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“I suspected everyone at the start," he admitted. "It was hard not to after the way my parents…passed.” A crack, a sliver of grief seeped through, and Gio cleared his throat. “I was so angry and paranoid, not just for me but for Gabi. If the perpetrators roamed free, they could always attack again.”
Perpetrators?
“You sound sure that there were multiple of them.”
“Sure?” Gio laughed hollowly. “I haven’t been sure about anything that happened that day, not even now. All I know is that multiple people failed us: the guard, Jon, and the security team.” Anger lined his every word, vibrating through the phone with unbridled tension. “But I still have no answers on why. No way of preventing it from happening again. Gabi is fearful even now. She keeps saying she sees these eyes watching her, this sinister face laughing.”
The visual slid eerily under Ana’s skin, petrifying her. She knew how deeply trauma could affect the psyche, but what the young woman had gone through was beyond Ana’s imagination. Flames engulfing her and her family…and in the smoky haze, a menacing face taunting her.
Guilt stung her as she struggled to remember the last time they’d hung out. “I can try inviting her out once I’m back in the city,” Ana offered. But Gio was skeptical. He doubted Gabi would agree to anything public or exposed.
When he stifled a yawn, Ana urged him to go to sleep, knowing there was another long day of meetings ahead of him.
Guilt settled heavier in her chest. He had to be even wearier than she was, and he’d still stayed up listening to her troubles.
How lonely it must be at the top, lending support to the vast empire that was the Family…without receiving much in return. He had no one to trust, no one to support him–except perhaps a select few. She hoped he knew that she was on his side and that she would do anything for him.
“Gio…”
“Hm?”
Her breath exhaled, heavy with longing. “I miss you.”
A pleased sound rumbled through him.
“So do I, regina mia.”
This was terrible.
Embarrassingly terrible.
Ana wanted to cover her face and sink into the ground, watching Tony muddle through their quarterly financials. They had done so much prep. She and Emma had printed out all the reports he needed and walked him through the talking points. But their effort was in vain. He’d mixed up revenues and expenses, jumbled the quarters together, and then completely skipped past the legal disclaimers written in bold on the cover sheet.
Maybe Russo would decide her cousin was too incompetent for a partnership. It would get Russo off their tail. But if he spread the word of Tony’s mistakes to other investors, it would cause a mass exodus.
Russo’s gray eyes narrowed as Ana jumped in to say that they would share additional details over email. That would allow Emma to write up all their talking points and hopefully salvage this disastrous meeting. But he pointedly ignored her suggestion and continued to ask Antonio more questions.
Ana sat back stiffly, her lips pursed.
What was his problem? Was it because she was the Don’s wife…or because she was a woman?
His remark at the gala still galled her. Let’s talk without the womenfolk around. Ugh. What a pig. It was a pity because he was unquestionably sharp, with solid business acumen. Even his body language exuded authority and confidence, his arms crossed as he listened to Antonio with keen focus.
In an alternate reality, he could have been a valuable partner. In this one, however, Ana wanted nothing to do with him. His smug superiority and rebellion against Gio thoroughly repulsed her.
And after meeting his daughter, she could safely assume his assholery was genetic.
“You know, you should come join me at the new Sixth Street Lounge opening tomorrow night,” Antonio offered suddenly, pushing aside the binder of reports. At Russo’s skeptical expression, he insisted, “Uberti has been having some success with his bars, right, Ana?”
She nodded, wondering where this was going.
“He’s been talking about launching a more high-brow version of the bars for a while, and he’s finally done it.” Her cousin leaned in enthusiastically, the most animated he’d been all morning. “If you get in on it early, you might be able to edge out other investors.”
Russo tapped his fingers contemplatively.
“Just come in for a drink, that’s all. We’ll leave the business talk behind.” Antonio winked at him before rising to his feet, prompting the other man to reluctantly follow suit.
They continued talking as they exited the room, moving on to small talk, discussing the newest cars on the market.
