Shadow Warrior (Shadow Riders 4)

Giuseppi had turned in his seat to look accusingly at his brother. He didn’t try to hide his expression or his skepticism.

“Haydon Phillips is on the loose, and if the cops can prove Vane aided him in any way, they’ll put him behind bars. I’ve already questioned Vane and he had quite a bit to say. According to him, he was approached when he first was hired. The initial contact was made by a man named Harold Jenson. I believe he is in your employ, Miceli.”

Rather than look outraged, Miceli laughed softly. “Stefano, let’s be men here. You have those in my employ, in Giuseppi’s and our businesses. We have them in yours. This is just business between us. We watch one another, but that is all. If Vane is one of these men Harold recruited, then yes, he’s given money to tell us whatever he can about the mysterious Ferraro brothers and their lovely sister. That is all. There is no big conspiracy.” He waved his hands dramatically and then picked up a cannoli and took a large bite.

Giuseppi nodded as if his brother had fixed everything between the families.

Stefano sighed. “Perhaps what you say has some merit, Miceli, but conducting any business in our club is strictly forbidden. That is Ferraro territory. The lines are marked clearly, and we’ve set down the rules between our families long ago. Any infraction is an act of war. Your men have been conducting business in our club for some time now. Not just Ale and Lando, God rest their souls, but several others. In front of both of you is a list of names. These men are all on your payroll, Miceli.”

Before Giuseppi could drag the paper to him, Miceli caught it up, crumbled it in his hand and threw it. The paper landed in the strawberry jam. “I’ve said I do not conduct business in your club, Stefano, and my word should be enough!” Miceli shouted the accusation, his face turning red.

Stefano stared him down, his gaze cool. Vittorio felt everything in him settle. He knew exactly what he would do. His first shot had to be a kill shot. At all costs, even with Stefano choosing to target Val first, Vittorio would take out Val Saldi to protect Emme. Tommaso was next in order to keep from being killed. All the while he had to be moving back to the shadows. Protecting Giovanni came third. Giovanni couldn’t get into the shadows, not with the hardware in his leg. He would be exposed. Hopefully, their backup covering them would mow down their enemies before they fired off a shot.

Miceli’s face turned even redder. “I don’t care what you think, Stefano—”

Giuseppi had slowly stood, and his brother broke off, going quiet under his cold stare. “Stefano, it seems my family does owe you an apology. My son assured me that if you were making an accusation it wouldn’t be without proof. The Saldi family keeps our word.” He turned another cold look at his brother. “Conducting business in your club is not a sanctioned move. I will get to the bottom of this and we will pay restitution to your family.”

“Giuseppi—” Miceli attempted a protest, but it was met with another cold stare and a shake of his older brother’s head.

“No. When we say we will do something, when we negotiate and sign a treaty, we do so in good faith. Our word has never been questioned by the Ferraro family, nor has their word been questioned by ours. As head of my family, ultimately, I am responsible for not knowing what is going on right under my nose. I can only apologize, Stefano, and pay restitution.”

Stefano inclined his head. “You have been caring for Greta.”

“There is no excuse. Perhaps I need to step down and turn the business over to my son.” He sank into his seat, looking older, his handsome face lined with grief. “There is no stopping cancer, Stefano. It doesn’t matter the money or power, nothing stops it.”

Stefano put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Giuseppi. I can’t imagine losing Francesca. Greta has always been a bright star to everyone she touches.”

Miceli gripped his brother’s other shoulder. Vittorio didn’t buy the murmured words of sympathy. He glanced at Taviano. His younger brother knew Miceli’s condolences were false. Miceli was angry that Giuseppi would apologize to the Ferraros. He had knowingly conducted business in their territory, in one of their establishments, and he’d done so on purpose.

“I feel very bad having to continue with the list of proof,” Stefano said, “but I can’t let you think the nightclub was the only place the Saldi men were conducting business. I want it all stopped. Harold also recruited Bruno Vitale to sell drugs out of his family’s flower shop. Bruno was using the shop to ship drugs out as well through the postal service, which is a federal offense. He will be dealt with by us, but in doing so, two of the men bringing him the drugs to sell began to harass and threaten my ward, Nicoletta.”