eteen, but twelve years later, he still felt

chained to a support beam. The basement smelled of oregano and fear-the restaurant above served the best chicken

rom his broken nose. "It was just fifty grand. I wa

ted this business concluded before the dinner meeting at eight. Vincent Romano didn

"You didn't just steal fifty thousand dollars from our construction kickbacks. You stole from my fat

Dan

ter, "you made me look like a fool in front of the other capos. They're watchi

round. "No, wait! I got information! About t

t he'd been running numbers for the family since Dante was in high sc

al

of pure cocaine, street value maybe eight million." Tommy's words tumbled over each other in his desper

weapon slightly. "

sagged in his chains, hope flickering in his eyes. "See

taught him how to count cards, how to spot an undercover cop, how to break a man's finge

Dante raised his gun again. "But dead i

oed through the bas

n Marco. "It's done. Send a crew to Giuseppe's basement for cleanup. Make it

amusement. He'd always enjoyed the violent

Tuesday." Dante headed for the stairs, eager to escape the smell of b

sin. How'd To

the body of a man who'd once bounced him on his k

Tommy Marcelli d

vate back room, watching Vincent Romano devour a plate of veal marsala while d

an, quick, sends the right message to the other crews. A

ilver hair perfectly styled, expensive suit tailored to hide the .38 revolver in his ankle holster, manicured hand

n in cocaine, plus military weapons. If we take that shipment,

out. "Tommy was desperate. He might

smile was the last thing many men had seen before dying. "We could end this war in one night. Kill Carl

in their world-every death demanded revenge, every victory created new enemies. He'd been trying to move the fami

waiter for more wine, "I have news that will pleas

situ

ng an alliance for months-his territory and shipping connections, our political contacts and e

m in his stomach.

incent leaned forward, his voice dropping to the whisper he used when making threats. "Roberto's niece Lucia has agreed to the

ven know t

ll five families will attend to witness the alliance." Vincent raised his wine glass in a moc

i's terrified face and wondering if this was how it f

s. "Then you're not my son, and you're not the heir to this family. Marco would be happy to t

mpire, or refuse and lose everything-possibly including his life

o I mee

ent." Vincent finished his wine and stood, straightening his tie. "Wear a good s

ant continued its normal operations above-families celebrating birthdays, couples on romantic dates, tourists sampling authentic Italian cu

his sister Isabella: "Heard about the enga

"Nothing to discus

e in ways he couldn't imagine. He'd spent years trying to modernize the Romano operations, to find ways to generate wealth without spilling blood. An allian

he difference between life and death. And if this marriage could prevent a war betwee

ous restaurant. Tomorrow night he would meet Lucia Castellano, the woman who would become his wife whethe

trapped by family ob

curity team run a complete background check on Lucia Castellano. In his experien

idea how r