Chapter Eighteen
ENZO
"You've got a Brooklyn office and a Manhattan one. Also one in Queens. We could've used one of those." I look around Dad's study and help myself to a drink.
"You want to go to Queens, Enzo?" He grabs his good bottle and pours himself a decent amount.
He leaves it on his desk. It's an invitation, or he just left it because. I don't give a fuck.
I down mine and help myself. This is the kind of gift horse I can get behind. "There's nothing wrong with Queens. But one of your other offices is closer to me."
Dad raises a brow as he picks up his unlit cigar and chomps on it. "You in a hurry?"
"It's a long drive."
"Then you shouldn't be drinking."
I shake my head. "Says the criminal mafia Don. And I have a car service."
"One of mine?"
"One of mine." It's the Syndicate's but... I'm a little antsy. Not because of whatever favor Dad is pulling here, but because of Lola.
I don't like her being alone, not even for a little bit. And Lyndall's not real protection. Sure, the men are there, but who knows how long this is going to take.
"Is this what I owe you?"
"I helped you right a wrong with your sister, one you caused, so yes." He pauses. "Part of it."
My computer is in a bag by my chair.
He told me to bring it, so it's going to be hacking of some kind.
It does bother me a little there's no mention of me taking over. Anyone else, and I'd be letting out a sigh of relief. But this is my father, a man who doesn't let things go.
That's still in his head.
I know it as sure as I know myself.
And the 'part of it' confirms it. He'll milk this as much as he can.
I grit my teeth. "What is it you need?"
He hands me a number of sheets of paper, and I run my eye over them.
Unease trickles down my spine.
"I want you to do that. If you can."
"What the fuck is this?"
Dad tops up his glass and sets his cigar down. "Is time away from the family business making you stupid, boy?"
Now I grind my teeth. "No—"
"It's transferring money to consolidate in one account."
I shake my head. "C'mon, Dad, let's not be fucking coy. You want me to hack into various accounts of your enemies and transfer substantial amounts of money to an offshore account."
"And?"
"You're not untouchable, it just seems like it. This is poking a whole lot of bears for no reason."
But my father gives me a flat-eyed stare. "You know fucking nothing about nothing, Enzo. They wouldn't dare."
"It'll be implicating me."
My father offers a tight smile. "You're family. Anything I do means you."
I sigh. "You could hire someone for this. I got you a computer guy for shit like this. It's run-of-the-mill."
"No, it isn't."
I rub my eyes. "So, your computer guy doesn't want the risk either?"
"No, and I got rid of him. Good timing you're going to return to the fold soon."
"Try never."
"I helped you, you owe me. It's how it works."
Fuck me to hell and back. "There's a program Cade and I did for you, one that makes this untraceable. It'd take a special moron to get caught, so this computer guy shouldn't have a problem with it..." I trail off as he shifts a little. "What is it?"
"He left before this came up."
I half rise.
The guy's vetted and good. I don't need dead vetted hackers and computer guys littering the landscape. "You—"
"Relax. He's on loan to Uncle Gino. Now, about you returning to the business..."
"Dad, do you know how fucked in the head you sound? Lyndall's your daughter, you shouldn't need repaying for helping me on something you should have gone and done. And if you didn't want to get your hands dirty, then you should be happy I got her, not trying to extort me."
"I see an opportunity, I take it."
"Bullshit, Dad." I get my computer out and then move over to his, setting mine up next to it. "You do it for free because, you know, you love her."
Something flickers in my father's eyes, which leaves me questioning how much he knows about the affair.
And does he know Lyndall might not be his daughter?
The thought stays with me on my way home. Because that flash in his eyes was shock, vulnerability, hurt...I don't know. Something I haven't seen in my father.
It made him human, and I'm not sure I like it.
Somehow, it's easier not to like him when he is more of a cartoon villain.
But I banish it as I read through the information that Silas has dug up on Rebecci.
It's good, a trail of lovers, family, some deals that took his special skills to uncover. But nothing I can use. Yet.
I pass it to Cade, who'll know the best people to look into the names on that list.
Something tells me he's not at some cousin's place or hiding out with a chick he banged a few years ago.
Then again, you never know.
When I get home, it's quiet, but apart from a shining moment of panic, I relax.
The place doesn't feel empty.
Besides, none of the people watching have called me or sent out an alert.
I want to race up the stairs to Lola, see if she's waiting in her secretary clothes. I know she wants time, and I'm giving it to her as best I can, keeping the kink sex down to a minimum, but it's fucking hard.
Actually, I tilt my head, listening.
It's a little too quiet.
Again, the urge to race upstairs comes over me, this time to check on both Lola and Lyndall. But I don't.
I go down to the kitchen, and sure enough, on my fridge is a schedule.
My sister's got extra lessons tonight, but she should be—
The front door bangs.
"Lola! Enzo! Put your clothes on! I'm home!"
I slap my finger against the lesson's spot on the fridge. "Yep, there she is. Like clockwork."
"What's like clockwork?" My sister jumps down the last two steps into the kitchen.
"You."
"Where's Lola?"
I try to be nonchalant because the itch to find her is growing inside. "Probably upstairs. Haven't checked."
"You just got back, too." She nods, putting her hands on her hips. "Back off a little, Enzo. Try to tone yourself down a little."
"What are you talking about?"
"You. I know what you're like when it comes to some stuff, but I've been around, you know?"
I don't, and I definitely don't want to know what that means because it sounds like it means pulling dicks off asshole boys.
"And you're usually cucumber when it comes to girls."
"On the vine in the sun, or vegetable crisper?"
"Crisper. But now you're acting like an idiot. I know why, but Lola doesn't."
"We're talking about Lola?"
She rolls her eyes at me. "Of course, we are. I just don't want you to scare her and be like that vintage movie."
"Which movie?"
My sister looks at me like I should know. "Fatal Attraction. I saw Dad watching it one night, anyway. I think you need to reel in the crazy a little because not all girls find it cute."
"I'm not trying to be cute. I never try to be cute. I'm not a fucking fourteen-year-old."
"Neither am I. And I'm just saying stop it."
"Protecting her? You? Please tell me, Lyndall, because I'd love to fucking know."
She drops her arms. "I know you're giving her space or whatever, but she's still locked up, and you're trying to make it up to her by buying her a ton of gifts. You did that when you murdered Gilbert."
I stare at her as she stabs me in the fucking heart. "I didn't kill Gilbert."
"You did. I didn't even get a proper burial."
I hold out my hand and put up a finger with each point. "Gilbert was a fish. He lived his life in a plastic bag for a while. You overfed him."
Her bottom lip trembles.
"You had him for three days. He was old. I gave him a burial at sea. I got you Muriel."
She shakes her head. "Well, Muriel lived for a year, but still, I loved that fish. Point is, you smothered me with gifts. Don't you think you're doing it to Lola? You can't undo the past, just learn from it."
"Stop reading self-help books," I snarl.
"I'm going to do my homework, and you can order me Five Guys. Oh, and Enzo? The past is done, but the future isn't. Make it good." She heads for the stairs, scampering up, and I think about sending her back to Dad or school for a nanosecond.
But...maybe she's right.
What if the kid can see things I can't? Even I am feeling the weight of trying to show her I'm a decent enough guy, and I care.
"Fuck."
I head upstairs.
She's still at the computer. The shoes are off, and she's lost in whatever she's working on.
I sent her a bogus thing today.
"Hey..."
Her smile is a little tight as she sees me. "Hey."
"If you're busy, I'll leave you to it."
"Company stuff. Coming up with something for HR and... It's silly. What's up?"
I'm about to back out of the room, my sister's words ringing in my head.
But then I find myself speaking. "It doesn't sound silly. How about you tell me all about it over drinks? There's a new bar that opened on the other side of the park..."
And she smiles once more.
It's genuine and hot.
"I'd love to."
Lola doesn't really drink her wine, but honestly, she's more interested in the fries I got for her.
Fine by me, she isn't eating breakfast or lunch, so if it's because of me, I want to undo that and... at least, fries to share is food in her belly.
Besides, I don't remember her being a big drinker.
She tells me about her idea of having a box where people can post their grievances to HR. People can keep it anonymous or not, and nothing is too small or big.
"And we could have a biweekly open discussion, and smaller complaints can be talked about in private."
"What if that small something escalates because of the private talk?"
"It's an office, the guys are always saying inappropriate things. I don't think it's inconceivable to say numerous people left a note."
"But that could lead to resentment."