41. Chapter 41
forty-one
C urtis looked around the empty office floor Lina had taken him to. There were no cubicles, offices, or any other people besides himself and Lina. The floor belonged to B&Y, a result of their expanding business, but was not yet configured and furnished. It was the perfect neutral ground for the meeting that was about to happen.
The meeting that may change my life.
He looked at Lina next to him. No, our lives .
Two nights ago, Lina had found another piece of the puzzle and started something rolling. She’d walked the plan through with Curtis more than once. He understood what was about to happen and what his role would be—it really wasn’t much. His life would actually depend on Connor Murphy and Tony Stiletto Jr.
How the hell did I end up here?
“Tony Stiletto has pulled up in front of the building,” Kate’s voice in his ear startled him.
That was another new thing. For the first time, he got to wear a communication earpiece. He’d felt cool for a few minutes until Marcus had said everybody needed to stay on the comm in case something went wrong.
“Curtis, go to your spot,” Lina instructed.
His spot. He knew where it was. He’d memorized the plan to the dot.
When he didn’t move, Lina stepped in front of him. “Breathe. Everything will go smoothly. Just relax.”
“Relax? Yeah, sure.” He shook out his arms.
Lina smiled and wrapped her warm hands over his jaw. They felt so good. “You got this, babe.”
“Do I?” Curtis looked nervously at her.
“Yes. Just as we practiced. I am here the whole time.”
“As am I,” Kate’s cheery voice chimed in. “And Marcus and Ken. We’re seconds away.”
“Is she gonna keep doing that?” Curtis asked.
“When she needs to.” Lina chuckled. “Here’s an idea to soothe your nerves. Think of a soundtrack for the mission.”
“A soundtrack? Like…” He hummed the Mission Impossible theme song.
“Yeah.” Lina laughed. “Your brain runs on music. Why not?”
“He and an associate are in the elevator. ETA, forty-five seconds,” Kate warned.
“Start composing and get to your position.” She kissed him and sent him on his way.
Lina really knew him by now because, sure enough, tunes started popping up in his mind as he rushed to his designated position. Even though there weren’t offices yet, a wall blocked one corner of the floor from the immediate view of anyone who entered the area.
The elevator dinged. Footsteps echoed off the concrete floor.
“Mr. Stiletto,” Lina greeted.
“What is this?” Tony questioned suspiciously. “Sal, call the car back. This doesn't feel right.”
Shit. Is the mission blown? Curtis sweated as he listened from his hiding place.
“Mr. Stiletto. I think you’ll want to stay and talk with my client,“ Lina's voice was bold and confident.
"Who are you?“ Tony questioned. “I thought I was meeting a prospective investor.”
“And you will,” Lina said. “I’m the broker.”
There was doubt in Tony’s voice. “You?”
“I’m a special broker,” she confirmed. “Give me and my client ten minutes of your time and your open mind, and we can meet your investor.”
“You look like a cop,” he challenged. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“I’m a private consultant," Lina's voice softened. “My only concern is my client.”
“Who’s your client?” Tony demanded.
That's my cue.
“I am.” Curtis walked out.
Tony frowned at Curtis. He pushed his glasses up his nose as he took in Curtis’ features.
“You?” Tony finally recognized him. “What the hell is going on here?”
“We’d like to talk with you about your mother,” Lina said solemnly. “She is hellbent on revenge for losing your brother, which we all can relate to.”
“Who are you to talk about my brother?” Tony snarled. “Have you had a brother murdered in cold blood?”
“I witnessed your brother kill a boy in cold blood,” Curtis couldn’t help but point out the hypocrisy.
Tony couldn’t deny the fact, so he lashed out at Curtis instead, “I should kill you right here, right now, snitch.”
Sal, Tony’s man, who had been watching with some confusion, moved to grab something under his jacket.
“Uh-uh,” Lina warned calmly, pointing at the red dot above Sal’s heart. “You don’t think we came unprepared, do you? Hands clear, please.”
With easy and unhurried movement, Lina frisked Sal and took a handgun and a blade from his person. Then she turned to the flabbergasted Tony. “Are you armed, Tony? May I call you Tony?”
“No, I’m not armed.” Tony begrudgingly opened his jacket and showed the inside to Lina.
“Good.” Lina signaled whoever aimed the laser pointer at Sal to stand down. “We’re only here for a discussion and, hopefully, an agreement.”
“I’m here to talk to you, man to man,” Curtis addressed Tony. “I don’t think you want to kill me, Tony. That’ll be bad for business. And you look like a smart man.
“I’ve read a lot about what you’ve accomplished with your family’s empire. You’re trying to achieve what your rival, Connor Murphy, has managed to attain.”
“Oh yeah? And what is that?” Tony played coy.
“Respect,” Curtis said.
“I have respect,” Tony spat.
“Tony, I’m not here to belittle all the work you’ve done. I actually admire you. It can’t be easy to turn your family business into legitimate ventures.”
Tony frowned, hearing Curtis’ praise. “No, it hasn’t been easy, but I’m making it happen.”
“You definitely are. I bet it’s even more complicated having to do it with limited decision-making power. Your people are not looking at you as the boss, but just as the boss’ son.”
“My people know who’s in charge.” Tony bristled.
“Oh, good. That’s my bad because I thought your mother was still in charge. Great, that means I’m talking to the right person,” Curtis slathered it on thickly. “I know a thing or two about demanding moms, you know. I grew up with one. It was her way or the highway. Right?” Curtis grinned conspiratorially. “My mother insisted I go to business school, be a hedge fund manager, make a lot of money because I was good with numbers. But that’s not what I wanted. I went and got a business degree. I tried the hedge fund thing, but it’s not me, man. I’m all about music. That’s all I wanted to do—be a musician.”
“You are a famous musician,” Tony said.
“Because I stood up for myself. It took years of hard work, but I never let my mother dictate where I go in my life anymore. I make my own path.”
Curtis looked Tony in the eyes. “As should you.”
Lina monitored Sal while paying full attention to Curtis’ conversation with Tony. He was doing great. Comparing nightmare mother stories was a brilliant way to relate himself to Tony. She could see Tony’s body language loosen up.
“I’m sure your mother doesn’t rule a battalion of thugs to keep you in line,” Tony said bitterly.
“No, she didn’t. She was scary on her own. Ever heard the term Tiger Mom? Yeah, my mom was the poster girl for that.” Curtis chuckled. “Don’t get me wrong. I love my mother. As I’m sure you love yours. I think they do what they do because they love us. They want to protect us.”
Tony inhaled deeply and jammed his hands into his pockets. Lina stayed alert for sudden movement. He might seem relaxed, but she wouldn’t put it past him to pull a one-eighty.
“They need to understand we are adults. We have to run our own lives. Don’t you agree?” Curtis asked.
“A hundred percent.” But Tony didn’t elaborate.
Curtis glanced at Lina for a lifeline. They needed Tony to open up more.
“Are you married, Tony? Have children?” Lina noted the wedding band. She already knew he’d been married for five years and had two children under the age of four.
Tony glanced at her. “Yes. Two.”
“I’m sure you understand your mother’s grief, being a parent yourself.”
“I do. That’s the only reason I’ve been tolerating her behavior,” he said sternly, then sighed in regret. “But she is obsessed about avenging instead of grieving. She’s determined to blame everyone but Rocco himself for his doing. I tried my best to get him out of that side of the business, but Rocco was young and wild.
“He was everything I didn’t want my children to grow up to be,” he finished. “My wife is terrified our children will end up like Rocco.”
“If you want to make a change, you gotta take a stand, Tony,” Curtis said.
“How? My mother holds the power in our family with an iron fist. Her fixation on revenge against the Murphys and you could mean the death of the future I’m trying to build for my children.”
“Can you appeal to her about your fear for your children’s future?” Lina asked.
Tony scoffed, took off his glasses and started cleaning them with a handkerchief. “My mother pounces when she smells fear.”
“What if you go to her with a proposal that both you and her will be satisfied with?” Lina suggested.
“Look, I understand why you got me here. I can’t blame you for Rocco’s death.” Tony looked at Lina, then at Curtis. “Unfortunately, there isn’t much I can do to stop my mother from coming after you, Mr. Bisset. I’ve tried talking sense to her about it.”
“I appreciate that, Tony.” Curtis held out his hand to Tony. “I do. And it’s Curtis.”
Tony looked at the offered hand, surprised. He hesitantly shook Curtis’ hand. “But I can’t help you.”
Curtis nodded. “But maybe we can help you. Lina here found some interesting information that may be what you need to end this on-and-off feud between your family and the Murphys.”
Tony shook his head. “I don’t even know what the feud is about.”
“Well, we heard it started over love. And love could be the key to fix it once and for all.” Curtis smiled mysteriously.
“How do you mean?” Tony asked.
As if on cue, the elevator dinged. Connor Murphy, dressed in a slick navy blue suit, walked out. Tony’s back stiffened slightly as Connor approached them.
Sal continued to stand where he was, not sure what to do.
“What is he doing here?” Tony glared at Lina and Curtis suspiciously.
“Connor has something to tell you. I think you’ll find it enlightening.” Curtis nodded at Connor. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
“No. But I’ve met your friend here. She’s very persuasive.” Connor nodded at Lina. “I didn’t realize who you work for, Lina.”
Connor shook Curtis’ hand. “I’m a big fan.”
“Thanks.”
“I should thank you for trying to help my cousin,” Connor said solemnly. “What happened on that staircase was my fault.”
“What are you talking about?” Tony demanded.
Connor didn’t answer Tony’s question right away. Instead, he said to Curtis, “I don’t think you know. Tony, Sofia, and myself grew up and went to the same school together. Just like our grandparents did.”
He chuckled. “Funny how history repeats itself, in a way.”
“Why are we walking down memory lane?” Tony asked.
Still not answering Tony, Connor continued, “Tony, being a couple of years older than me and Sofia, went off to college first. While you were in college, Sofia and I became really close. But with the rift between our families, of course, we told no one. We kept our relationship a secret on and off throughout college. We broke up when I graduated and she went on to law school.”
“You and Sofia? My sister?” Tony’s voice rose. His brows crunched so deep above his nose bridge, Lina was worried he’d break a blood vessel.
“I love her, Tony,” Connor said. “I can’t move on with someone else because every time I try, her face is all I see. Even though she told me we could never be together, I asked her to see me at Morrigan’s in secret.
“She came. She couldn’t forget me, either. So she started seeing me at the club every Thursday night. Sean, my cousin, escorted her to me on those nights. But on that fateful night, your brother must’ve followed Sofia and came to the wrong conclusion,” Connor finished.
“I overheard Rocco being territorial about a girl to Sean. I didn’t know it was your sister,” Curtis added.
“Guest number three is en route up,” Kate’s voice quietly gave Lina and Curtis a heads-up.
“Why are you telling me all this now?” Tony asked Connor.
“Because I can’t live with Sofia thinking that I killed her brother,” Connor said. “I swear on my father’s grave, it wasn’t me.”
“But it was your family.” Tony pointed his finger at Connor. “You can’t deny that. You may say you’re out of this game, but you still have contact with people who would do your dirty work.”
Lina watched a confused-looking Sofia Stiletto enter the floor. Her eyes widened at the sight of Connor and her brother together.
“It wasn’t me, Tony.” Unaware of Sofia’s presence, Connor added regretfully, “But I just found out after looking into it further, it could’ve been my aunt. She alluded to it in a letter she left me before she flew to Ireland.”
“I knew it,” Sofia said softly.