by Piper Stone
“That may be true.”
“Just one more thing. The Kings weren’t the only ones recently affected. I found out that two of my men had been betraying me, supplying information. I had to handle the situation.”
“Did you learn who they were working for?”
“They refused to talk, even after my best men interrogated them.”
“Interesting.” His soldiers had been more afraid of whoever they’d sold out to than the torture and ultimately death they’d receive at the hands of Azzurri’s men.
Giancarlo huffed. “Enjoy some freedom, my friend. That much you deserve. Business can wait. Beautiful woman on the other hand.” His laugh was just as gregarious as before.
As I walked away, passing through his sea of soldiers, I realized that there would never be a woman I could trust. Not with my life. Not with information.
And certainly not with my heart.
As I walked outside, the scent of sauce and Italian sausage didn’t have the usual effect of making my mouth water. This time, the stench churned in my stomach.
She’d lied to me.
Now she would pay the price.
I went over every word of the conversation I’d had with Emily, trying to make sense of any of it. One thing was certain. She wasn’t the innocent flower that I’d believed her to be. I’d bought the entire story, even feeling guilt for having captured her.
No longer.
The plan had been brilliant, one I’d even fallen into. Emily would talk. She’d tell me everything I needed to know.
As I sped through the city, the sound of my phone only fueled the increasing anger. However, this was one call I needed to take. I pressed the button on the steering wheel, shifting down as I hit traffic. As Consigliere and the family attorney, Joseph Carello had been the man responsible for getting me released from prison. While I’d never liked the man, he was completely loyal to my father.
Hell, the man should be after the amount of money my father had placed in his bank account.
“Joseph. I haven’t had the opportunity to thank you.”
“Don’t thank me just yet, Cristiano. There’s already talk of a new trial date.”
“I thought this was dead.”
“Yeah, so did I. I think we need to have a discussion,” Joseph said, his tone more urgent than I was used to.
I switched lanes, moving around a string of slow cars. I had my own sense of urgency to get back to the house. I was also planning on having some of my men do a sweep of her entire place. While the chances of finding anything leading me to whoever she was working for were slim, mistakes were often made. Emily Porter was certainly no professional at the game. “It’s going to have to wait at least until tomorrow.”
“I don’t think it can.”
“Why is that?”
“Because not only do I know about Emily Porter, I am well aware you abducted her from her home.”
I hissed, correct in my earlier assumption regarding Mario spilling the beans. He’d gone straight to Lucian, who in turn had called our attorney. “Fine. Where are you?”
“At my office.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” After ending the call, I took several deep breaths. From here on out, I had to think clearly, developing an entirely different kind of plan. I jammed on the accelerator, blowing through several lights, the sound of horns and screeching tires forcing me to sneer.
My father had once told me that my disregard for life could get me killed one day. Perhaps that was the case. In the meantime, I planned on taking Giancarlo’s advice. I was going to enjoy my life.
One way or the other.
“Mr. King. So happy to see you.”
I grinned seeing Mary. She’d worked for Joseph for years, had treated me like a son the majority of the time. “You look fabulous, Mary. Just gorgeous today.”
She blushed, rolling her eyes. “Always the flirt. What a shame you aren’t a few years older.”
“What? You don’t like younger men?”
“Incorrigible. He’s waiting for you.”
I winked before walking down the hallway. She certainly didn’t deserve my pissed-off mood or a second of my ire. I didn’t bother knocking, walking in without hesitation.
Joseph looked up from his computer, shaking his head and pushing back from his desk. “You don’t waste any time. Do you?” He moved toward the corner bar in his office, pouring two drinks without asking.
That meant the conversation was serious.
I shifted toward the massive floor-to-ceiling window in his office, the location with the most incredible view of Bourbon Street. Even in the daylight, the people walking the streets were colorful, enjoying their time, pushing their comfort zones. I accepted the drink, waiting as he flanked my side.
“I’ve heard it’s going to be an intense Mardi Gras this year,” he said quietly.
The event was months away. The man was obviously nervous about the case as well as the recent events. “Why don’t we just cut the crap, Joseph? Go right ahead and chastise me, but from what I’ve heard, my decision to interrupt Ms. Porter’s life was well founded.”
“And just what have you heard?”
“That she was not merely encouraged to testify in court, her entire story was actually a fabrication and that Ms. Porter is possibly working for someone who has every intention of stripping away a certain business faction of our family. As you can understand, I couldn’t allow that to happen.”
He turned his head very slowly. “Do I need to know where you heard this… information?”
“I have my sources. I assume that Lucian told you I retrieved her.”
“Retrieved?” he snorted, walking back to his desk. “She’s not a dog or a file that was lost. She’s a human being and when the authorities find out she’s missing, who the fuck do you think they’re going to come to?”
“And I’ll have an alibi prepared.”
“Jesus Christ, Cristiano. This isn’t some kind of game. You can’t bully or threaten your way through this one. You’re still facing a minimum of five years in prison, four if they allot the time you’ve already spent behind bars. However, my guess is the retrial will be on a charge of murder one this time. I had a chat with Griffin Williams just a little while ago. He told me that he has a press conference scheduled which will simply be the beginning of his effort to crucify you as well as the entire King family.”
“Nothing new.”
“Yeah? Well, this time it would appear he has you dead to rights. From what he told me, there’s additional information, possibly another witness, although the cagey fuck certainly wasn’t going to play his hand.”
“I thought you ended this bullshit.”
He shook his head. “I’m damn good at what I do, Cristiano. I’ve protected your family for decades; however, I can’t do my job when you go off on the deep end, which you did. Our influence has taken a major dip as well as our reputation. You knew the mistrial might not be the end of the case, yet you felt compelled to abduct the witness. I just don’t understand you at all. Do you have a death wish?”
I refused to take my eyes off the street, marveling in the neon lights and colorful buildings. I had taken everything for granted for far too long. That was going to stop.
“I wanted to talk with her.” My words were ridiculous.
“That’s bullshit. There’s more to this and I know it. So what is it?”
Sighing, I couldn’t admit that I simply adored Emily’s picture, that my entire body had been set on fire from one glance at a photograph. Yeah, that would go over well.
“Wait a minute. You like the girl. That’s it. Isn’t it?” Joseph demanded.
“As I said, I felt it was prudent to talk to her.”
“My God. I should have known. You’re exactly like your fucking father. Impetuous. Never thinking about anyone else.”
I shifted to face him, walking closer, reining in my fury. “I’m nothing like my father.”
His smirk was
grating enough I wanted to wipe it off his face. Instead, I turned away briefly, rubbing my eyes as I took several deep breaths.
“Exactly why haven’t you been able to shut down this retrial? From what I know, we still own enough people you should have been able to convince them to drop this case. What the hell do we pay you for?” I’d never challenged Joseph to this degree. “Reputation or not, we hold secrets on half the freaking police department, including the police chief. If I need to drag that out in the open, I’m happy to do so.”
“How dare you, Cristiano. I was lucky that you didn’t get life for killing that man in cold blood. You lost your temper, just like you have dozens of fucking times before. How many goddamn times did I have to bail your ass out of jail when you were younger?”
Far too many.
He huffed when I didn’t answer him, taking a gulp of his drink then walking to the second window in his office, peering down at the street below. The silence was awkward as hell. “I did my best, but there’s something going on, Cristiano. I’ve tried to tell your father that his regime is being challenged by outsiders, but he seems to have blinders on. I think his health has really taken a toll on him. Plus, your absence was something he couldn’t get over. He counted on you.”
Counted on me. The way he said the words was a clear indication that I’d let my father down.
Again.
“What about Lucian? He was given the reins when I left. What the fuck has he been able to accomplish in my absence?”
He shifted a single glance over his shoulder. “Lucian has done his best. He really has and he gives a damn about you, whether you want to believe that or not. He’s managed to keep everything afloat, increasing profits and ensuring that none of our clients make a move against us, even with ugly rumors surfacing that the King family had lost control. However, he’s not you. His concentration is on the great diamond market, not on running the business at hand. And you and I both know that neither Vincenzo nor Michael can handle the operation. Vincenzo has never taken the King dynasty seriously and Michael has the children as well as the Throne Room. Hell, the man has turned the club into a New Orleans destination.” His laugh was anguished. Bitter. He also looked rattled, something I’d rarely seen in him before.
The Throne Room, a glorified club for the rich and powerful. My father has insisted on keeping the venture, a former speakeasy from the past. It at least offered an opportunity to obtain a handle on those with enough influence to alter our course of business.
“And Dante?” I asked.
“The last time I heard, he’s on his third deployment in Afghanistan and will be for at least six more months.”
“That news will certainly disappoint Mother.” Dante would do anything to stay away from the family, including extending his tour of duty in the military. I rubbed my eyes, sheer exhaustion settling in. “How has our business been affected in my absence?”
“Nothing outright or egregious from what I’ve been able to tell. However, one of the suppliers from South America threatened to pull out when Lucian wasn’t able to provide what they believed to be adequate protection. From what I was able to decipher, it was a ploy to alter the split. Lucian managed to handle it, but I’m not entirely certain what concessions he made in doing so. The legitimate businesses are all doing well, quite profitable in fact.”
From the look on his face, I could tell Joseph had additional information. “What haven’t you told me?”
Sighing, Joseph appeared even more uncomfortable, his body language and pinched expression giving him away. “I’ve worked for your family for years, but your father remains my friend.”
I wanted to tell him to get the hell on with it, but I yanked in my patience, allowing him to finish.
“I don’t have to tell you that the old way of doing business was ruthless, actions made considered cruel today, but I stood by your father, advising him of whatever options became available.” He shifted his gaze in my direction, his expression one I couldn’t recognize. “Well, let me cut to the chase. I fear that one of your father’s old enemies has returned, although I have no proof that’s the case.”
“Then why are you telling me?”
“Rumors. While you have your informants, I also have mine.”
“Get on with it, Joseph. Are you trying to tell me that the person responsible for the attempted assassination of my father is familiar?”
“I don’t know for certain. Just my instinct; however, the information I’ve received continues to speak to someone else entirely, a relatively new player in town.” Joseph continued to appear uncomfortable as hell.
“Just give me a name.”
“Enrique Vendez.”
I wasn’t taken aback. “Vendez. I’m hearing the name for a second time in twenty-four hours.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning I had a chat with the informant who squealed. Evidently, Vendez is behind my father’s shooting and tarnishing our reputation. The question is what do you know about him?”
“Unfortunately, not much. The man is as elusive as he is secretive. He was supposedly a two-bit player down in South America.”
“That’s not much to go on.”
Huffing, Joseph lifted his glass. “I’m well aware. That’s the case anyway until about five years ago. From what I’ve been able to find out, he slowly made his way up the food chain. Then he disappeared, likely developing his business plan. While there are a few rumors on the street that he’s connected to Carlos Morales, there’s nothing concrete that I could find. Hell, the information I obtained was because I called in a couple favors.”
Carlos Morales was the head of a notorious cartel out of South America. The man was nothing more than a brutal dictator, eradicating anyone he thought was getting in his way. He was certainly not a friend of my father, even accusing him once of overstepping his bounds. Something wasn’t adding up.
“Where did you find this Vendez?”
“Well, there’s a thing called public records, which no legitimate business can hide from, even though it’s obvious he tried. He’s the owner of record of a corporation out of Baton Rouge, EV Holdings. Underneath the corporate umbrella is a string of profitable businesses strung out through the south. The corporation is mostly a shell, but he does have dozens of employees.”
“Including businesses in New Orleans,” I said, resisting laughing at the thought.
“Yes. While some are legitimate, others are questionable, but there’s little information to find. The man is very careful in what’s on the internet. Given he earned his stripes in South America…” Joseph allowed the sentence to trail off.
“He’s taking over the run from South America and spreading his wings.”
“Exactly, but I don’t think he’s stopping with party favors and that’s not the most damning part.” He pulled a single piece of paper from a file on his desk, keeping it in his hand as he walked closer. “Do you recognize any of the names?”
I glanced at the papers, running down the list. When I stiffened, he pulled it away from me.
“Bayou Market Analysis.” Another jolt of electricity surged through me.
“Yes. Emily Porter works for them,” he said quietly, allowing me time to reflect on the news. “They handle the market analysis on various stocks and trades, including in the diamond market.”
Jesus Christ. The asshole was attempting to move in on two fronts.
“And as you know, South America has a healthy diamond mining industry,” Joseph continued.
What Giancarlo had told me was accurate. I closed my eyes, the grip on the glass becoming crushing. “She fucking lied to me.” Just saying the words out loud left a bad taste in my mouth.
“Well, I’m not certain what or if she’s told you anything, but she might be a pawn and nothing more. From what I’ve been able to find, she was at the restaurant that night in question. That could be a coincidence or that could be some odd twist of fate. Either way, you have a significant problem on y
our hands.”
“You’re still not telling me everything,” I stated.
He half smiled. “You’re so like your father. Intuitive. Refusing to succumb to fear. Even brazen.” There was another hesitation before he continued. “If my sources are correct, there is a price on your head. Also, I have reason to believe that Ms. Porter is now considered expendable.”
There was certainly no chance that her disappearance had been discovered, unless she’d been watched. “Interesting.” Thoughts about the past entered my mind. My life had certainly been threatened before and would likely be again. I wasn’t surprised, except for the timing. My release from prison had obviously disturbed some course of action.
“What I’ve told you is not to be taken lightly, Cristiano.”
“Why Emily Porter?”
Joseph exhaled. “I’m not certain, unless she is innocent in what occurred, simply used as I suspect is the case.”
“But you don’t know that for certain.”
“At this point, nothing is certain. Keep in mind that just as the King family’s methods of doing business has required a shift in practices over the years, there are dozens of other entities determined to gain a foot in the market. Your death would send a clear message that New Orleans is ripe for another change.”
His point was well taken.
“Do you have a picture of Vendez?”
Joseph chuckled. “That’s part of the problem. There are no photographs of him, other than a couple of grainy shots from the side at a distance. He could be anyone. Hell, he could be using a pseudonym for all I know or actually be a compilation of different people. I’ve checked with all my sources. While it would appear than Vendez’s name is on several ten most wanted lists, several countries attempting to apprehend him, to date, he’s never been arrested.”
“Fuck. Fuck!”
“Don’t lose your temper, Cristiano.”
“Too late for that. As far as my father’s enemies, I need a list from you as to who they are. I will find the bastard responsible. No one threatens my family.”
