Page 5 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

Tiny got out of the Lexus without another word, andmade his way around the vehicle to open Calisto’s door. With his hands at hisback, Tiny waited as Calisto climbed out, fixed his suit jacket, and steppedaway from the car.

“I’ll keep the car ready, Cal.”

“Thanks.”

“And I’ll grab you another coffee with a shot ofsomething extra,” Tiny added. “It’ll give you something to look forward toafter you’re done playing your uncle’s right-hand.”

Tiny knew him well.

“Make that a double shot and no rum this time,” Calistosaid. “Get me something stronger. I have a feeling today is going to be a longday.”

“Any particular reason why?”

“No reason,” Calisto murmured.

The heat of the early June sun soaked into Calisto’sblack suit. It seemed like Summer had come on quickly. Calisto barely noticedSpring before it passed him by. Already, the heat was unrelenting, and it onlymade the exhaust smell hanging in the city air all the more difficult toignore. Usually, Calisto loved the hustle and bustle of the city with itsconstant movement and all the lights. Even the bumper-to-bumper traffic gavehim time to think in the back of a car.

Now, it all just seemed to irritate him. Maybe it washis bleak mood that was coloring his world and outlook a bit gray at the edges lately.But maybe it wasn’t.

He just had a feeling.

Strange and unexplainable as it was.

His gut was never wrong.

“Mr. Donati.” Terri walked toward Calisto, tablet inhand and an extra sway to her hips. “You’re one of the last ones to arrivetoday. The boardroom is ready upstairs. Can I bring you anything in to make youmore comfortable?”

“No, thank you.”

Calisto continued to walk on past the woman in herstraight pencil skirt and blood-red blouse. Terri was Affonso’s assistant forhis personal things, and sometimes that meant Calisto had to check in with thewoman to make sure his uncle’s illegal activities wouldn’t interfere with hislegal business.

Terri had thrown enough hints in Calisto’s directionover the years for him to know she was interested, but he sure wasn’t. For one,the girl wasn’t Italian. And for another, she was too damn close to his uncle,in a friendly sort of way, being his assistant and all.

Calisto didn’t need the trouble.

Not even for a quick fuck.

The elevator was open and waiting for Calisto as herounded the corner. He stepped inside and hit the button for the doors to closejust as Terri’s voice echoed to his spot.

“Affonso’s car has just arrived.”

The Don had come to collect.

Let the business begin.

Calisto scrolled through his phone as the elevatortraveled to the highest floor in the hotel. He was at least three minutes aheadof his uncle, and he took the walk down the long, quiet hallway with unhurriedstrides. He was in no mood to play consigliere for Affonso while the mancollected his dues, but it wasn’t like he had a choice.

This was the life he’d chosen.

The murmurs of deep voices quieted as Calisto enteredthe stylishly decorated boardroom. Wide windows covered the far wall, overlookinga busy part of Harlem. The Marcello family controlled Hell’s Kitchen, while theDonati family had territory in Harlem and down on the other side of Manhattan.The Calabrese family had little business in the area, but the very center ofManhattan had long been considered a dead man’s zone for the three familiesrunning the state of New York.

A safe zone, even.

Without question, it was never good for one family tostep in on another family’s territory. Having a safe zone where meetings couldbe held, sit-downs arranged, and whatever else needed doing was invaluable.Affonso seemed to prefer Harlem for his routine business. The other families nevercomplained. It was better for the three New York families to work together,otherwise the bloody street wars that settled scores would be deadly anduseless.

Ray Missotti, Affonso’s underboss, stood to greetCalisto with his usual sly smile. “You’re nearly late.”

“Traffic,” Calisto said, strolling past the manwithout as much as a handshake. Ray was lazy as hell, and Calisto picked upenough of the man’s slack as it was without acting like the two were friendsfor the sake of the men watching. “Sit, Ray. The boss is coming up the elevatornow.”