7. Brie

CHAPTER 7

Brie

I barely make it through the door of my suite before there's a loud, insistent knocking at it. For a wild moment, I imagine it's Nik, that she's come to save me just like she did last night. But when I fling open the door, it's Frank Colombo who pushes his way inside, his craggy face a mask of concern.

"Breezy," he says, his voice gruff. "Now, listen, after what happened to you, you need protection, and I won't hear any arguments about it."

I open my mouth to argue, to insist that I can take care of myself. But the crack of gunfire, the sickening lurch as Nik frantically pulled me down—it all comes rushing back. As much as I hate the idea of being watched 24/7, of losing what little freedom I have left, I'd rather not end up dead in an alley.

"Fine," I concede.

Frank doesn't look as relieved as I thought he might. "Thing is, we're running low on manpower."

Just as Eva Novak pointed out, the Colombo Family has been shrinking over the last few years. But we have other options. "Send a few people from casino security to my floor, and station another couple outside my door."

Frank looks surprised for a moment. "That's a good idea, Breezy. Good idea."

"And Frank, did you know Juno Bianchi is here?"

He beams. "Sure I know. I called her up myself yesterday, one of your best girlfriends. She'll take good care of you in your…" He drops his voice. "Well, your time of need."

Juno is here because of Frank ?

"But Frank," I say slowly, exasperation threatening to knock aside my Poor Little Widow mask, "Juno Bianchi also happens to be a Mob Boss , so?—"

Before I can go on, there's another knock at the door. Swallowing a sigh, I move to open it myself. Standing in the hallway is Juno herself in a perfectly tailored Armani suit. Her wife, Caitlin, stands slightly behind her in jeans and a flannel shirt, red curls just as wild as I remember them, and I can't help but smile.

But it's the two women flanking them that really catch my attention. One is tall and lithe, with a blonde ponytail and cold dark eyes that seem to take in everything at once. The other has shiny dark hair, pretty but haunted hazel eyes framed by thick bangs, and a stance that screams "try me."

"Brie, darling," Juno says, stepping forward to embrace me. "I'm so sorry for your loss. We came as soon as we could."

I return the hug, grateful for her familiar presence despite my wariness. "Thank you for coming, Juno. I appreciate the support."

But then Juno adds softly, "Frank told me that an attempt was made on your life, also."

Frank needs to learn to keep his damn mouth shut where Juno is concerned, and I'll have to find a way to firmly suggest that to him.

Speaking of Frank, he's clearing his throat and sidling to the door, clearly uncomfortable with amount of estrogen in the room. "I'll leave you ladies to your girl talk," he says, excusing himself with a respectful nod to Juno. But it's for show only—Frank has never really understood just how much power Juno Bianchi holds.

He never would have called her in at a time like this if he had understood.

The four women file in and Frank scurries out. As soon as the door closes behind him, I roll my eyes dramatically, earning a quiet chuckle from all present. The tension in the room eases slightly, but I can tell Juno and Caitlin are a little uncertain how to approach me.

And I still have no idea who these other two are.

"How are you really doing?" Caitlin asks, her voice soft with genuine concern. She guides me to the sofa, sitting close.

"I'm managing."

"Someone took a shot at you," Juno says bluntly. "And yet you have no guards posted outside the door. You are not managing, Brie. And your people are failing you."

I bristle at that, but I bite my tongue and turn instead toward the two unfamiliar women, who are busy exchanging a loaded glance. "Hello," I say with meaning.

Juno makes quick introductions. "This is Lyssa and Scarlett Fletcher, representatives from the Styx Syndicate in Chicago. They're here as a show of solidarity, as are we."

The Styx Syndicate. I've heard of them, but Terry never did business with them. Still, their support could be useful.

Juno has paused for our handshakes, but now she dives back into business. "Do you know who killed Don Colombo?"

I shake my head. "Frank is investigating."

"Who…found him?" Juno asks delicately.

"Frank did."

"Has Frank—" Juno begins again, but I hold up a hand.

"Come on," I say, with a small smile. "You know the rules, Juno. Family business is Family business."

It takes a second, but Juno accepts it. She can hardly argue with me about it. If I started questioning her about Bianchi business, she'd be outraged. But then Lyssa, the blonde Syndicate member, leans forward. "Mrs. Colombo?—"

"Brie."

"Brie. Hadria Imperioli—Hades of the Styx Syndicate—sends her condolences. Now, unfortunately I don't have time to be delicate, although I am sorry about your husband. But Scarlett and I are here on a particular mission. Juno suggested that it might be more useful to us to talk to you instead of—well, the new Don."

I actually appreciate her upfront approach. I like practical women. But I should probably call Frank back in if they want to talk business. Still…if this mission they're on is confidential, I don't know if I can trust Frank to keep quiet about it. "What did you want to discuss?"

"We're hunting a female assassin. We have reason to believe she may be connected to your husband's death—and maybe the attempt on your life, too."

My eyebrows shoot up. "An assassin?"

Scarlett speaks for the first time. "She works for a woman known as ‘Grandmother.' Grandmother has been training female assassins for several decades, and we believe she may have been embedding them in organizations such as yours, all around the country—maybe the world. Your husband's name was on a list we acquired."

"And you think Terry was killed by one of these women?"

Lyssa shrugs. "We don't know for certain. But we need to rule it out. How many women would have had access to Don Colombo during the last few years?"

The faces of the women who work in the casino flash through my mind—cocktail waitresses, dealers, a few pit bosses. But they're all familiar, all vetted. "The women on our staff have all been here for years, vetted by the Family, and…" I spread my hands. "They're loyal."

"These assassins are very good at playing a part," Scarlett says darkly.

"What about his lovers?" Lyssa asks bluntly, and I have to laugh, both at her frankness and at the question.

I glance at Juno, who gives me an almost imperceptible nod. Yes, these people can be trusted . "He had no female lovers."

"You're…sure about that?" Lyssa asks, cocking an eyebrow.

"Terry kept it quiet, but he was gay. As am I. We had an arrangement."

Scarlett is the only one to react, an involuntary, understanding "Ohhh!" escaping her. Lyssa just shoves a pen and paper into my hands.

"We need a list of any women around him," she says. "And any other women who could have had unquestioned access to your husband. Hairdressers. Stylists. Doctors."

"Only women?"

"Only women."

I'm already scribbling down a few names, but I glance up as something occurs to me. "Eva Novak is in town."

"Eva Novak is not the person the Syndicate seeks," Juno says. "I have known her for many years. We attended the same finishing school in the Alps."

Finishing school? Okay. "Eva might be clear," I say after a pause, "but she has a new bodyguard or associate or something—a woman named Nik. Dominika Kusek."

"I'll have Johnny de Luca run a background check on her immediately, along with all these other names." I nod, grateful for Juno's resources and connections. Then she asks the question I've been dreading: "So, Brie…who is the new Don? Joe Buccino is in custody, so…"

This is dangerous territory, but I wonder if Frank has already spilled to her. "Frank's got me playing figurehead while they sort out the succession," I tell her, without detailing the politics of it all.

Juno's brow furrows. "That's not ideal. Perhaps?—"

"The Family will figure it out," I cut her off, perhaps too quickly. As much as I appreciate Juno, as much as I trust her personally, I can't ignore the fact that she's not Family. Not my Family. I might just be the Don's widow, but I still care about the survival of the Colombos, and letting Juno interfere would only make us seem weak. "Thank you," I say more politely, "but we have everything in hand." Time to steer the conversation to safer ground. "The funeral is tomorrow. I'd be honored if you would attend, Juno—and you, too, Caitlin, of course."

"The honor would be ours." Caitlin gives me a smile as warm as her hair and I find myself smiling back.

I turn to the interlopers. "And you, too, Lyssa and Scarlett—it would be very kind of you to show that the Colombos have support in Chicago as well as New York."

They agree readily, and I know what they're really thinking: that it will give them an opportunity to look at all the female guests. I try to ignore the frisson of worry washing over me, but it's hard.

Because if Nik Kusek really is the assassin they're seeking, now she knows about the house at Solara. And if she isn't the assassin? She'll still have told Eva Novak all about it.

I have nowhere left to hide.