“Does Stefano know?” Shockingly, it was Tore who asked. He came out of the corner and handed Nicoletta his glass, but his gaze was on his cousin, demanding an answer.
Taviano shook his head. “No, I told her to leave. She wasn’t welcome. I thought it better not to let Stefano know. Already, there is too much between Stefano and Eloisa. Much more, and there would be no going back. Eloisa needs to find her way, although it might not be our way.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Nicoletta half turning toward him, shaking her head, indicating that Eloisa’s way was never going to be their way. She poured the refresher for Tore and handed it to him.
“She didn’t manage to claw me, and I did provoke her. I can get quite nasty when I want to, and I wanted to. She had been very ugly to Taviano. I didn’t like it and I let her know.”
A ghost of a smile played around Tore’s mouth, making him look younger. “I’ll bet you did. Your woman is quite the find, Taviano. I envy you.”
Taviano smiled and put his arm around Nicoletta. “Believe me, I know how lucky I am. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew. The first time I saw her with Lucia, she had my heart for sure. The way she loves Lucia and Amo gets me every time. I wanted a part of that.”
He had. It had shocked him that Nicoletta had the capacity to love so deeply and so readily after what had happened to her. He hadn’t thought she’d be open to Lucia and Amo. The Ferraros had watched her closely, fearing for the older couple, but from the moment she’d met them, Nicoletta had been more about taking care of them and protecting them than looking after herself. That had shown him her heart.
“Anyone want food? Who knows how long those two will be,” he added.
“If you’re cooking,” Marzio said.
Velia and Tore nodded their assent and Velia hooked her arm through Nicoletta’s. “We can get to know each other since we’re now cousins.”
Taviano gave his woman up to Velia as they followed him into the kitchen, happy to see she was in good hands.CHAPTER SIXTEENGiovanni Ferraro peered down at the small group of men wearing the Demon colors of the LA chapter. These men were definitely loyal to Benito Valdez and spent more time reporting to Benito than to their president, his brother Tonio.
The leader of the group was a thin man with crooked teeth and a scar that ran the length of his face, from temple to jaw. He had multiple prison tattoos, creating sleeves on both arms and around his neck and up onto his face. Most were skulls, giving his face a strange, dead-like facade. His name was Victor and he appeared very driven. Giovanni pegged him for a plant.
If he could so easily see that Victor and most of those with him were really men Benito paid to spy on his brother, he was certain Tonio could as well. Tonio was an intelligent man. Giovanni was certain all the brothers were. Benito had succumbed to alcohol and drugs. He’d been on a power trip too long, and eventually the chemicals had eaten away his brain cells to the point that he had forgotten all about finesse and ruled his world with brute force. That worked sometimes, but not all the time. Real loyalty counted, and he’d forgotten that.
Tonio had sent the right army to support Benito’s cause. Victor was happy that he was on his way, more than halfway to Chicago with his men. Benito had requested at least fifteen men from each city, and Tonio had been generous and sent eighteen of those he considered his “best.” He’d had the conversation with his brother in front of Victor, and Victor had soaked that praise right up. He confirmed to Benito that the men Tonio sent were all very loyal to the president of the Demons and none of them were slackers.
They were fueling their vehicles and grabbing food and they’d be on their way. They weren’t calling attention to themselves. They didn’t want the cops to identify them or watch their progress to Chicago. They’d get the girl for Benito and make certain to identify anyone who had helped keep her from him. He could come in and kill them himself and then take her back to New York with him. Victor, on the phone, nodded several times and told Benito that they’d be there at the same time.
Giovanni exchanged a long look with his cousin Maximino. Benito was definitely on his way to Chicago. They had confirmation. If Rigina or Rosina could get a lock on Victor’s cell they might be able to trace where Benito actually was, and they could send riders to intercept him. The family didn’t want him getting anywhere close to Nicoletta.