Darkest Sins (Perfectly Imperfect #9)

Yeah. From what I gathered as the guards escorted me here, Massimo almost strangled some guy when he got back from my father’s funeral.

“But you’re here now, and I need you to bring me up to speed,” he adds.

“Leone took over.”

“I know. Who voted for him?”

“I don’t know. It’s not like I’m invited to the Family meetings.”

“Ask Salvo.”

I arch my brow. “As if he’s going to tell me something like that.”

“He will.”

“Why don’t you ask him yourself? He can come see you and tell you whatever you want to know.”

“I want Salvo exactly where he is now—as an underboss, with no obvious ties to me.”

“How do you know that Leone promoted him?” I ask.

“I have my sources. Has Leone made any moves regarding the Camorra situation?”

“As far as I know, no. My guess is, he’ll try to pay them off.”

“Pay them off?” he tenses, and something dangerous flashes in his eyes. “For what?”

“The investment they’ve made into our casinos earlier this year.”

Massimo’s jaw clenches. “Who the fuck allowed them an in into our business without consulting me?”

So, it is as I suspected. My stepbrother has been involved in Family’s dealings all along.

“My father,” I say. “But Leone was the one who came up with the idea. Their plan was to pay Camorra off before theannual meeting, so the Family wouldn’t find out. That all kind of went off the rails at the start of summer, but Dad made a new deal with Efisio after Alvino’s death. He was going to announce the partnership they struck at the party, but then he was killed before he had the chance.”

“Mm-hmm. And who knew that Nuncio was going to make that announcement?”

“He told me. And I assume Leone knew, as well.”

“And you’re absolutely sure that Leone was behind the idea to involve Camorra in the first place?”

“Dad told me so.”

Massimo leans back in his chair and starts tapping his handcuffs on the metal table, the slow beat reverberating through the room. “I need you to describe the party to me. Who was there, and everything that happened during it, from the moment you arrived to the moment that shot was fired.”

I take a deep breath and start talking, telling him everything I remember of that night. It’s not much. I was still euphoric from what happened the night before and wasn’t paying much attention to anything. But I tell him everything I can recall. Massimo listens without interrupting, his face getting darker with each word.

“And Leone wasn’t on the stage with Nuncio?” he asks after I’m done.

“No. He was standing to the side, by the drinks table.”

Silence falls between us, the metal on metal tapping the only sound in the room.

“Leone wants to marry me off. He still hasn’t decided whether it’ll be someone from the Albanian organization or Salvo.”

“Good. I’ll make sure he picks Salvo.”

“I’m not marrying him, Massimo. Or anyone else.” I lift my eyes from his hands and meet his gaze. “I’m pregnant.”