomb your location and your home.”
“That’s who we were leaning toward, but what evidence do you have?” my father asked.
“My new man was the one who planted the first bomb. He has screenshots of the orders, in code, of course. He was afraid his usefulness would soon be scrubbed and they’d clip him.”
“Which is why he’s hiding out within your organization?” I asked.
“Precisely.”
“Get me the evidence,” Dad said, “and I’ll pay you handsomely for not only the assistance, but the allegiance.”
The two men stood, shaking hands and saying their goodbyes while I sat at the table and thought about our options.
Once the door was closed again, Dad said, “Now that we have our proof, we have to find our revenge.”
I nodded. “It can't be the same thing they did to us, or the feds will look too close to home.”
“Ideas are welcome, gentlemen,” my father said, indicating the guards.
Roman replied, “We could simply ice Alex Lombardi. Quick, simple."
“They claim to have a man below him now. He would just take over next.”
Roman nodded. “Could be.”
John added, “But he can be taken out, too.”
Checking my watch, I said, “I’ll throw around ideas with Gio and let you know what we come up with.”
I’d planned to have lunch with my sister and future brother-in-law, and was thankful it hadn't been ruined by Russo’s unplanned visit. My sister opened the door for me after their guard let me in through the gates, a big smile on her face.
“Vicki.” I hugged her tightly, realizing I’d missed her. We were so used to seeing each other every day that it felt odd to be apart.
She squeezed me back just as tightly. “Hey, brother.”
Pulling back, I touched her chin. “Have you settled in yet?”
“I’m as happy as a clam.”
Reaching from behind her, Gio shook my hand. “Business or lunch first?”
“Lunch. I’m starving.”
We gathered in the dining room while Gio’s staff served us. It occurred to me that he had what I should have, but I’d never tried to find it.
Shaking my head to clear it, I asked, “How’s the wedding planning? Nearly done?”
“It’s all settled. Only six more weeks to go,” Vicki replied. “So, um, are you bringing a plus one?”
I groaned. “Have you been talking to Dad?”
“No, actually. Why?”
“He’s pushing me to marry.”
Vicki narrowed her eyes over her bowl of salad. “He waited an awfully long time to decide he cares about it.”
“I agree. Either I pick someone pronto or he’ll fob me off on a Lombardi family member.”
Vicki gasped. “That’s cruel.”
Gio laughed. “Poor man.”
“I’ve chosen Sailor.”
Vicki stared at me with a dumbfounded expression. “You’re kidding me.”
Shaking my head, I replied, “I’m not. After the house went up in flames, I saw her in a different light. She let down her walls, and I realized I’d been wrong about her.”
“First Dad, now you? What kind of spell has she woven?” Vicki demanded.
“Nothing like that. She's kind-hearted, very intelligent, and someone I wanted to get to know before Dad sprung this on me.”
But my sister said, “She’s awkward and anxious.”
Gio interrupted. “Those aren't disqualifying personality traits. She needs someone to bring her out of her shell, that’s all.”
Shoving my hands through my hair, I tried not to feel defensive about her. “She lived through tragedy and came out on the other side scathed but whole.”
Did I believe that? Was she whole, or was she in pieces I’d have to patch together to make into a complete woman? And did I want to put in that work?
“Is she coming with you to the wedding?” Gio asked politely.
“I haven't brought it up to her yet, but I’d like to invite her. She’s unsure how you feel about her, Vicki, so maybe you could spend some time with her now that Dad is healed.”
Clearing her throat, my sister obviously decided she’d be better off falling in line instead of clinging to the grudge I’d placed on her. “Well, she must have treated him properly for him to be better so quickly.”
“I believe so. He told me it was because he respected her enough to follow her instructions, compared to the asshole Hofstadt.”
Who I’d had fired. Dr. Hogan was more than happy to force Hofstadt into retirement after all the complaints he’d had filed against him.
“At any rate, I’d appreciate it if no one mentions to her that I had no choice in the matter. I’d already invited her on a date before Dad stuck his nose in it, so I don’t want her to think I don't want her for her.”
“And how did that go?” Gio asked humorously.
I smirked. “Awkwardly and anxiously.”
He snorted. “Let’s hope she warms up so you two can be happy.”
After lunch, Vicki found something else to do so I could fill Gio in on the information we’d learned. He agreed we needed a suitable punishment that didn't include bombs.
“Sniper? Just make it an all-out hit?” he suggested.
“As Dad pointed out, they have a second in command now, even if we don’t know who he is.”
“Then take them both out simultaneously."
“Someone would have to follow them to see when they're out together.”
I sighed, realizing I wanted nothing to do with business for the time being. I wanted to talk to Sailor, to feel that calming sensation she created in my overworked brain.
“I believe you two can be happy, Noah.”
Gio said it quietly, but my shoulders hunched at the idea that I was so readable he knew what I was thinking. “Let’s hope so.”
When I was alone again, I couldn't help texting Sailor to see if she was free later. I wanted to call her and hear her voice, but there was no telling how long she would be in surgery. Indeed, it was hours later when she answered that she would love to see me.
Her words made me feel lighter than I had in a long time. Several ideas floated through my head, but I settled on a quiet place I’d heard of but never been to.
Since she got out of work late, we met at the quaint bookstore tucked into a side street.
Not only did I assume she’d enjoy the books, but I’d heard they had fireside seating.
Ordering hot chocolate so I didn't have to assume whether she preferred coffee or tea, I led her to the overstuffed loveseat and sat beside her.
“This is very thoughtful,” she said with a weary sigh. “And indulgent after such a long day on my feet.”
I smiled at the way the firelight glowed against her skin. “I picked it with you in mind.”
Looking up at me, she nestled closer as she sipped her drink. “Thank you.”
At that moment, I realized that my feelings were my own. My father may have tried to push me into doing what he wanted, but I enjoyed Sailor’s company. I liked the way it felt to sit beside her, cozy in front of the roaring fireplace, knowing she needed to unwind and that I’d given that to her.
And soon, I would find myself a house with a fireplace so we could do this privately in the future.