“You said that place was secure,” I said, anger rising sharply. I knew it was a mistake, Vincent Leone wasn’t the kind of man you got mad at, but I was livid as hell.
“My wife lives there,” he said, keeping calm, which actually knocked some of my anger away. “You think I’d keep her there if it weren’t safe?”
“Then explain the men that broke in.”
He shook his head. “I’m at war. They must’ve decided to take things too far.” He stepped close to me. “Mona could’ve been hurt. You realize that, don’t you?”
“I don’t give a fuck about your wife,” I said, my voice soft and hard. “Amber almost got hurt. Mona wasn’t even home.”
His eyes flashed anger and I knew I’d gone too far, but I couldn’t take it back now. He didn’t move for a long moment and I stood staring at him, standing eye to eye with the big bull, the most powerful man in the city. I thought he might hit me—but instead, he turned and stalked a few feet away before turning back. “Come with me.”
It wasn’t a request. I followed him down the hall, and he took me into a side room. I hesitated in the entryway and frowned at a huge wall covered in what looked like vinyl records. To the right was a huge, absurdly fancy stereo system, and to the left was a small couch.
Vincent walked to the stereo, turned it on, and put a record on the platter. Immediately some weird, random jazz started playing, all wailing horns and horrible, off-beat drumming. I grimaced and shook my head.
“What the hell is this?”
He put a finger to his lips then gestured at the couch. I hesitated then sat down. He sat next to me, leaning forward on his knees. I had to lean forward to hear him as he spoke softly.
“I think there’s someone listening.”
I almost pulled back, but he looked at me, and his eyes were clear, his face serious. I thought he must be insane, but then again, he was the head of the mafia. If there was someone in the city worth spying on, it was Vincent.
“How do you know?”
“Nobody here knows about that place. Unless you tipped them off, which I don’t think you did, then I don’t know how they found out about it.”
“Someone has to know.”
“Only people I really trust.” He shook his head. “Other things are happening. The Dusters keep showing up places they shouldn’t, hitting safe houses, robbing stashes. They keep getting the drop on me and I don’t know how.”
“You think this place is bugged?”
He shrugged. “Maybe, or maybe I’m going insane.”
I stared at him for a second. “Maybe you are.”
He laughed and leaned back, considering me. “I like you, Ren. The rumors about you are true. You’re frustratingly honest, you know that?”
“I know that Amber almost got killed, and you’re going on about your house being bugged. It doesn’t inspire confidence.”
He leaned toward me again, eyes shining. “How’s this for inspiring: I’m sick.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Sick, how?”
“I have multiple sclerosis. Do you know what that is?”
“You’ll end up paralyzed or something like that.”
“Sort of, yes. Everyone always thinks it’s a death sentence, but not necessarily. In some ways, I’m lucky. I have a good doctor and I was diagnosed young, so I’ll be able to stay on medication for a long time. Many people don’t get their diagnosis until they’re much older.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because the rumors about me are true. I am sick, but I’m not weak. The Leone family’s been at the top of this city for a long time now, and we haven’t been challenged in years. We need to crank back up into war mode, but we’re getting there. I need you to stick around while we get ourselves sorted.”
“I didn’t plan on abandoning Amber.”
“Good.” He nodded to himself. “That’s good. You can both stay here for a while.”
“Don’t know where else we’d go.”
He shot me a glare. “Please don’t keep testing my patience, Ren. You’re honest, but you’re not stupid.”
I cracked a little smile. “All right, Vincent. I hear you.”
“Good.” He stood up and looked down at me. “I can’t promise it’s going to be safe here. I can’t promise it’s going to be safe anywhere in the city, not anywhere my people will be. Maybe you should think about getting her away if you can.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
He nodded, glancing toward the door. “I wish I could send my Mona with you, if you do decide to leave the city, but I know she’d never go. And hell, I don’t want to lose her.”
“Must be hard.”
His face hardened again and he stared at me for a long beat. “Just watch Amber. Make sure she’s safe.”
I nodded, stood, and walked to the door. I felt his eyes on me the whole time. The strange, wailing saxophone continued to bleat wildly from the speakers. I opened the door and stepped out, but he said something I couldn’t hear. I looked back, nodded to him.