AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As we tuck in, she looks at me. “So? What’s your answer to Aurora’s burning questions? What are you wearing to my wedding, and will you be bringing someone?”
I snort around a mouthful of bread. “Don’t know, and no. And frankly, if I’d known being best bitch would involve so much work, I would’ve asked for a raise.”
She laughs at that. “Believe me, I count myself very lucky to have you as my best bitch. And I’m glad we got that out of the way.” But then her expression sobers, and I know the real business is about to start. “Listen, though—I need to update you on a few things. Juno Bianchi will be arriving in Chicago for the wedding at the last minute as a security measure. So we’ll have limited time together, but we’re going to take every chance we have to discuss extending some of our joint business ventures.”
I nod slowly. “Understood,” I say. “But we’re going to need to make sure Grandmother’s contained before the Bianchis get here. The last thing we need is for her to stir up more shit while the Bianchi Family is in the city.”
Hadria’s lips tighten into a grim line. “Agreed. That’s why I’m starting to think you could do with a little help.”
“It’s under control.”
“You have a plan?”
“Working on it.” I keep my voice deliberately vague.
Hadria studies me for a long moment, those piercing eyes missing nothing. “You know you really don’t have to do this alone, right?” she says at last. “If you need backup, resources, anything—just say the word. The Syndicate’s got your back on this.”
I shrug one shoulder, deflecting. “A wolf hunts alone, Hades. You know that.”
“Isn’t it the other way around?” she counters. “Wolves hunt in packs.”
Scoffing, I shake my head. “Not this wolf.”
Hadria leans back in her chair, toying idly with a fork. “Alright. If you’re sure.”
“I’m still waiting for Johnny de Luca to get back to me on something,” I offer, just so she knows I’m actually making headway. “Once I know where this bitch is hiding, then I’ll ask you about putting a team together to take her out.”
I won’t. I’ll take Scarlett with me and do the job myself. But Hadria nods, satisfied.
“The Imperiolis are quiet,” she goes on, after we both eat a little more. “Too quiet.”
It’s strange to hear her speak about them as though she’s not one. For so long that was her driving desire, to seize her birthright, take the Imperioli Family as her own. “Guess they learned their lesson after Nero.”
“Maybe. Oh, and you’ll never guess what the Sokolov boys are saying these days,” she goes on, a touch of dark humor in her tone. “That assassin is haunting them. Like a ghost or something.”
“Assassin?”
She glances at me. “Scarlett.”
The Sokolovs. Shit. Of course they’re talking. And rumors are spreading. This could spiral out of control if I’m not careful.
For a fraction of a second, I consider coming clean to Hadria. Telling her everything—about my deal with Scarlett, about keeping her alive, about…whatever the hell is going on between us. Maybe she would understand. Maybe?—
No. I cut off that line of thinking before it can take root. I can’t bring Hadria into this. Not until I have Grandmother fully neutralized and Scarlett is…dealt with. Once this is all over, then I’ll explain everything. Hadria will accept it because it will be a moot point by then.
But she won’t accept it now.
Forcing a casual shrug, I meet Hadria’s eyes across the table. “You know what a bunch of superstitious fucks those Sokolovs are. They need an excuse for their incompetence, more likely.”
Hadria grins, but my gut churns. I feel both guilt at lying to her face, but also resentment at the fact that she gets to have…
What they have.
She and Aurora are allowed their sickeningly happy domestic bliss. And I’m out there alone, caught in the endless grind of Syndicate business with nobody to come home to.
Abruptly, I stand, the screech of my chair against the hardwood floor shattering the tense silence. “Look, I really should get going. I’ve got things to take care of. This was great, though. Nice to catch up.”
Hadria’s brow furrows, but she doesn’t argue. “Okay. And I’m pretty sure Aurora didn’t really lock us in,” she says. “But don’t be a stranger, okay? We’re in this together. You’re my right-hand woman. I can’t do any of this without you.”
