Chapter 8
DANTE
I lean against the wall across from Gabriel’s desk, arms crossed over my chest as I watch him take a slow sip of his liquor.
I let the silence sit for a second before finishing what I started. “The warehouse on River Street is moving product tonight,” I state. “But there’s going to be heat watching that area.”
My eyes stay on him as I ask the next question. “How do you want to move forward?”
His eyes lift from the paperwork on his desk. “How do you think we should move forward?”
I release a slow exhale and answer, “I think I could get the bureau to focus on the Lucchese family since they will be moving their product over at the location on 67th Avenue.”
Gabriel raises a brow. “And you’re confident that Faris will believe that?”
I push off of the wall, already running through the angles in my head. “I am. He’s been watching that section for the last few weeks.”
Only because I’d convinced him to.
I continue, “He’ll redirect his units there, giving us a clean window at River Street.”
Gabriel tilts his head, studying me. “Will you be leading the charge over the operation?”
I shake my head once, “Faris is too obsessed with looking like a hero. He won’t let me take any credit for it.”
He finally lifts his glass, swirling the liquid inside before taking another sip. “And the Luccheses, they’ll be the ones taking the wrap for everything?”
“They will,” I respond. “We just redirect the bureau and then everything falls into place.”
After sitting the glass back down on the wooden desk, he leans back in the chair, fingers steepled. “How much time will we have?”
“Once Faris moves his units in, we have thirty minutes. More or less, depending on how fast they get them into custody.”
He studies me again and we sit in silence for a few seconds before he finally nods. “Since you won’t be involved in Faris’s operation, I’ll need you keeping an eye on our boys. Can I trust that you’ll do that, Rivera?”
“Already planned to be there, boss,” I reply.
Gabriel tilts his head, his dark eyes still focused on me. “Make sure your FBI friend stays convinced. I don’t want this circling back to us.”
“It won’t,” I assure him.
Once Gabriel waves me off, I head toward the office door. But before I can open it, he calls out my name. “Dante.”
I pause at the exit, hand idling on the handle as I glance back at him. “Yeah?”
“Don’t get cocky just because you’re operating in two worlds. Always expect the unpredictable to happen and always remain two steps ahead.”
I nod slowly, “I know.”
And with that, I open the door and leave.
As I close the door to Gabriel’s office, I spot Leigh walking toward the foyer from where I stand in the hallway.
My eyes track her until she disappears around the corner.
I push off of the door a second later and head in the same direction.
She’s pulling on a black pair of slip-on Vans when I spot her. Her eyes are on me as she pulls the last shoe on.
“Leigh,” I mutter.
She straightens and then narrows her eyes, “You just came from my father’s office?”
“Yeah,” I answer, taking a step closer, but still doing my best to keep my distance. “I had to finalize a few things for one of his warehouses. Where are you going?”
Her lips lift upwards into a smirk. “I’m meeting Mira for coffee. I seem to have a bit of a hangover, so it’s calling my name.”
I keep my eyes on her, trying to decide if I can trust Mira to actually do her job this time.
I shift my weight slightly, “You sure that’s a good idea?”
Her brows pull together for half a second before she lets out a quiet scoff. “It’s coffee, Dante. Not a party.”
I don’t react to that. I know she’s trying to push my buttons about last night.
“I just want to make sure you’re safe,” I respond calmly.
That one sentence irritates her.
I can see it in the way her jaw tightens.
“That’s ironic, coming from the guy who practically told me I shouldn’t trust him.”
She turns for the door, but I catch her arm, pulling her back toward me. “You shouldn’t,” I say, voice lower than before. “But either way, I still care about your safety.”
She rips her arm out of my grip, “You work for my father, remember? Maybe focus on that and not me.”
She then opens the door and slams it behind her as she leaves.
I stand there for a moment, jaw tight, eyes still on the spot she just disappeared from.
After a moment, I groan and reach into my pocket to pull out my phone.
It rings twice before he answers.
“Yeah?” Viktor says.
“Leigh just left. She’s heading out to meet her friend Mira for coffee.”
There’s a pause on the other end. “Let me guess, you want me to-”
“Yes,” I cut in. “I have to be on sight for Gabriel’s product transfer. I won’t be able to watch her.”
Viktor lets out an annoyed huff. “You know she’s going to hate you, if she finds out you’re watching her again, right?”
“She already does,” I say, voice devoid of any emotion. “Just do it.”
I can picture him dragging a hand down his face out of irritation.
He’s her brother, so I know he’ll follow through. He’ll just be a pain in the ass about it first.
“Fine,” he mutters. “I’ll keep eyes on her. But if she catches me, I’m blaming you.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less.”
“Where is she now?” he asks.
“Just left the house. If I know her the way I think I do, I believe she’s going to The Twisted Spine.” I walk over to the penthouse window, glancing down at the street below. “Just do your best to make sure she doesn’t see you.”
“You do know who you called, right? Also, I suspect she’s going there to buy another stack of books and not just coffee.” He retorts.
I ignore that. “If anything’s off, you call me. Not your father. He doesn’t need this extra shit on his plate right now.”
There’s a quick pause before he agrees, “Got it.”
“Thanks,” I respond.
He exhales. “You owe me for this.”
I hang up, shoving the phone back into my pocket.
Now that my main distraction has been taken care of, I can focus on what’s going to happen tonight.