AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When Barone sneered, Antonio tried to think of a way to take him with him.
“So, yeah, call me back,” Vespa finished. “Fuck, voicemails make me feel like an idiot.” And then her voice was gone.
Leandro Barone closed his hand around the phone. “I’m surprised. For someone with a reputation for being lethal and brutal, she’s quite childish, isn’t she?”
“She isn’t a child,” Antonio said, his voice hard. He cleared his throat, letting his more natural expression slide into place. “Though she has been easier to manipulate than I expected.”
“Still trying,” Barone murmured. He waved his hand when Antonio opened his mouth to argue. “No, I respect that. You remind me of myself.” He loosened his jacket button and sat across from Antonio like he had during their prior meeting. “Much more than my son ever did.”
Antonio’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you didn’t talk about your son.”
Barone’s mouth pressed into a hard line. “I’m certain you’ve already gathered the truth. You’re intelligent, Antonio, with quite an impressive network. It took me much longer to obtain the story of what happened to Cesare, and keeping my inquiries discreet was costly.” He sighed. “It was very like my worm of a son to target a woman.”
“The apple didn’t fall far at all,” Antonio said.
“Watch your tongue.” Barone’s eyes flashed as his hand curled against his thigh. He unfurled his fingers, smoothing his pant leg. “I can see why it would look that way to you, but I never considered revenge back then. If Ms. Mortali was strong enough to defend herself, then she deserved the victory. Besides, the Coronellas didn’t seem very ambitious. They weren’t a threat.” He leaned back in his seat. “They are now.”
“So you target their enforcer?” Antonio shook his head. “You’re lying to yourself if you believe the past doesn’t color that decision.”
“I study things. Just as you do.” Barone leaned toward him again. “Tell me, Antonio. What about the Coronellas first drew you to them for an alliance?” He held up a finger. “And don’t even try to prevaricate.”
“It wasn’t Vespa. Montrell took out his own father.” Antonio’s smile spread to hide the self-hatred the thought stirred. “Something I was struggling to do.”
“That’s not a flaw, Antonio. Your loyalty is remarkable.” Leandro Barone studied him, tapping his chin. “But I think you’re lying to yourself, just as you accused me of doing.”
Antonio recalled returning to the reports about Vespa again and again, back in the beginning. The amount of violence—successful, targeted violence—placed at her feet had piqued his interest. That much was true.
But then she’d opened her mouth, and he’d been annoyed.
That her words no longer annoyed him was an outcome he’d never imagined.
“She’s admirable,” Barone murmured, as if following his thoughts. “Without her, the Coronellas wouldn’t have survived. Taking her out might not destroy them, but it would heavily weaken them.” He shifted Antonio’s phone in his hand. “My mistake was targeting her directly. As my son learned, she’s very difficult to kill.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t target Montrell,” Antonio said.
“Oh, I’ve tried. She keeps a protective net of soldiers around him.” Barone lifted an eyebrow. “Didn’t you notice that in all your time spent with them? It could be done, but it would take a lot more men than it would to target her, since she’s so often alone. Or you, when you drive off the Rossi estate by yourself. I was rather disappointed when my men returned with you this morning.”
Antonio forced his smile to remain. “That hurts my pride. I’d been a little distracted.”
“Taking out Rossi. Thank you for that, by the way.” Barone smiled. “Between you and the Coronellas destroying so much competition, things are looking to become much more profitable.” His hands closed around the phone. “Now, let’s see if Ms. Mortali will accept an invitation to this gathering.” Barone looked down at Antonio again, his eyes softening. “I never understood her interest in my son, but you? I understand her interest in you. If by some chance you’re still alive in the end, I might reconsider the possibility of marriage to my daughter.” He gestured toward the soldiers at the door. “Gag him,” he ordered.
Antonio had no time to spit out the words he’d been holding back before the soldiers were on him.
Chapter 28
Vespa shook off her nerves and squared her shoulders. Montrell and Beatrice were still waiting outside, and she needed to get over her colossal mistake of a voicemail and face them. She didn’t even have to tell them about sounding like an idiot.
She’d just swung open the outer door when the phone in her hand vibrated.
“Shit, that’s him,” she said, embarrassed when she saw the name she’d chosen on the screen. She’d have to change it again.
Montrell opened his mouth to say something, but she muttered, “Hold that thought,” and shut the door between them.
Clearing her throat, she answered. “Hey. What’s up?” She grimaced. What was she, a teenager?
“I’m sorry to disappoint, but this isn’t Antonio Di Salvo.” The deeper, vaguely familiar voice in her ear chuckled. “I apologize. I’m certain I’m not the one you wanted to talk to today.”
“Fuck no,” Vespa said, and she hung up.
