Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Money’s missing.”
“I traced the amounts. Payments have been leaving Corvino accounts secretly for the past six years. Never the same number and never from the same location, but they always ended up in the same place.”
“Who?”
“I can’t tell that yet. It’s some corporate dummy shell. But the point is, Ignazio was paying someone.” She sits heavily and leans back with a groan. “And I missed it from the start.”
The implication settles slowly.
I knew Ignazio wasn’t alone. Clearly, he’s got parts of my organization under his thumb. I’m still trying to work out who’s loyal and who isn’t, but that’ll come in time.
What bothers me is the timeline.
Six years. That’s a long stretch to plan a coup.
“It’s possible he was embezzling the money to himself,” I offer as an explanation.
She concedes with a weary wave of her hand. “There’s no way to say for sure.”
“But what if he wasn’t?” I sit with the question a moment as dread builds in my gut. “What if he’s been paying someone for six years?”
“What would he be paying them for?”
“Loyalty.”
“But who?”
I think of the photograph on my desk. Ignazio didn’t have access to my office that day. He didn’t leave the picture.
But someone sure as fuck did, and I still haven’t caught them.
Someone in my inner sanctum… someone close to me…
“You did good work. I have one more job before you can head back home.”
“What do you need?”
Silas is in the city working his charm offensive to keep the pharma deal from falling apart. Devlin’s sniffing around on his own. Cassian left his remote cabin once already—he’s not about to do it a second time.
“Kellan. As soon as possible. We have to go for a hunt.”
She nods grimly and stands. “I don’t want any details.” She pauses at the door. “But I hope you catch and flay him alive.”
When she’s gone, I sink back into my chair.
The Corvino family has been strong for years. I’ve worked hard to survive my father’s death and to grow our empire. There were more than a few moments I thought might be the end of us, but instead we pulled through and flourished into what we are today.
Buying the pharma distribution corporation is our chance to continue that growth. There’s only so much we can do in Philadelphia. But if we have access to a bigger supply chain and a larger network of providers…
It’s the next step up.
But that step will inevitably leave some people behind.
Which is why I understand Ignazio’s position. He’s acting in his own self interests. I can make sense of that.
But who would want to work with him? Some of the other older Capos?
How did they win any of the soldiers over to their side?
The fact that there has been a conspiracy under my own roof for six years fills me with rage.
There’s a soft knock at the door. I look over sharply, thinking it’s Theodora coming back for something, but instead June steps into the room. “Hey, Rafe. Do you have a second?”
Some of the tension in my stomach fades. “Always for you.”
She carries a cup of tea to my desk. I’m tempted to ask if there’s also a shot of whisky in there but hold my tongue. June hovers by my side, a child’s drawing under her arm.
“I was talking to Priya. I guess Hattie’s been doing well.”
“Good. That’s a relief.” I’ve been worried about my little daughter. It couldn’t have been easy what she went through. I still get shivers every time I picture my girl covering her ears to blot out the sound of gunfire.
I never wanted this life for her.
“But there’s this.” June places the drawing down in front of me. “I was debating whether I’d say anything, but—“
It’s crude but I know Hattie’s style. June is on the far left of what looks like a ballroom and I’m on the far right. We’re separated by several unicorns and a pony with a jetpack.
“It’s nice. But I don’t see the issue.”
“There are a dozen of those.” June talks quietly, her concern emanating from her like warmth from a fire. “We’re like that in all of them. I asked her about it, and she said she thinks we hate each other.”
My eyebrows arch. “That’s perceptive.”
“Hattie’s a smart kid. She hides it, but she knows more about what’s going on around her than she lets on.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“I know you can’t do anything about it, but I was thinking—“ She sits down on the chair not covered by Theodora’s papers. “Maybe we could talk to her. I mean, together.”
I consider the idea for a moment before lightly pushing the drawing aside. I sip the tea and watch my wife, sitting back against my chair.
“What would we say?”
“I don’t know,” June admits, rubbing her hands together nervously. “But you and Hattie have a bond now. It’s pretty obvious.”