It was completely soundproof and had at least twenty cameras set at different angles up on the walls, just in case we needed to watch tape to see exactly who did what first.
I nodded to Tex. He shut the door behind us. I walked toward the table and had a seat, placing my gun in front of me for all to see.
“Nixon… it has been… a while. Tell me, how is your family?”
“The same,” I said dryly. “Wealthy, powerful, pissed…”
Luca Nicolosi grinned. His glaring white teeth were like a bright light against his tanned skin. At forty-seven, he’d been taking care of the Nicolosi family since his father’s passing ten years ago. The last time I’d seen him, he’d been a cocky piece of work. Now, well now he just pissed me off. Everything about him screamed indulgence, from his pressed silk suit to his combed hair. Hate did not even begin to describe what I felt toward him and his family.
I detested them—more than anything in the world.
At eleven years old, I had trusted them. I had run into their arms that night…
“Help! Help me!” My father had left the box unlocked this time. I hadn’t realized it until I started kicking against the door. He was punishing me again. I knew it was my fault he was angry. He’d told me to spy on Ma again and I’d told him to go to hell.
So he’d put me in the time-out box.
It was really small and black. One time I’d been in there for the entire day.
Lately it seemed like just looking at him wrong earned me time in the box.
“Help!” I ran directly into the living room, where a few men were seated. Father wasn’t anywhere to be found.
“Help? What do you need help with?” Luca stood in the corner, hands in pockets. His thick accent reminded me of my grandfather. He’d been kind to me, my grandfather.
“My father, he locked me in a box and I don’t know where my ma went and—”
“Aww.” Luca clapped his hands. “Family drama. It never ceases to amaze me how easily the families fall apart when we leave them to their own devices.”
What was he talking about?
“Listen.” Luca knelt down in front of me. “Do you hear that?”
“Hear what?” I could only hear my breathing.
“Exactly.” Luca patted my shoulder. “Nobody cares that you were locked in a box, not even God. So run along and crawl back in before I give you a true reason to scream for help.”
Frozen in place, I could only stare at him.
“Run along…” He sounded bored as I ran from the room. I was terrified for the rest of the night, terrified that he would make good on his promise and come get me. I even crawled back into the box.
My dad finally found me in that same position a day later, dehydrated and traumatized. It was the first time he beat me. He said I was an embarrassment to the other families.
It was also the first time I shot a gun and put his name on the target. He would die by my hands one day; he would die just like Luca.
“Why exactly are you here?” I asked, feigning boredom as I drummed my fingers against the table. “You have nothing to gain by your presence.”
Luca laughed. “And that is where you are wrong. We keep the peace between the families. We’ve heard of some unrest. You know the rules, Nixon. You live by them. One cannot simply shoot someone because they have a grudge. Hand over Mr. Alfero and this will all simply be a memory. We’ll leave on the first plane.”
“I can’t do that.”
“And why not?” He leaned forward. “What do you have to gain by protecting him?”
“Nothing,” I lied, “except a guilt-free conscience. How will his death wipe the slate clean?”
“A life for a life.” Luca shrugged. “After all, doesn’t he have a grandson or granddaughter next in line?”
So that’s what they wanted.
Trace.
Over my cold lifeless body.
“How would I know?”
“Bring him.” Luca motioned to someone behind him. The door opened and then closed again.
I tried to appear unfazed as I watched Faust bring Phoenix into the room. But damn if I didn’t want to jump across the table and end his life.
Chase tensed next to me.
So it had come to this? We let him live and he tells all?
Phoenix took a seat, a shit-eating grin on his face. Holy mother of God I was itching to end his life.
“This man seems to think differently. All I ask”—Luca cleared his throat—“is that you turn over Mr. Alfero, turn over the man responsible for De Lange’s death. A life for a life. If not, I’ll hurt those you love the most. After all, Phoenix is the leader of the De Langes now. Justice needs to be served.”
“Noted,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Do you doubt me?” Luca tilted his head to the side and placed his hands on the table as he pushed himself to a standing position. “Clearly, you do, otherwise you would be handing over the head of the Alfero family on a silver platter.”
“Why in the hell would I hand over the head of the Alfero family, especially when the person calling for his head is nothing but a treacherous snake?” I looked at Phoenix and glared. “So you listen to me.”
Luca’s eyebrows lifted just slightly.
“I will discover who murdered Frank Alfero’s son and daughter and when I prove what I’ve suspected all along, you will leave.”
Luca leaned back on his feet and laughed. Phoenix briefly made eye contact with me and shook his head, just once. But it was enough to catch me by surprise. What the hell kind of a dangerous game was he playing? I was about five seconds away from pulling my gun out and opening fire on everyone in that damn room.
“I will hurt those you love most,” Luca whispered. “Is that what you want?”
“I love no one.”
Luca laughed and reached into his pocket. He pulled out an envelope and lifted a lock of hair out of it.
A lock of dark, silky brown hair. He held it to his nose and sniffed. “Coconut? Lavender? Do remind me to ask your little girlfriend what she uses. It’s absolutely… divine.”
I gripped the seat until my knuckles turned white.
Chase burst out laughing and slapped me on the back.
What the hell was he doing?
“Phoenix, you always were such an ass. Luca, can I call you by your first name?”
Hair still lifted by his face, Luca looked between me and Chase. I remained emotionless on the outside, while on the inside I was praying for my cousin to pull his head out of his ass. What the hell was he thinking?
“And who are you?”
“I go by Chase Winter—my mom’s last name and all that—but I’m an Abandonato. I’m the boss’s cousin. I’m also a bit confused as to what Phoenix must have told you.”
“Well, allow me to clear things up.” Luca gritted his teeth and pointed at Phoenix.
“I’d rather you not.” Chase stood. “You see, every minute I hear you disrespecting Trace is another minute I’m adding on to the time I get my hands around Phoenix’s neck and personally introduce him to Jesus Christ, when he will surely receive his just reward—an eternity in Hell. So allow me to clear things up with you. If you touch my girlfriend, I will kill you. I won’t stop in my pursuit to pull your beating heart out of your damn chest and feel its last beat through my clenched fist as your blood drips from my fingertips. I suggest, Mr. Nicolosi, that you get your information straight before you come to our country, our city, and our family. I’m warning you: Don’t push us too far, because we sure as hell will push back.”
The hair fell from Luca’s fingers onto the table. In an instant, Phoenix was pulled out of his seat and slammed against the wall, a gun held to his neck.
“What else are you lying about?” Luca pushed the gun further into Phoenix’s neck. “Hmm? Is your only goal to destroy the family standing in the way of your ultimate power? Wake up, child. You are not a man, you are a vessel that I am using in order to make sure our business dealings are not discovered by either of our governments. Allow your jealousy to make you weak and I will show you the true meaning of pain.” He released Phoenix and let him fall to the floor. In an instant he was giving orders to the other two men in the room.
One of Luca’s men stepped forward, producing a thick envelope. Inside were pictures.
Of Chase and Tracey.
I almost lost it right there.
Chase had put his life on the line for both of us, and now I knew there was no going back. It had to be real. I had to help them make it real because if they knew we’d lied…
We were all going to die.
“This.” Luca pointed at the first picture. “Is this what you’re talking about?”
Chase was on top of Tracey, pinning her to the ground. I stared at the picture and prayed I was keeping my expression bored when my heart was breaking inside my chest. I knew what they were doing; I knew it was part of their KI class training session. But still.
We’d been spied on for the past week; that much was certain. I was suddenly thankful that Chase had been the one with Trace the whole time. Chase had used his security detail as a brilliant excuse for their relationship.
“To be fair,” Faust said next to Luca, “they could be sharing her.”
This time Tex spoke. “No offense, Faust, but men in our family don’t have problems catching women. Unlike some people…”
Faust’s nostrils flared but he said nothing.
“This.” Luca pointed to the pictures. “This is true? The Alfero heir and you; you are together?”
Chase rolled his eyes. “Why else would I be on top of her in class. I’m trying to get as close to her as possible even when the professors are looking.”
My heart slammed against my chest. I knew it was a lie, but damn if it didn’t feel like truth.
“If you are lying…”—Luca sighed—“things will not end well for you.”
“We don’t lie. We aren’t rats. Now, tell us how we can help you. The way I see it”—I leaned forward on the table and folded my hands—“is the quicker we work together, the quicker you row, row, row your boats back across the Atlantic.”
“Straight to the point. No threats, just questions?” Luca nodded. “I like that.”
“I’m a likeable guy.” I flashed him a toothy grin and licked my lips, pausing for effect. “We have kept order for a very long time. My proposition is this. Allow us the rest of the fall semester to continue to dive into the De Lange family, without interruption. Hand over Phoenix, allow us to do our jobs, and in the end, if we cannot find a solution, we hand over Mr. Alfero and you leave. All of you.”
“Time. You want time.”
“And Phoenix. Don’t forget him.” I nodded to Phoenix. “We have some unfinished business. I don’t suppose Faust told you about the rape allegations to Chase’s girlfriend.”
“I did not think it necessary,” Faust interrupted.
“Not necessary?” Luca threw his head back and laughed. “Do you ever feel, Mr. Abandonato, that you are the only one who is not an idiot?”