Chapter Sixteen
ENZO
My gaze is on Silas. "He's where?"
He hesitates and glances at Cade, who just pushes his glasses up his nose and shakes his head, continuing the job he's doing on the computer in my lower level.
"Getting information from the informant was like pulling fucking teeth."
"Because you're talking about my father. People know what happens if they speak out or say the wrong thing. You only do it once." I know Silas mentioned me, so it's going to get back to Dad at some point.
I don't care, though.
I'm already in it up to the eyeballs with the old man. He thinks I owe him. And the thing is, I probably do. What's one or two more things?
"He just said Luke's alive and not in a good way."
"Fuck, man. Where? I know he told you the vicinity."
"Staten Island."
I close my eyes for a moment. "Near Fresh Kills Park, I'm guessing. I don't think Dad steps foot there unless it's to make an appearance in his torture rooms."
Cade doesn't say a thing from his seat. He's known me longer. Though we're all tight-knit, he knows most of the family secrets. Shit, he knows my Uncle Gino, who we had to use a favor from Zayne to keep in line.
Zayne would have finished Gino if he had to. The case file he'd collected was enough. But we know how this works. Family's family, but family that refuses to stay within the family perimeters and take on the work they should is fair game.
Except, instead of owning me, owning Cade, and using us to get favors, I'm aware we're lucky Gino took a shining to Vi, Cade's pretty wife.
Gino has places like Dad's Fresh Kills place. They probably fucking share something out in Jersey. Most crime families do.
Silas frowns. "What's that expression for? Did I miss something?"
"Nope," Cade answers. "It's just there are torture houses and torture houses."
"And this is the second." I want a whiskey. I pick up my energy drink instead and take a swallow. "Dad's place in Fresh Kills is perfect to subject the kid to a slow and painful death."
"If this young man was doing things with Lyndall..."
I cut Silas a dark look. "He's eighteen and tried to big-name himself by stating he was twenty, but—"
Cade raises a finger. "Devil's advocate here, but Lyndall's a kid. Fifteen. And even sixteen..."
"Lola swears that Lyndall told her this kid comforted her."
"Where?" Cade snaps.
"In her room."
Silas winces. "Fuck. Did...?"
I glare. "She might have tried to kiss him or something, but...clothes on. Definitely clothes on."
Cade pulls down his glasses on his nose to give me a long look. "Lola tried to kiss this guy?"
"No, dickwad. Lyndall."
Cade returns to what he's doing. "Ah, so you and Lola, huh? You charmed your way back in. With lies or without? Enquiring minds and all that."
"Can we concentrate?" Funny, but I don't want to joke about Lola. I don't want to brag about her, either.
And I love to talk shit and brag.
Even if I'm keeping the sex details to myself, I still love to brag.
So, why don't I now?
I honestly don't know. Maybe it's because I need to deal with this.
Or maybe I like the idea of keeping her as mine for a tiny bit longer.
Cade spins to face me in his chair. "You know your father isn't going to release him out of the goodness of his heart, right?"
I pace a little. "Yeah, I know. There are favors I can call. I was saving them, but..."
I pull my phone out.
"For you or us?" Silas asks. "We do enough work for clients that any favors we call on are ones we can restock another way."
"Depends," I mutter, not really listening.
Cade shakes his head. "No, it doesn't, because some know enough of your dad that if they let us cash in the favor, they will say we owe more. You know how it goes."
"And I'm chopped liver?" Silas folds his arms, and I look at them both over my phone.
"No, guys. This is my mess to fix. So, any favors I collect are favors owed to me. Not us. Me."
Cade's eyes narrow at me. "Look, no matter what you might fucking think, dude, Daddy isn't going to just take that and hand him to you."
I shrug. "He might. Make it sweet enough."
Cade gets up and approaches. "Silas isn't as familiar with your father as I am, and you and I both know if he does this, knowing it's for you, then he'll consider this an ironclad deal. He'll take what's fucking offered and then consider you next in line in all the ways."
"I'm already neck-deep with him."
"You think that, but this is you getting in the well that's filling with water, pulling the self-locking lid down, trapping yourself."
Silas snorts. "Cade, your metaphor needs work. But, Enzo, sounds like he's right."
I stare at my phone, finger hovering over a number. "Fuck. We know I can't let him kill this teen, even if the teen is eighteen and has unholy thoughts about Lyndall."
"I thought you said that Lola said nothing happened," Silas says sweetly.
"No, I said Lyndall told her that. She just believed her." I tap my foot.
Cade nods. "And you?"
"Look, let's just get the kid. And if I don't believe him, I'll kill him myself."
Cade tilts his head. "Fast?"
"Yes, fast." Irritation itches under my skin and makes it hard for my thoughts to settle.
I should get Silas to investigate this Luke—
I point at Silas. "My father doesn't know you."
"Good. I like that about me."
"Great. You're the broker. The man who can make this happen. Keep me out of this by name to Dad—"
"Fuck, no."
I grin. "Fuck, yes. I'm going to call in some favors, and then we're coming up with an offer my father won't be able to refuse."
Buying Luke Carlo isn't exactly my idea of a good time or of fun, especially if this guy even thought about kissing my sister.
Lyndall's too young. And I'd like a round or two about age, etiquette, and the distance between this Luke and Lyndall that's appropriate. I'm thinking a football field...
I'm not thrilled by this whole thing, but I did promise Lola she could come to me for anything and that I'd help.
And I'm keeping that promise.
It's helping Lyndall, and it's helping heal the breach of trust between me and Lola.
Of course, I'm aware we won't be able to keep the real truth about who is behind buying Luke from my father forever, but when he finds out, he won't be able to do a fucking thing. And that anger he will uncover when he finds out is an added bonus, too.
Our plan is in place.
Make it seem the kid is from a very rich, very secretive foreign family that wants him back. They will pay Dad for doing what they were planning to do, and Luke's father thanks him for teaching his wayward son a lesson.
Cade sighs. "I think the story's a little on the nose."
I shrug. "Maybe, for some. With my dad? I think it's perfect."
As for Silas, the ass can't keep his fucking mouth shut. "You know, I don't think it matters either way. I'm the one stepping in front of the freaking mobster."
Cade narrows his eyes at him. "You deal with them, and worse, all the time. I can't do it because Mario knows me."
Silas points at me. "This is your fault."
"My fault? You're the one who decided to help her out behind my back."
Silas laughs, shaking his head. "You're the dickwad who couldn't keep it in his pants with Lola and decided to spy on her in the first place."
"That has nothing to do with this." I roll my eyes, knowing he might have a point.
"If you hadn't fucked up and gone all Mr. Stalker, then she'd have asked you."
Cade smirks. "So, are things good now with you and Lola?"
We ignore him. "You need a girl. Then you'll be happy, Silas. This is the shit you do, so stop complaining."
"I'm not fucking complaining. And I'll be more than happy when your girlfriend stops calling me every time she needs help."
Cade grins. "Girlfriend, huh? Nice twist. One I saw coming. Like, I saw it from space."
I shoot him a look. "Not helping."
His grin widens. "Not trying to."
I huff. "You are both assholes."
"Touchy."
Silas looks me up and down. "He is, isn't he? Is the great Enzo finally pussy-whipped? Because I called it with this one."
"No fair, so did I." Then Cade frowns. "So did Violet when we went to that bar."
Fuck, they're all insufferable.
Cade catches my eye. "Look. We know you're into her."
"Has anyone found out any more about Lola's dad and Lyndall's mom?" It's not a particularly good subject change, but I'll take anything right now.
Cade shakes his head, as does Silas.
"It's the same with most shit to do with old-school mafia and the people they use. The online trails are scant. Even the paper trails..."
Silas shrugs. "We'd need to get into things like letters, party dates, dinner dates, photos. The kinds of things that take a long time. Maybe Lola has her dad's personal stuff...stuff that wasn't taken by the FBI."
Cade nods. "Or she remembers something."
Silas gets up. "I'll get started on some other things. You need me, just call."
I realize he's abandoning me to Cade. "Coward."
"Don't I know it. Try to be kind, Cade."
The moment he's gone, Cade settles his gaze on me. "You should talk to her."
"No."
Cade removes his glasses and rubs his eyes. "Dude. You should learn from last time. Talk to her and tell her your thoughts. Tell her you think you found an affair and that Lyndall might be her biological sister."
"I will. But... not yet."
"Come on—"
"Cade. Don't you think Lyndall's got a right to know first? It's her life that could change."
"Are you going to say she's not your sister?"
"Fuck, no." Why would I? It doesn't seem right. It feels like I'll be causing trouble needlessly. "What if she is?"
"And if you find differently?"
"She is. We don't have to have the same blood to be siblings." I wait for a lecture.
But I really do know Cade better than that. He'll pull me up on things if I need them. But I don't know, I guess I'm a little sensitive to the touch right now, and certain words press down in the wrong way.
"Hey, man, I'm the first to agree with you. Lyndall is your sister. But I'm not talking about her here. I'm talking about the girl you're besotted with."
"I'm not besotted."
"Float or sink your boat your way. My point is there have been a lot of lies and trust broken between you and Lola. I know this shouldn't change your relationship with either Lola or Lyndall, but Lola might...appreciate you talking to her, telling her your suspicions."
"Why the fuck would I do that? She'll worry."
He sighs. "Or she might see it as you reaching out to her, to talk something over."
Maybe...
But... But then I'll upset her.
Does Lola want to know about her father and Lyndall's mother?
I look at Cade. "You're right. If it's true, she should know. But when I know for sure. And then I have to tell Lyndall first. It's only right."
"Your life..."
I know he thinks I'll fuck it up and not tell Lola. But I will.
"After I know for sure, and after I tell Lyndall if there's anything to tell her, I'll talk to Lola."
"When you know. After you've told Lyndall. And if it's not true, are you going to share your suspicions with her then?"
"Yes."
"I see."
He doesn't. Or maybe he does. Because there's a small part of me that knows, deep inside, I wouldn't tell Lola if I didn't know or if I found out it wasn't true.
Not while things are finally getting better with me and Lola.
The last thing I need is another fucking roadblock to set me back.
Because no matter how I look at it, this sounds like I kept the truth to myself. Which I didn't.
How can I keep something to myself if I don't know what that truth is?
So, I hope it's not true. I hope I never have to tell either of them.
And Lola?
I'm going to continue to shower her with attention and make things good.
Because they are.
And I fucking want them to get even better.