Page 76 of Damiano De Luca (The Five Syndicates)
“The Benefactor wants me to drop Cris and promote someone of their choosing.”
“So, The Benefactor helps you take over the De Luca syndicate, then years later tries to plant someone in your ranks.” I bit my lip. “It sounds like a takeover. Or at least some sort of power play.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. I have this bad feeling that The Benefactor jeopardizes everything I’ve worked to build with the De Luca syndicate. We spent years undoing all the damage my father had done.” He ran a hand across his face. “I can’t really talk it over with Cris. I don’t know how he’d react, and I haven’t been too forthcoming with him about The Benefactor.”
“You can talk to me about it.”
I could tell he didn’t want to, which hurt me, but I understood. I didn’t want to talk about my mom despite his many, many hints. An hour later, Maman called again, and I hit ignore.
Damian eyed my phone. “She’s persistent.”
“I actually like that about her,” I admitted, though I didn’t elaborate on why I was dodging Maman’s calls.
“I need to meet this mom of yours.” Another hint of his.
“We can head to the Hamptons.” He stilled, but I continued, not thinking much of it, “As soon as we’re done representing our families in the city, we can make an overnight trip.”
“Where is she?”
“The Hamptons.”
“Your mom lives in The Hamptons? As in New York?”
“Yup.”
“Do you know any other mafiosos in the Hamptons?”
“No. Just my mom.” I laughed a little. “She made sure of that.”
“The mom you’re close to?”
My brows pressed together. “Yes. You’re acting weird.” I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. Regret laced my words. “She’s my best friend. We tell each other everything.”
Well, except for the fact that I was dating Damian De Luca.
“Is this why you’ve been ignoring your mom’s phone calls? Why you won’t talk about her except surface level bullshit?” He shook his head and backed away from me. “I tracked the packages! You didn’t think I’d find out? You know how much I’ve sacrificed for this syndicate, Renata!”
“Excuse me?” I scrambled after him as he left the bedroom, my mind spinning with no signs of stopping. “What are you talking about? I’m so confused.”
“Nice try, Ren.” His scoff held more disdain than a Westboro picketer. “I get that you’re a Vitali, and the Vitali have secrets, but why wouldn’t you say anything about The Benefactor? We’re supposed to trust each other.”
“Wha—”
We reached the kitchen, and he turned to face me, his eyes so damned hurt. “I told you how much The Benefactor bothers me. You said it yourself. There’s a power play going on. I just didn’t know you were involved.”
“Da—”
“Just so you know, your mom wasn’t as sly as she thought she was. I traced every package back to New York and, later, the Hamptons. I just didn’t know any mafia members lived there.” He raised his brow like I’d kept that info away from him on purpose.
My mind still reeled over his accusations. Namely, Maman being The Benefactor, which was impossible. But also, the way he was so quick to lash out at me for holding back on him, which I hadn’t been. I get that our past was layered with lies, but I thought we’d moved on. Why couldn’t we move on?
I shook my head. “I haven’t lied to you. You have to trust me.”
“I told you to drop your walls. I told you to trust me. But it’s you who couldn’t be trusted.” His words slapped me, and even though my head didn’t whip to the side, my gut did.
I raised my hands, wild gestures as frantic as my thoughts. “This world we’re in? It’s built on lies. There will always be another revelation. One after the next, after the next. We will never find love if we can’t take the leap.”
He turned and entered the pantry. “Look what trust brought my mom.”
