“And he was grooming me to change that.”
My gaze hardened on the man, and I hoped he wouldn’t see through my ruse.
“I’m the only child and firstborn of the Bianchi patriarch you served willingly for over twenty years, Mr. Russo. I am the rightful head of this family. Just because I don’t adorn the kind of genitalia you do doesn’t make me any less qualified to know about my own family’s dealings. Now you can give me the information I want so I can take my rightful seat where I’m supposed to, or you can go down with Stefano when the world no longer turns in his direction,” I said.
“And if I don’t?” James asked.
I leaned forward in the seat against my crossed legs.
“Then I’m sure Enrico would love to come in here convince you to cooperate with me.”
I watched James swallow hard, and I knew I had him. I sat back into the chair and opened my arms, resting them on the sides of the chair. It was a move I’d seen my father use plenty of times. He kept his legs crossed to seem unthreatening, then opened up his chest as a taunt. It was his “try me” stance. Try to disobey me and see what happens.
My eyes held James’ stare for quite some time before he started typing on his computer.
“How long do you want me to go back?” James asked.
“Since my father’s death. I have a feeling Stefano’s mucking up my father’s legacy, and it’s about time that stopped,” I said.
“At least we’re on the same page there,” he murmured to himself.
I shadowed my confusion with a hard stare as he continued typing on his computer.
“Okay. Want me to list it out or walk you through it?”
“Paint me a picture, Mr. Russo,” I said with a grin.
“When your father passed, Stefano quickly stepped up and took the position. He gave me the same excuse. You were too deep in your grief, and he didn’t want you assuming such a rough title with a small child in play.”
I bit down on my tongue. Did my father actually expect me to take his place? I thought I was playing a false card.
“What did Stefano do?” I asked.
“The first thing he did was increase the number of guns he purchased on a regular basis. Almost doubled the order. That’s where he pulls the bulk of his money from. Shipments range from two cities over to deserted places in Saudi Arabia and Russia.”
“I take it those are recurring shipments?” I asked.
“They are. I can get you the details if you want them.”
“All I want right now is the picture,” I said.
“He focused on that for a few months, then hopped to drugs. That was a new game your father hadn’t played in, and I advised him against it. But he didn’t listen because that’s what Stefano does.”
“You don’t like him, do you?” I asked.
James whipped his gaze over to me and sighed.
“I am loyal to your family,” he said.
“I’m not asking for loyalty. I’m asking for your opinion.”
“I am loyal to your family,” he said again.
I sighed and shook my head as I bit down on the inside of my cheek.
“Keep going,” I said.
“Every two months, he set up a recurring shipment of heroin to come in on the docks. But he doesn't oversee this process. He has third-party people he pays to run and distribute the drugs.”