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Antonio’s attention sharpened. He hadn’t heard a whiff about what had happened to Vespa in the past, and the fact that Barone knew irritated the hell out of him. He forced his jaw to unclench.
Leandro’s finger tapped on his leg as he considered his words. “I thought Coronella and she were… Well, let’s just say I wasn’t expecting Coronella to marry Lucchese’s daughter. Not only did Coronella marry her, but he seems to be elevating her in the ranks.” He set his glass aside. “This marriage, it’s another type of consolidation.”
Antonio felt like rolling his eyes. “As I said, we see no concern.”
Barone tilted his head, studying him. “But it wasn’t the Di Salvos’ choice to do the same. Giovanni married recently, but he chose an outsider.”
Antonio lips locked as he waited for him to say something even remotely disparaging against Nera, reminding himself that killing Leandro while he himself was unarmed inside the Barone estate would leave him at a disadvantage.
“I was discouraged when Giovanni was no longer available, but actually, it might be fortunate.” Leandro Barone smiled at him. “You and I would complement each other more, Antonio.”
Antonio’s smile fell as his mind scrambled. “I’m the Di Salvos’ consigliere. I have no interest in anything more. I support Giovanni.”
“I’m well aware. Your loyalty is another selling point.” Barone leaned forward, his smile wider. “I’m talking about our own alliance, Di Salvo. I’m getting older, and it’s past time that I settle my daughter into a life where she’ll be well provided for.”
“I wouldn’t call you old.” Antonio wanted to crawl away from the conversation. He flashed a smile instead. “And I’m not the marrying type, Barone. If you know so much about me, you must be well aware of that.”
“I know you’ve turned down Giovanni Di Salvo’s suggestions in the past, one of which included my daughter. But your father’s gone now.”
Nerves skittered over Antonio’s skin at the reference to Giovanni Sr. “My father’s been gone a long time.”
Leandro leaned back again. “I hope you don’t believe your true father was a well-kept Di Salvo secret.” He shook his head. “I never understood the need to keep it a secret at all. Having two sons would have been a godsend for me.”
“I’ve heard your own son is no longer in the picture,” Antonio said, ready to deflect. Getting into his mother’s toxic behavior, the reason his parentage had remained a secret, wasn’t an option.
Hard eyes settled on him. “I don’t talk about my son.”
“And you don’t need to.” Relieved to feel sure-footed again, Antonio filed away the tidbit for later. “I only brought him up because I’m surprised you wouldn’t be grooming someone from within the Barone family for your daughter.” He crossed his legs and placed the whiskey glass on top of his thigh again. “As I said before, I’m not the marrying type.”
“The landscape of our world is changing, Antonio.” Leandro’s lips pressed into a line. “I believe you’re the type to take advantage of those changes. At least meet my daughter. She’s quite lovely.”
“I’m certain she is, but I must decline.” Antonio set aside his glass as he stood. “I’m sorry, but I have another place to be.”
“Of course.” Barone rose to his feet as well. “At least I know you’re not running off to the Coronellas. They’re busy this morning with the Irish.”
Tension coiled within Antonio as he stared through the man.
“Oh, weren’t you aware?” Barone’s sharp smile came into focus. “I had forgotten the connection between the O’Connells and the Coronellas.” His eyebrow lifted. “Are you still not concerned about their movements?”
Antonio flashed a broader smile than was comfortable. “You’re reading into something that isn’t there. The O’Connells reached out to us, and we included the Coronellas due to their connection.” He skirted around the settee, his pulse throbbing in his neck. “Thank you for meeting with me.”
“Wait.” Leandro Barone’s hand gripped his shoulder, the way Vittore’s used to. It was unsettling. Barone let go, as if realizing he’d overstepped, and gave a nod. “I only ask that you take time to consider my proposal. I really do admire you, Antonio.”
Antonio’s jaw ached. “It seems like you’re the one wanting to get into my pants, not your daughter.” He strode toward the door. “Thank you for the drink.”
Collecting his items on the way out took longer than having them confiscated.
Antonio dialed a number on his phone after sliding into his car. “Tell me you’re there,” he snapped when it connected.
Silence answered him, but he’d expected that. It wasn’t a denial.
“I need you to step in when something goes wrong.” If Montrell was at the O’Connells, then Vespa was too. And the ramifications of the Irish meeting with the Lucchese just the day before didn’t bode well for them. “Keep them alive.”
The call ended, and Antonio forced himself not to speed out of the estate. The Barones were watching, and it wouldn’t help anyway. He was too far away to reach Vespa in time.
His eyes closed as he gripped the steering wheel and breathed. The reminder that she was more than capable of taking care of herself and the Coronellas didn’t help. Neither did the reminder that they were a casual fling, nothing serious.
He shouldn’t be this worked up over her, and yet he was. And if someone managed to hurt her, he wanted his own shot at ripping them to pieces.
