Underboss (With Me in Seattle Mafia 1)

“Carmine,” Nadia says in surprise.

“I could call the cleanup crew, but if I do, he’ll go missing. His family will look for him. If we call the police, it’ll be wrapped up as a drug situation gone wrong, and Rich’s family can bury him.”

“And I can play the part of the devastated newlywed,” Annika says bitterly.

“It’s your call,” I tell her. “How do you want to play it? Either way, you have to lie.”

“Call the cops. His family will know that he was a drug dealer and a piece of shit. And they can bury him. But I won’t act the part of the devastated widow. He didn’t earn that.”

“Okay, let’s go. When we get to your house, you can call the office and ask them to get Rich from his office.”

She nods, and we leave the way we came.

* * *

“I have prints and drugs for you.” I toss both items on the desk as Shane looks up in surprise.

“Where’d you find drugs?”

I fill him in on everything that happened over the past few hours.

“So, the fucker’s dead?” Shane shakes his head. “Well, without the prints, I can tell you that I found quite a bit that piece of garbage, Alex, missed. Rich never went to college. It was all a front. And he didn’t work at that clinic. He rented the office next door and pretended to go there to work every day.”

“Holy shit.”

“I’m still digging into some stuff, but these prints will help. If my suspicions are right, Rich was behind everything all along. He tried to kill Pop, he sent out the feelers to New York, and when that fell through, he had that kid killed.”

“But why? It just doesn’t make sense.” I shake my head, perplexed. “Why start wars with the mafia when he just came into the family?”

“Good question. Maybe he thought he was proving his worth to Nadia’s dad so he could start working more intensely for the family. Who knows? How’s Annika holding up?”

“She’s damn pissed off.”

“Yeah, I would be, too.”

“Nadia stayed at the office with her. The police are probably there by now.”

My brother’s brow lifts. “Police?”

I tell him the plan and remind him that we have a few contacts in the Denver PD to make things go down the way we want them to.

“Looks like we have our man,” Shane says. “Right here in Denver, all this time.”

“It’s a hell of a thing,” I agree. “I wish he’d been alive when I found him. I’d have liked to break his fingers and then shove a pill down his throat myself.”

“Are you sure it was self-inflicted?”

I shrug. “My gut says so. I think he poisoned himself by accident because he was an arrogant idiot. He was counting pills on his desk. No gloves.”

Shane clicks his tongue. “All he had to do was lick his finger or something, and it would all be over.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“So, what now?”

I shake my head. “I’m not entirely sure. I still have questions. Why would he have Nadia attacked?”

“Because she was digging around, and he didn’t want her finding him out.”

“You’re right. It makes sense.”

“I’m still going to keep digging on him. I want to know more, but I have a few other jobs coming up, so it’ll take some time.”

“He’s dead. I’d say there’s no hurry. Where’s Rocco?”

“He got called back to Seattle. He’s probably in the air by now.”

I nod. “Thank you. For all of your help. You didn’t have to.”

“It’s what family does,” he reminds me. “Now, I’m going to load up and get back to my place in the mountains. The city gives me hives.”

I laugh as Shane closes his computer and shoves it into his bag. He’s a recluse, through and through.

“I’ll lock up behind you.”

“Want me to call Pop?”

“Nah, I’ll do that, too.”

* * *

It’s late when Nadia finally walks into the Airbnb. She texted a while ago to tell me she was on her way.

Just from her text alone, I could tell she was exhausted.

And sad for Annika.

Nadia may do her best to hide things behind her hard exterior, but she’s full of love and compassion, especially for those she loves.

She shuts the door behind her, then turns. Her eyes widen as she takes in the room. I’ve lit several dozen candles, and I have food waiting in the oven. But first, I’m going to pamper her a bit.

“Follow me.” I take her hand in mine and kiss it, then lead her back to the bathroom, where a hot bath waits for her.

“Roses in the bath?”

“That’s right.”

She doesn’t say a word as I help her out of her black shirt and blue jeans. When she’s naked, I keep her steady as she steps into the bath.

“I didn’t even realize I needed this.”

“I did.” I kiss the top of her head and let her soak. The wine I bought—Nadia’s favorite—is chilled and ready, so I pop the cork and fill a glass. “Sip this while you soak. Just sip it. I don’t want you to get drunk on me.”