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I do. His efficiency makes me happy.
“Is that all the clothing?” he asks.
I nod. “If you’re going into town, bring me my suitcase from the apartment and my wife’s entire wardrobe.”
He tilts his head. “Women tend to have lots of clothes. I have under fifteen minutes to slip in and out of there, and I intend to use it on cleaning up.”
“There’s nothing to clean.”
“There’s always something, unless you’re me.”
“It was unplanned.” Even though we’re alone and this is a safe house, Drago speaks about last night’s events in a vague way just in case someone’s listening. The house is more secure than the presidential panic room, but practicing vigilance even in the most secure spaces makes everyone feel more at ease.
“You left behind carnage,” he says.
“He took my wife.”
“So I hear. Does Severio know?”
I open the family app on my phone. Fifty-seven messages from my sister tell me she’s heard about my eventful evening. To confirm, I play one. She’s crying, thinking I’m not answering because I’m dead. I shoot her a quick message.
Everything’s fine. Talk later. Xoxo
“Severio knows.”
Drago nods. “Good. You will be a good boy and do what I say?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, Almighty.”
“Not kidding.”
“You’re the boss. What do you have in mind?”
“Depends on what you intend to do with Domenico Benvenuti once he figures out what happened last night.”
While Domenico Sr. needs no proof, speculation about my involvement will sow seeds of doubt. “He made your list before all this went down.”
Drago nods. “Once he’s dealt with, the family will seek revenge and replacement. This will get messy for sure.”
Only the highest-ranking Benvenutis are Order members. The rest of the family goes their whole lives never knowing about anything. The soldiers, the cousins, like that man Tino, know nothing of the Order.
But they know about their family business, so once they connect Michela’s security team to me and dig around, they’ll come for answers, having no clue that I’ll find them a new boss and save their lives. “We’ll replace Sr. swiftly and not leave a power vacuum.”
Drago purses his lips. “Anyone else going on my list?”
“Not that I can think of.”
“It’s still early, eh?” he jokes, then looks in the direction of the hallway.
Michela’s soft footsteps precede her. She stops in the hallway, where shadows cover the upper half of her body, her long legs the only part of her showing.
As I watch, she curls her toes. “Good morning.” Her morning voice makes me instantly hard, and I wish Drago wasn’t around to hear it. Or to see her legs. Or to see her in general. I dislike the emotions she evokes in me, but I’ll deal with them later.
“I didn’t hear the shower,” she says.
“What?” I ask, frowning.
“The shower. You’re usually in the shower at this time.”
