15. Vito

15

VITO

I nodded to Muffin as I exited the building. He and Six were exactly who I would have chosen for this job. I’d told Val I needed our best guys, and he’d come through for me. It didn’t matter that there had been tension between us for the last few months. It didn’t matter that I’d been feeling neglected by him. When it counted the most, Val knew what I needed, and he took care of it. I was lucky to have my family behind me. We might fight and argue, we might threaten to kill each other, but I loved them, and I knew they loved me. I wondered if Zeke had ever had that kind of security.

As soon as I was back in my SUV, I called Val. I didn’t even have a chance to say hello before he was yelling at me.

“Vito, I told you to stay away from him.”

“You knew that wasn’t going to happen. Those men would’ve hurt him, maybe killed him. If I hadn’t been there, he would’ve walked right into their trap.”

“And why are they after him?”

“He owes money to some guys in Vegas.”

“What guys in Vegas?”

“He didn’t get names, but Loony and Benito were there. Zeke recognized Benito, even from a distance.”

“Why the fuck would anyone hire that psycho for a simple debt collection?”

I nearly rear-ended a taxi that slammed on its brakes. I needed to focus on driving at least a little. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Something doesn’t add up, and we need to get to the bottom of it. Zeke’s life is on the line. My first priority is his safety, but we also need to know what Benito’s up to. He shouldn’t be in Boston at all.”

“Pops isn’t going to like me telling him to put Zeke first and worry about an enemy of ours second, and Lucien will hate it even more.”

“Devil and Angelo damn well better be on my side. It’s their fault I ever started going to hockey games.”

Val snorted. “I don’t think Pops is going to care about that.”

“Me either. How much does he know?”

“He knows you got arrested for punching a security guard, but as far as I know, he doesn’t know why.”

I was going to have to tell him, and he was going to hate it. “And he doesn’t know Six and Muffin have been reassigned?”

“I can’t be sure. I haven’t talked to him since I sent them your way, but it won’t be long before he figures it out.”

“I know. It’s time I faced him and confessed it all.”

“Stop by here and we’ll go together.”

“I don’t always have to have you backing me up. I can do this.”

“I don’t care if you need me or not, I’m going to be there. I’m going to have your back just like you’ve always had mine.”

Pops answered his door wearing an old-fashioned silk dressing gown over striped pajamas. It was bad enough I’d pissed him off, but now I’d gotten him out of bed too. This wasn’t going to go well.

He glared at me. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”

“I know. I’ve also got information you need.”

He snorted but gestured for us to follow him. We settled in his living room, and he offered us a drink. I sure as hell needed one. It was all I could do not to throw the whole thing back in one go.

“Punching security guards is for children, Vito. I don’t employee children in this business. I thought you knew how to act with decorum like a real Marchesi.”

His words felt like a slap. He’d only learned we were his sons after our mother died, and when he had taken us in, he’d only had only her word and no real proof that we were his children. The family resemblance was striking, but we still hadn’t ever had a paternity test, and it had taken a while for me to feel like anyone accepted me as a Marchesi.

I wasn’t going to sugar-coat this. “I fucked up.”

“You sure did. One of our rules is that we don’t draw attention to the family unless it’s in a positive light.”

“I let my anger get the best of me. It won’t happen again.”

My father huffed. “I wish I could believe that. What were you doing at the arena? And what had you so unable to control yourself?”

I took a deep breath. It had been humiliating enough to admit I’d made a mistake. But at least my father wasn’t continuing to yell at me about it. He’d have plenty more reasons to be angry once I explained about Zeke. “I’ve been watching the Badgers practice. You know Devil and Angelo have gotten me into hockey.”

“What’s there to get that angry about at practice? They weren’t even playing another team, much less those assholes from New York.”

Pops hated the New York team with every fiber of his being, and it made me smile. If only he could joke around with us more often. I wondered if he was less serious before the attack that had left him with minimal use of his left arm and plenty of scars. “There’s a particular player I am interested in.”

I felt Val stiffen beside me, and I knew he was trying not to laugh. I wanted to smack him, but I shoved my hands in my pockets instead. “I had a client meeting, and when the client walked in, it was that same player.”

Pops’ eyebrows rose. “And you had no idea? You didn’t invite him to see you?”

“No, sir. He used a fake name when he made the appointment, and I had no idea.”

“And he signed a contract with us?”

“Not initially. He was concerned about borrowing from someone who had a connection with the team.”

Pops narrowed his eyes. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. Tell me what you’ve done.”

“Don’t be too hard on him, Pops,” Val said.

He frowned at Val. “Now you’ve really got me worried. Spit it out.”

“I’ve been…pursuing him. I’ve taken him on as a challenge.”

Pops nearly came up out of his chair. “You’re fucking stalking some hockey player, and that led to you punching a security guard and getting arrested? You better be damn glad it wasn’t worse. What if we hadn’t had the connections to get the charges dropped?”

“I guess I would’ve been stuck in jail.”

“Yeah, we really need that.”

“I’m sorry for letting my temper get out of control.”

“But not for deciding to stalk an NHL player as a game?”

I wanted to tell him he didn’t understand, that the instant connection I had felt was as real as what Val felt for Liam, but I didn’t think he’d listen. “He needs the money because he’s in debt to some assholes out in Vegas. He just transferred onto the team from there.”

“You’re stalking Zeke Balogh.”

“Yes, sir.”

Pops whistled. “No wonder you’re obsessed.”

“I saw him first, and you’re supposed to be straight.”

Pops chuckled. “He’s not my type, but anyone can see how gorgeous he is, and if I wanted to take him….”

“Don’t.”

“I see how you got so easily riled up.”

I shook my head. “It’s more than that. These men are threatening him, and?—”

“He should be able to pay off a debt. He got an excellent contract with Boston.”

“Not as good as he might have. The end of last season wasn’t great for him. He was under pressure, and he…he had a gambling problem.”

“He has a gambling problem,” Pops said. “You don’t get over addiction like that.”

I knew that too well. “He hasn’t placed any bets since he got here.”

“That’s good for him, but the family doesn’t need to be mixed up in this.”

“Zeke’s in danger. He can’t pay the entire debt right now, and they are going to come for him. I will not let that happen.”

“You will do exactly what I say.”

“He signed the contract, so we have to give him the money. We can’t go back on our word.”

Pops gave me a look so cold I shivered. “If I tell you to tear up the contract, that’s exactly what you will do.”

“Then I’ll find another way to help him.”

Pops looked up toward the ceiling. “What the fuck did I do to get such stubborn sons?”

“Would you really want us to be weak and easily molded?” Valentino asked as he poured Pops another measure of whiskey.

Pops took a sip and settled back into his seat. “Earlier you said he didn’t sign.”

“I went to the arena to convince him, but he wouldn’t talk to me. I followed him to the players only area. I was going to drag him out of the locker room if I had to.”

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Vito. Marchesis don’t make a scene. All you had to do was wait for him to come out.”

“He would’ve been with other players, just like in the locker room.”

“Yeah, but then you might not look like a fucking psychopath.”

Pops had a lot of nerve to call me a psychopath. The man was a legendary assassin. There were people who thought he could literally disappear like a puff of smoke. He’d killed with ease and precision, and he’d started when he was only a kid. But mentioning anything like that would only make this go worse. Much worse.

“So, instead of talking to Zeke or protecting him, you ended up in jail with your brother having to bail you out.”

God, he knew how to make me feel small. “Yes, sir.”

“You said there was information I would need to know.”

“That’s right.

He waved a hand at me. “Continue.”

I glanced at Vito, and he gave me an encouraging nod. This was where things could really go off the rails. We’d avoided a scandal thus far. All I’d done was sign a contract with a client who would be able to pay, but I was about to drag us into something much bigger.

“I tracked Zeke down at a bar. There was a guy there watching him. It was Loony. I scared him off, figuring he’d been hired by the men in Vegas.”

“It’s not your business to mess around in?—”

“Yes, it is. I’ve promised him my protection.”

“Jesus, son.”

“Just listen, please.”

He nodded. “Go on.”

“As we were leaving, I saw someone watching us from an alley. At first, I assumed it was Loony. But it was Benito Abati.”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Val shook his head. “He’s not. I’ve confirmed Benito’s back in the city.”

“How long have you known this?” my father asked.

“A few hours. We need to get on this,” Val said. “We need to find out why he’s here and eliminate the problem.”

I chimed in. “Zeke says Benito was there when he met with the loan sharks in Vegas. He also showed up at Zeke’s apartment there to make him understand how important it was to pay him back.”

Anger flashed in Pops’ eyes. “Is that how Balogh broke his fucking arm last year, because he was beaten by Benito?”

I nodded.

“And now that motherfucker is here.”

“Yes. I think he’s using Zeke as an excuse to come to Boston and do more damage while also having the thrill of eliminating a high-profile client, but we need to look into it. Knowing why he’s here will help us figure out the best way to kill him once and for all.”

Val nodded. “I agree, and I think he’s worked his way into some position of authority with the guys in Vegas. Otherwise, why would he have been the one to threaten Zeke initially.”

“I want to know everyone who’s working with him. None of them will be welcome in Boston again.” So far this was going much better than I’d expected. “But I need you to stay out of it.”

And there it was. He’d take any chance to sideline me. “That’s not possible.”

“You need to stay away from Balogh, away from trouble. Let me handle this my way.”

“I’m not leaving Zeke. I’m going to take care of him.”

“The guy clearly didn’t want anything to do with you. He’s not going to care if you’re not there.”

My hands clinched into fists, and I started to rise. Val laid a hand on my thigh to push me back into the chair and spoke. “Pops, do you remember how things went when you wanted me to leave Liam alone?”

My father closed his eyes, tilted his head back against his chair, and blew out a long breath. “You two have been nothing but fucking trouble ever since I brought you into the family.”

Shit. If I got my brother and me kicked out of the family, we’d really be in trouble. I’d have to insist on living at Zeke’s apartment because I wouldn’t have anywhere else to go.

“I knew Liam was meant for me from the moment we met. If Vito feels that way about Zeke, we can’t ask him to step away.”

“I can ask any fucking thing I want,” Pops said. “This family comes first, and I won’t tolerate anything that jeopardizes our safety and our position in this city.”

“I’m not walking away from Zeke.” I managed to keep my voice steady and firm even though I wanted to yell. I wanted to hit something, somebody. I wanted to tear the whole town apart. And then I wanted to drag Zeke into bed and fuck him all night long. “I want to protect this family. That’s why I came to you with the information on Benito. He’s the one who’s a threat to us.”

“I will deal with that threat, but I don’t want to have to deal with you creating a scandal with Balogh.”

“I’ve agreed not to see him publicly, if that makes a difference.”

“Really?” Val stared at me like he thought I’d lost my mind.

Pops frowned. “How did he convince you to do that?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do. He fucked up big time in Vegas, and he needs his record to be clean here. He doesn’t need a scandal any more than I do.”

“At least he has the sense to see that.”

“I see it too, but I wasn’t going to let him get beaten to death, and I refused to let him find someone else to loan him the money, someone who would exploit him, blackmail him, extort him.”

Pops laughed. “In case you don’t realize it, we’re in the business of extortion. You didn’t just hand him the money, did you?”

“No, I gave him the standard contract for a large loan.”

Pop scowled. “How large?”

When I said the amount, Val gasped. I glared at him, and he had the decency to look apologetic.

“You’re not authorized to loan that amount,” Pops growled.

“I was going to discuss it with you, then things…got out of hand.”

“You’re goddamn right they did. Now you’ve loaned out all this money, and you fancy yourself Balogh’s savior. He’s constantly in the spotlight, and we’ve got an enemy back in town planning to do God knows what.”

“It’s not my fault Benito came back to Boston.”

“Somehow, I feel like it must be.”

“Pops,” Val said, frowning at him.

Their relationship had improved since Liam had saved Pops’ life. But my father still regarded me like a wayward child. To be fair, me punching a security guard had only made that worse. I’d known better. I always knew better, but I was impulsive. I knew it was a fault, but I wished it didn’t mean I would always be the shithead brother.

“You’re not going to listen no matter what I say, are you?” Pops asked. I had to acknowledge he’d changed since Val and Liam’s wedding. He still didn’t trust me like I wanted him to, and he was still scary as fuck, but he was softer, more willing to talk instead of command. He’d been through hell, and I realized why he was so distant and cold, but it was nice to see him melting a little around the edges.

“You’ve already pulled guards to stay with him.”

So he did know. “How did you figure that out so fast?”

He smiled. “I never reveal my secrets, but in this case, I made an educated guess. You wouldn’t be here if he was alone and unguarded.”

Damn it. Would I ever learn not to get caught in his traps? “I don’t think Zeke realizes how much danger he’s in. He’s scared, and he knows the guys in Vegas mean business. He’s desperate to keep his career on track and not let his gambling ruin everything for him, but I don’t think he realizes how fucking crazy Benito is. That motherfucker would attack him in the middle of the street in broad daylight. Zeke’s strong as hell, but?—”

“His strength won’t do a damn thing against a gun.”

“Exactly. And he was walking around unarmed. He doesn’t even carry a fucking knife on him. I put a tracker in the pocket of his leather jacket while he was in the bathroom. He wears it everywhere.”

“Jesus,” Val said.

Pops actually smiled. “You really have assimilated to this world. You were meant for the life you’re in, but if Zeke isn’t….”

“He’ll adjust,” Val said. “Liam has.”

“Liam was also born to it.”

“It’s not like in your genes or something,” Val argued.

Pops raised his brows. “Are you so sure?”

“Look at Cousin Ricky.”

My father snorted. “Don’t mention him ever again. I don’t think he could shoot a wall if he was two feet from it. He’s crashed at least five cars, and he faints at the sight of blood.”

“So I’m not the biggest fuck up in the family after all.”

Pops rolled his eyes. “Go back to Zeke. I’m going to need time to delve into this. I’ll put everyone on high alert and talk to Lucien first thing tomorrow. We’re not going to let Benito leave the city alive.”

“Fuck right we’re not.”

I walked out side by side with Val. I’d won. At least for now.