Page 15 of Love Me (Touch of Death 3)
“Yes, it was…unfortunate.”
His eyes lock with mine, and I know he doesn’t believe that I find it unfortunate. “I’m sure. It still begs the question, why would you want to meet with me?”
“I want an alliance.”
His butler enters the sunroom and places a tumbler of water in front of me, sending ice tinkling against the glass.
“We’ve been allied with the Ricci family for years.”
“I need more than just a spoken alliance. I need action, backing.”
He leans forward, bracing his elbows on spread knees. His lips purse, his jaw tensing beneath a layer of dark stubble. “Backing for what?”
I lift my chin and inhale a deep breath, channeling all my inner strength and hoping he sees it. I can’t ask him to back anyone who would seem weak.
“You once had business dealings with my father.” Their abundance of legitimate business serves as the perfect cleaning operation for dirty money. They also happen to rub shoulders with the people at the very top of the food chain; politicians, chief of police, and so on. With the right words in the right ears, the Santori’s can make life very easy for the right boss. Or…very difficult. That’s why I’m here. “Now, you deal with the Bianchi’s instead.”
He inhales a sharp breath and swipes a hand over the front of his jacket. “I cannot move against the Bianchi family, Adelina. Not now. They are weakened, which means they will be vigilant against any traitors. Even if I could ice them out, they’re volatile. I’d be dead before I could even make the right calls to the right people.”
“I’m not asking you to move against them, just to support me when the time comes. I’m going to take the Bianchi seat.”
His brows shoot up. “I…did not see that coming.”
“I have a claim.”
He nods slowly. “You do, but you have to know, they’ll never allow you to make it. One day of marriage won’t outweigh blood ties and years of loyalties.”
“No, but I’m not asking for permission. They have dominated power for too long. Your family has been relegated to dealing with teenage party drugs for small profits.”
He smiles, dropping his gaze to the floor. “You know we don’t seek the kind of power or money the Bianchi’s do.” He lifts his gaze. “Have you ever thought that perhaps it’s best to fly under the radar? The law doesn’t bother with us because we don’t attract enough attention.”
“The law doesn’t bother you because your father is a politician.”
He shrugs casually. “Rival families don’t see us as a threat, so we escape the violence. We run in less…unsavory circles.”
I see his point. I would probably do the same if I could, but I don’t have that luxury. What could I do if I became the boss, though? I could reshape the Bianchi business.
“I can see the appeal in that, yes.”
“I don’t need extra wealth, Adelina. I’d rather go home to people I love every night without worrying that I could be taken from them.”
“That’s great for you. I don’t have that option, Matteo. I either control them, or I’ll be killed by them.”
His eyes pinch. “Why would they kill you?”
I say nothing, watching as the pieces slot together in his mind.
“You killed him,” he whispers. His index finger taps over his bottom lip as a long breath trickles from him. “Oh, Adelina.”
I don’t miss the trace of disappointment in his tone, or maybe it’s just surprise.
“Enrique Bianchi was not a good man,” I say, attempting to defend myself.
He inhales a deep breath. “It’s the mafia. There are no good men. Why agree to marry him if you wanted him dead?”
“You know he killed my father?”
“I suspected.”
“That’s why I married him. For revenge.”
A small smile touches his lips. “You’re supposed to be the innocent Ricci sister.”
“Maybe once, but not now.”
“I can see that.” He shifts, sitting back and propping one ankle on his knee. “Why did you come to me of all people? There are better alliances for you.”
“Because you offered me a way out when you thought I had no options. Had I not wanted him dead so much, I would have taken you up on it. But I did not forget your kindness.”
His face softens, and I realize that Matteo is the kind of man I could trust so easily. That, in and of itself, should make me wary.
“I hate to see anyone forced into a situation they did not choose. The mafia is full of bad people, but Enrique Bianchi was among the worst of them.” He’s right. There are bad men, and there are good men who do bad things. There is a difference. “I would have saved you from it if I could, Adelina.”
I tilt my head, studying him, trying to work out his motivations. What lurks beneath those warm hazel eyes? “Why?” I ask.
