Leopard's Wrath (Leopard People 11)

Sevastyan shook his head. “I did some digging, but so far haven’t found anything but that the Dovers had an impeccable reputation and no one would ever consider that they would steal from those employing them. Or go to the cops.”

“That was how many years ago?”

“Three. Two weeks after they buried Ania’s grandparents and mother, her father was robbed on the street just outside of a liquor store. He was shot multiple times. From what I understand, one of the bullets lodged in his brain and they couldn’t remove it. He hasn’t been seen in public since. He’s alive, there was footage of him leaving the hospital, but he no longer works his business. Ania took it over, and a couple of months ago she contacted Jake Bannaconni saying she wanted to sell. He agreed to handle the transaction for her. I’ve got a call in to Jake to see exactly what his relationship with the Dovers is and what he knows about what transpired between the families in Houston and Ania’s family. From what I understand, the business is worth a fortune. She’s already independently wealthy and doesn’t have to work if she doesn’t want to. Jake’s in negotiations right now with two different buyers.”

Mitya steepled his fingers and continued to stare into the flames. She was selling the business. She’d mentioned that to him.

“Is her property up for sale?”

“No, but there is a rumor that it might be going up. I don’t know if that’s because she’s selling the business or because she contacted a Realtor. Why would you think that?”

“Her grandparents and mother were murdered. Someone tried to kill her father and, in some way, partially succeeded. She told me his health was declining. She’s selling a lucrative business that has been in her family for three generations.”

Sevastyan sat back in his chair. “Shit. She’s getting rid of all encumbrances. All ties. Anything that would hold her down.”

Mitya nodded. “I think I’m going to have to press my suit faster with Ania Dover for more reasons than her leopard rising. I think she’s in trouble.”

“Maybe not now, but if she messes with either the Caruso or Anwar family, she will be. While the two of you are eating tonight, I’ll try to slip in and see her father. That might be the only chance we have.

Mitya frowned. “I’ll see if I can get her to have him join us. If he’s really bad and can’t, then at least she’ll talk to me about him and you’ll have a better idea of where in the house he is and if anyone is with him.

“What do we know about the two families in Houston? They haven’t been on anyone’s radar, have they? In all the briefings—and I admit, I’m still not up to speed on all the players—I don’t recall Drake or anyone else mentioning either family as a threat.”

“Marzio Caruso came up through the ranks with his father in Florida. They ran a port and docks there, very successfully. When the father wanted a change, they relocated to Houston and quickly established themselves as the authorities in the port. They just took over the docks,” Sevastyan answered. “Ann is his wife, and they have four children, all boys.”

“Great. Are they leopard?”

“According to Elijah, yes, both families. Marzio added a trucking business as well, and the family and their enterprises have thrived. They do business with and get along well with Elijah Lospostos. He says they have always been men of their word. He hadn’t heard of a feud between the Dovers and the Carusos.”

“And the Anwar family?”

“Bartolo is the head of the family and, from all appearances, is a man of his word. He has two sons, Enrico and Samuele, both, like the Caruso brothers, very involved in the business. The daughter is younger by several years, Giacinta. She’s supposed to be very sickly and rarely leaves the house. Again, they do business with Elijah, and he’s never had a problem with them. He said even when the Caruso family came to Houston, there wasn’t a war or seemingly ill will between the families.”

“Elijah is a huge name in the business, not just here but worldwide,” Mitya said. “He’s an asset. Drake was smart to recruit him.”

He tipped the contents of the glass back. He rarely drank. It was never a good idea when one was a shifter, especially when the leopard was as feral and bloodthirsty as Dymka was. His leopard had settled a little knowing Mitya’s intention was to see Ania.

“The hit wasn’t necessarily put out by either of those families,” Mitya finally said. “We’re just speculating, Sevastyan. We don’t know if a hit was even ordered. The father could have been done by an actual robber. As for the car, that could have been anyone not happy with the family for transporting something successfully for anyone, let alone the families in Houston.”