Page 24

"I…" My lips purse slightly as I weave steadily around some slow bends. "I have someone I can talk to. Someone who has their fingers on the pulse of crime in Italy."

Raven leans closer to the screen. "You do? I didn't know you knew anyone in Italy."

Keeping my secret would be easier, but if Raven's already scouring Italy, then she'll find out on her own eventually. "My grandfather."

Raven freezes on screen. "What?"

"I lied when I said all of my family were dead. My grandfather is still alive, but he's so old he's basically dead, so it's only a little lie."

"Cassian… wasn't that a condition for your bid as the Jack? No family ties? The Russos were all wiped out, I thought."

"They were, except my grandfather. He's as traditional as they come and refused to follow the money to the States, even refused to fly out for my parents' funeral. He goes by Esposito when it comes to anything important, but he's had one foot in the grave for as long as I can remember."

"When was the last time you saw him?" Raven asks and her voice grows soft.

"Fuck knows. Twenty years ago when I was fifteen, I think. We didn't keep in touch after my parents died and my extended family went their own way."

"Hmm." Raven's brows twist together when I glance at her.

"What is it?"

"I can't believe that I dug so deep into your past and never discovered this."

"Really? Wait, you did a background check on me?"

"I do background checks on everyone," Raven replies matter-of-factly. "It's a habit."

"Then I'm also surprised you never found this out. I didn't lie when I was chosen as a bid for the Suit. I was disowned by my extended family, and my immediate family was dead. I just… didn't count my grandpa because I didn't expect him to live this long."

"You know I have to tell Bradley," Raven says. "Just so he's informed."

"I know." I doubt it will change anything about my status, other than some disappointment that I lied, but it's not a good feeling to know Bradley's first thought will be that I didn't trust him. "I'm nearly there, Raven. I'll call you when I can."

"Take care."

Pulling around the next corner, my grandfather's mansion comes into view. A towering structure with pillars as high as the walls, multiple balconies warming each wide window, and several round towers clinging to the outbuildings. A couple of hundred years ago, this place was likely a watchtower. Now it holds the aging criminal elite.

I arrive at shining black gates and just as I pull the vehicle to a stop, several armed guards melt out from behind stone pillars on the other side of the gate.

"No visitors," one barks. "Turn around and leave."

I raise one hand lazily in greeting while turning off my car. "I'm afraid I can't do that."

"We won't ask you again," states the second guard, and his grip tightens on the assault rifle hanging across his shoulder. "Private property."

"I'm well aware but you see, I'm family. And I'm here to see my grandfather." After pocketing my phone, I slowly climb out of the vehicle while keeping both hands visible so no one gets trigger-happy. The loose white shirt around my body catches in the wind and tugs backward while gravel crunches under my sneakers. The heat here is unlike anything back home and it catches slightly in the back of my throat.

A sleeveless shirt is not enough to keep me cool.

"No family," one guard retorts. "Get back in your fucking car and turn around or we will shoot you."

"Can you at least tell him I'm here? He's going to want to see me."

The guards exchange a glance. "Name?" one barks.

"Cassian."

"Stay there." One guard keeps his gun trained on me while the other vanishes out of sight, presumably to make a phone call. I lean back against the hot hood of my car and cross my arms. There's very little shade here at the gate, but countless trees ring the property further up and block most of the manor from view. Salt on the air mingles with the woody, sweet scent of sap and the sun bakes down as I wait.