Page 28 of Revenge of Sin

But yet, now they’re scouring Jersey City and Atlantic City and giving money to our fucking enemies to merge into a territory that sits right next to ours.

I don’t answer the question running in both of our minds, but it sits between us because we both fucking know what changed.Until then we had almost wiped out the Sarones and they didn’t have a chance in hell.No Gallini help was there then.

Anna Cassone being alive is what changed, and now Papa Gallini lets Bastian come back to the US and dump money into the Sarones.It’s gotta be the fucking contract.Somehow Anna being alive means monetary gain for the Gallinis or no one’s papa in Italy would condone the investment that they must have made.

The Gallinis don’t have squat in this state, not without the property and estate that old man Cassone left.“The thing that puzzles me is the Cassone property isn’t that large.I mean how many acres do they have?Sure, old man Cassone had a great handle on the distribution centers and that would be valuable, but it’s not like they couldn’t pay someone off for distribution or fucking take it for that matter.”

No, whatever it is, it’s bigger than this.“We need to find out the legal aspects of that estate and I know just who can help us with that.”

Nicolo’s eyes narrow.“Anna’s friend?”

I nod, contemplating as the Dalmar settles into my veins.“Addie will want to do anything possible to help her friend.We need this, Nicolo.She’s in the perfect position to find out, has contacts who owe her.Especially the men she’s gotten off with a slap on the wrist who should have served hard time.I want you to take a drive up there.Go visit.Feel her out.”

Nicolo groans.“Why not the phone.I’ll use a secure line.”

I shake my head.“In person.You’ll know if she’s lying or if she needs some convincing to do the right thing for her friend.”

“Fucking great.”

I smirk.Sometimes it’s fun being the boss.

“Get that smirk off your face before I shoot you.”

I laugh.“Take Agosto.It will give him some time with you.Gianni is always too busy for our younger brother.We need to spend more time with him, mentor him more, Nicolo.He fucked up bad this past year, but he’s learned his lesson.He sees what the mistake cost us.Take him with you.Show him how you handle things with finesse.Some of the hotheaded cousins we’ve paired him with maybe aren’t such good role models for our youngest brother.”

He nods.“Fucking Agosto.If he hadn’t made that deal, we wouldn’t even be in this shitstorm.It just never ends.You wouldn’t have owed Massimo, he wouldn’t have asked for your help to get Anna, and you wouldn’t have recognized her in your casino.”

My eyes darken.“You say it like me rescuing and meeting Anna was a bad thing.Tread carefully, Nicolo.”

His dark eyes meet mine.“I think Anna means more to you than you even know.”

“I told you, she’s fucking mine.”

Nicolo swallows the last of his drink, stands, and puts his coffee cup on the bar.“My fucking life.”He slaps me on the shoulder on the way out.“Don’t worry.I’ll take a drive to Jersey City and see if I can find out anything from her friend.”

“Take Agosto,” I call out.

“Fuck you, Vincenzo!”The door slams shut leaving me alone in his office.A picture of our entire family hangs on his wall.Papa, Ma, me, Nicolo, Gianni, Agosto, and Lanah.One fucking mistake and Dad has to keep his distance.Hopefully not for long.My mind reverts to the beautiful dark-haired beauty not too far away.I head back to my own penthouse and to the shower with one thing on my mind.

18

Anna

The living room is spacious, the blue skies outside taking up the entire wall of glass facing out to the ocean.The style suits him, a very modern feel with a masculine flare, a tan leather sectional in front of a deep dark brown and light tan mixture of slate fireplace.I could see how in the winter with the wind blowing off the ocean it would be warm and cozy.

The couch is devoid of pillows, or throws, or anything.Something about the space tells me that he’s not here often or at least it’s not his favorite spot in the house.Maybe it’s the new look of the leather, not even worn in one place at all.

The kitchen floor is tiled in a heavy cream-colored stone that’s polished to a high gloss.It spills across not only the kitchen but the adjacent dining room with a rectangular table which sits in front of a window that has a completely different view of the ocean.I pull out drawer after drawer of the modern cabinetry, inspecting the collection of luxury stainless steel pots and pans that are all organized in such neat fashion it makes me wonder if they are ever used.

Yet, I know that he cooked for me.At least that’s what he said.He’s either cooked for me or had someone cook the most delicious meals for the last couple weeks.Envisioning him in this kitchen cooking for me makes butterflies that shouldn’t even exist dance in my belly.

The pasta maker on the cabinet calls to my inner desires.I could cook for him…

I begin to rummage in the cabinets and pull out this and that, until I have all the ingredients to keep myself busy making pasta for today and a few days to come, and a sauce with fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, and carrots for a little sweetness.

I’m so caught up in the process that time simply melds away until I have fresh pasta wrapped in knots and covered in cellophane in the refrigerator and a pot of sauce just like my nana used to make simmering on the stove.

A glance at the clock a little later and I decide to explore the options on the big screen in the living room while the sauce cooks.It takes me a while to actually get the television to come on with the fancy little remote.Once I do, I’m skimming through programs like a pro and settle on a fitness channel running a Pilates series.