Top Dog

“You think Stefano’s out to kill both of us?” he asked.

“I think it’s not beyond him. I also know he’s playing this family on all fronts. I know his end goal is to take control of our empire. But the assaults are slow and from the shadows. He’s wearing down our defenses before he attacks. Weakening our walls before he delivers the fatal blow. It’s a great tactic in war.”

“You think that’s what Stefano’s trying to do.”

“Yes. He’s deployed multiple useless attempts to penetrate our walls while he’s got a solid—and much bigger—plan in the works. He’s kept me busy with Julia, and then he kept me busy with the cops and this whole mess with the gun runners. Now, I have to assume he’s sent Enrico to try and divert my attention back to Julia.”

“So you think Enrico’s a pawn.”

“He can say all he wants about being l

oyal to Julia and Giuliano. But the second his job is threatened, he will answer to Stefano. Men like him always do,” I said.

“So where do we go from here?”

“You go nowhere,” I said. “Your job is the same. Protect Mom until we can get all this shit sorted out. But I go to talk to Julia.”

“Today?” he asked.

I held the phone to my ear as my eyes glared at my brother.

“Julia? Hey, it’s me. Listen, I was wondering if you and I could meet up again to talk? I’ve got some things I want to fill you in on. Mhm. That’s fine, I completely understand. Are you sure he’s safe there? Yeah. Call me when you’ve dropped him off, and we can meet wherever you want. I’ll talk with you soon.”

“I take it she’s meeting with you?” Antony asked.

“She is.”

“What do you need me to do?” my brother asked.

“What you’re already doing. Keep mom safe. I’ll be back in a bit.”

I needed to know where Julia’s head was at, and I needed her to know my plan to involve the police to take her uncle down. No matter where Enrico’s allegiance stood, he was right about one thing.

She and Matteo were in danger.

And I would lay down my own life to protect them.

CHAPTER 28

JULIA

I dropped Matteo off at Shelley’s again and he ran right up to her daughter and immediately started jabbering away. It warmed my heart seeing him so happy, and I briefly wondered if we could make this work. A life in the city. Having his friend over for playdates. Enrolling him in school where he could make lots of new friends. . Matteo yearned for friends his age. Homeschooling him worked until a certain point, but he wanted to engage. He was independent like me, and I knew I wouldn't be able to keep him caged for very long.

I got back into my car and drove to the place where I’d agreed to meet Romeo. Ironically enough, it was an old hotel where our own fathers used to do business. Romeo had a key to one of the rooms that the hotel kept listed as “occupied” so no one would come in or out but him and the people he let in. I headed for the hotel, drove around back, and waited for Romeo’s signal.

I think I had it all figured out, how to choke Stefano off from the family business. He had his hands in everything. Asset accounts. All the business fronts. And if I could take control of those by notarizing paperwork and assuming the rightful ownership of my father’s estate, I could wipe his name from the accounts. Choke off his legitimate revenue stream. Shut down those shell corporations. If I cut off his cash flow, he had no way to stay in power. No way to pay people. Everything would crumble from underneath him, and when he went looking for the reason, he’d find my name stamped on everything.

And nothing he could do about it.

My eyes concentrated on the window. I saw the curtain flutter three times before shutting. I got out of my car and slipped in quickly through the front door and was met by Romeo’s strong arms wrapping around me.

He planted a kiss on top of my head. I felt like I was home.

“You have to stop what you’re doing,” he said.

I furrowed my brow and pushed myself away from him.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.