43. I Know Who Betrayed Us
"I Know Who Betrayed Us"
Salvatore
“Eat something, peri peri.” Nonna pushes a plate of parmigiana across my desk. Fried eggplant simmers in tomato sauce and cheese, stirring memories of my mother and the day we buried my parents.
I force a smile. “I’m not hungry, Nonna. Thank you.”
“You’ll find her, baby.”
A day has passed since Bianca was taken. Stephanie too, but I’m confident someone put her on the side of the road somewhere. She talks too damn much.
I’ve been at my home office, going over records while Andrea works with Elio and his men. Forward. Backward. Nothing makes sense.
“Preston is here.” Ares and Hades follow Alfonso, who’s pulling luggage through the bookcase. “I packed enough for two weeks.”
“Are you coming with us?” my grandmother asks.
What the fuck are they talking about?
My brows knit. “Why would Alfonso come with you?”
“Because they’re dating.” Preston strolls in with his tailored suit and usual arrogance.
“I told you I would tell him,” Nonna snaps, her hands anchored on her smock dress.
The dogs growl at Alfonso from the command I give them. How many people am I killing today?
“Sir Bennici, I can explain.” He steps back at Ares’s bark, putting himself in a corner. “I love Lionara.”
“It took you forever to say it,” she huffs.
Hades barks.
Alfonso raises his hands. “I respect you immensely, sir, but I don’t want to hide what should be loved out loud. I’m also too old to be leaving her bedroom so early and—“
“Enough.” The last thing I need is a visual of them together. “Just go.”
“Thank you, sir. I look forward to Mrs. Bennici’s return.” Alfonso slides between Ares and the bookcases to run. He circles back to grab Nonna.
“Kids,” Preston chuckles, rubbing his goatee. “Any updates?”
I scrub a hand over my face. “Not yet.”
I called my cousin to take Nonna to Paris after learning the lengths someone had gone to harm the people Elio loves.
He kept Marie and Chiara on a different continent, and they still got killed.
His sons’ deaths are collateral damage, a risk of being in this life.
I can’t focus on finding Bianca if I’m worried about an enemy snatching my grandmother next.
“Let me know if my resources can be helpful. I’m here for you, Sal. Always am.”
Preston and I couldn’t be more different.
Half the time, he resembles a GQ model with dimples.
He’s a straitlaced hotelier raised in a glasshouse in London without ever knowing the need for vengeance.
He’s a couple of shades lighter, with curlier black hair and the same wide cheekbones as Nonna.
I have them too, but you don’t see me talking about them.
His mother died in childbirth the same year my parents were killed.
Nonna lost her daughter and son but raised us with love in their absence.
He’s one of those do-gooders, forever paying it forward and pushing me to join his weekly cooking sessions with our grandmother on Sundays.
The only apron I wear is in my kill container.
The family has a loose assumption of my involvement in organized crime, and by family, I mean only Preston and his wife. Nonna vaguely knows how deep the roots go, and I plan to keep it that way. Captain Planet doesn’t need to meddle in my business.
I don’t hate my cousin; he’s just annoying and nice.
Bianca would tell you to be nicer.
I sigh. “Actually.”
His eyes perk.
I’m gonna regret this. “I could use some support with an effort in Mazara del Vallo. My crew does rescue missions to help migrants crossing the sea. Legal support—“
“Say less,” Preston says. “I’m happy to dedicate a legal team to represent your people in court and will support any financial efforts to sustain your missions.”
I nod.
“I’ll get out of your way for you to handle…things. Maybe we can schedule a visit for us? You haven’t seen Sandro in months, and Madison would love to meet your wife, as would I.”
Day turns to evening in my office. The house is empty, except for Ares and Hades, who remain by my side.
Luiggi
Still with the team in Catania. We’ll find her.
Fuck.
“Tell me something, baby,” I say to Bianca’s HR murder board on the wall. String and sticky notes overlap with pictures of my men. Nothing in her reports or files on her desk lead me to any new answers.
She’s running out of time. There is no ransom or demand. Whoever has her will kill her.
Hades nudges my hand.
“We’ll get her back.” I pat his head and lift my scotch glass to my lips, then freeze.
The answer is in front of me.
My phone rings.
“We got a lead,” Andrea says. “Renata came through with surveillance footage. Michele Romano is the person Tino met with at Eden. He’s been making moves under Elio’s nose since he manages day-to-day operations.
We got a hit off his cell in Palermo. Teams are moving to all known Preda safe houses around the capital. ”
“She’s not downtown,” I say, standing for a closer look at the emails Bianca printed next to photos of my men.
“How do you know?”
“Because I know who betrayed us. Have Elio and Vince meet us at your house. I’ll text you where we’re going.”
Hades snorts, and Ares follows.
“Time to get your mother back.”