35. Chapter 35

35

" A re you sure you want to do this?" Ilaria asked Soren as they walked into the Chinese restaurant.

"Yes," Soren answered in a low voice. "It's a risk, but if they agree, it'll be worth it."

Jade Garden, in the middle of Chinatown, was unremarkable on the outside, with nothing but a small sign with the restaurant's name. The interior was small and had the same decorations ever since Ilaria had started coming here: red banners lining the lengths of the ceiling, a token red lantern hanging above the cash register, and a dingy brown carpet with years of stains. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lee, it was also the best Chinese food—in Ilaria's opinion—-and was routinely packed with customers.

Mrs. Lee led them to a table in the back, partially hidden behind a pillar. It was not quite eleven A.M., so the restaurant wasn't busy.

"Thanks, Mrs. Lee," Ilaria said as she gently squeezed the older woman's arm. "We won't be too long."

"Take your time," Mrs. Lee replied. "Have some tea while you wait." She set a white ceramic teapot down on the table. Ilaria sat down at the round table. Soren, on the other hand, turned down a hallway behind the glass lobster aquarium, staying out of sight but within earshot.

Ilaria helped herself to the tea and sipped it slowly. She ran a hand down her gray tailored skirt and crossed her legs, trying to appear calm and cool.

At one minute before eleven A.M., Mrs. Lee appeared again with Matt Ricci behind her, along with his father, Alfred.

"Mr. Ricci!" Ilaria stood and came around the table to give Alfred a hug. She cast him an admiring look up and down. "You're looking quite dapper today."

Alfred chuckled as he smoothed the front of his suit. "I appreciate that. I know a young woman your age wouldn't actually find an old man like me very attractive, but I'll take the flattery all the same."

"Oh, stop." Ilaria rolled her eyes, grinning. "Well, I'll bet Mrs. Ricci appreciates how handsome you look."

Alfred laughed good-naturedly in response.

Her grin dimmed as she nodded at Alfred's son. "Matt, good to see you."

Matt leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek, giving her a warm look. "Likewise." Ilaria resisted the urge to lean away.

"Come, sit." Ilaria motioned to the chairs across the table from her. She saw Alfred's and Matt's eyes linger briefly on Elowine, who wasn't her usual guard, but didn't notice any alarm in their faces.

Ilaria filled Alfred's tea cup and then Matt's. She normally wouldn't bother with the stereotypical niceties, but today she had an agenda.

"Speaking of Martha, how is she?" Ilaria looked at Alfred, pulling back his attention. "I heard she's getting involved in a children's charity."

"She loves it. She's very busy. A little too busy." Alfred looked disgruntled. "She gives her condolences, by the way. We were devastated to hear about your parents."

Ilaria nodded graciously. "I appreciate that."

Alfred cleared his throat. "So, tell us why we're here? As much as I love the idea of a beautiful young woman just wanting to have lunch with me, I know there's another reason we're meeting."

Ilaria smiled and dipped her chin. She had always respected his direct manner. "Nothing gets by you, Alfred," she acknowledged. "Soren," she called out.

Soren stepped out from behind the aquarium. Ilaria had to marvel at the intimidating figure he cut as he walked out, movements smooth and unhurried.

Matt jolted in his chair. Alfred, to his credit, having been in the business for a long time, gave little reaction.

Soren took a seat next to Ilaria, watching the Riccis the entire time.

Matt's eyes shifted back and forth between Ilaria and Soren, looking none too pleased.

Alfred chuckled. "Well, well. It's not every day that I'm surprised. What are you doing in Chicago, Mr. MacGregor?"

Even in Chicago, people knew Soren MacGregor.

Soren gave Alfred a small smile and a cool look. "The Carosis and the MacGregors are here to make you a proposal," he said in an easy tone that still somehow hinted at the danger radiating from him. His gray eyes looked as if they missed nothing. Observing Soren, Ilaria understood then how he had received his notorious reputation.

Alfred shifted his gaze to Ilaria, an increased measure of respect in his eyes. "I didn't realize that the Carosis and the MacGregors worked together."

"We do now," Soren answered smoothly.

Alfred paused as if wanting to know how this partnership happened, but Soren didn't offer any details. "Okay, I'll bite," he responded in a conversational tone. "What's your proposal?"

Soren looked at Ilaria, giving her the floor. "Before we get to that, have you heard of aestrium-x?" she asked father and son.

She said it with deliberate bluntness and carefully watched their reactions. A flash of surprise on Matt's face, which he quickly schooled into impassiveness. Alfred was more adept at not showing any reaction. But she knew both of them had heard of it.

"I'd appreciate it if you tell me what you know," she said evenly.

Matt narrowed his eyes. "If you share what you know," he hedged.

She gave him a long look. "After the DeAngelo situation, I'd have thought you would be bending over backwards to help me out."

He recoiled slightly, his expression chastening. He glanced at his father, who gave him a small nod. "Fine. We don't know much, to be honest. It's a new street drug, similar in properties to meth. But we haven't heard anything specific on what makes aestrium-x different."

"How long have you known about it?"

"We started hearing whispers about six months ago."

Ilaria kept her face impassive. Six months? Why hadn't she heard anything back then? She must not be as connected as she thought. She wondered if her father had heard these same whispers but ignored them.

"Are you planning to get involved in the distribution of aestrium-x?" she asked.

Alfred answered this time. "Not at the moment. We don't know anything about it, its effects on people, how stable it is. Too risky right now."

"But we'll be finding out soon," Matt added. "There's a production shipment happening soon, and then it'll be hitting the streets."

Ilaria nodded. "Yes, that's correct."

Again, surprise on Matt's face, and this time, Alfred's.

"Are you involved with aestrium-x?" Matt asked. He was looking at her as if he was seeing her for the first time.

"No," she answered truthfully. "But that's why we're coming to you with our proposal." She paused. There was no turning back now. "Aestrim-x is Vincent's side project. Unknown to me until recently, and, I'm certain, unknown to my father. We're asking you to stay away from aestrium-x and not back Vincent when he goes public with the news."

Alfred and Matt were speechless at the bombshells she was dropping left and right. Understanding dawned on Alfred's face. "You're going to oust him."

"Yes," Ilaria confirmed.

"And you have the might of the MacGregor family behind you," Alfred added, looking at Soren.

Soren nodded.

"And…if we don't agree to your proposal, we'll have the MacGregors breathing down our necks," Alfred finished.

Soren shrugged. "That pretty much sums it up."

Alfred's expression was flat. "If I was an easily offended man, I would take this as a threat."

Ilaria reached out and touched his sleeve. "Alfred, we're only asking you to not get involved, if Vincent comes knocking. You already said you're not planning to distribute the drug. We're just asking that you keep it that way. It's a terrible drug, okay? From what we've heard, the death rate could be very high."

Alfred glanced between Ilaria and Soren, trying to understand every angle. "What does it matter to you whether the Riccis are involved or not?"

"We're looking to cut off Vincent's support," Soren answered, "and the Riccis are one of the largest families in Chicago. We would prefer that you're on our side."

"And what if we decide later that aestrium-x is…lucrative enough to mediate the risks of the drug? Then continuing to stay uninvolved would actually cost us." Alfred was a shrewd businessman.

"That won't happen," Soren said, certainty abounding in his tone. "We're planning to cut this drug at the knees. It won't get a chance to take hold."

Ilaria looked at Soren sideways. But the only way to do that would be to remove Vincent out of the picture altogether. Were they prepared to do this? Was she prepared for this? She kept her face neutral as she watched Alfred and Matt.

"It'll be as if you never heard of aestrium-x in the first place," Ilaria added.

Alfred assessed them, trying to gain an advantage.

"Alfred, look," Ilaria finally said. She leaned forward. "I know you're trying to see if you can demand something from us in return for our request, one that we're invested in, as you can probably tell. And I know that's why your business is what it is; you're a good businessman. However, I would like to add that my father and I have not only kept quiet about the DeAngelo situation, but we didn't hold it over your heads as a threat. And we all know we could have, given how that situation could have ruined both of you." Both Alfred's and Matt's eyes flared with anger. "But I'm not, okay? And if you accept our proposal about Vincent, then we'll call it even."

Alfred cocked his head. "You held that piece of information, knowing a time would come when you needed something from us."

"I figured there would be something, yes."

Respect flashed across his face. "I think you'll do just fine in this business, darling. And I don't know how you got the MacGregors involved, but that was a brilliant move." He let out a sigh. "Fine. I give you my word we won't get involved with this drug at all, or with Vincent. As long as you keep your word and no one else knows but yourself."

"Myself, Soren, and Galen," Ilaria corrected. "You have our word."

"And I'd appreciate it if the MacGregors kept their noses out of our business." Ilaria knew Alfred wasn't going to test the MacGregors' reach of power.

"And vice versa," Soren replied.

Alfred nodded.

"I do have another question," she said. "What have you heard about my parents' murders?"

"Ah, I almost thought you wouldn't get around to it."

"So you know something?" Ilaria lifted her brows.

"Only the main question you have: whether the other families were involved," Alfred guessed astutely. "And no, I can say with near certainty that the Chicago families were not involved."

"How do you know?" Soren asked.

Alfred narrowed his eyes as if debating whether to be offended. Anyone else would have backed down, but not Soren. He continued to stare at Alfred with a cool look, waiting for an answer.

Ilaria breathed a quiet sigh of relief when Alfred decided to answer. "As I'm sure you are familiar, families may be rivals, but violence hurts all our businesses. So unless there's a clear cut advantage, none of the families would resort to something that would result in a feud."

Soren looked at Alfred with an impassive face. "Even the Bianchis? Ilaria did, after all, reject their proposal for a marriage alliance."

A glimmer of surprise appeared on Alfred's face.

Matt frowned. "If you were interested in a marriage alliance, you should have come to us." He paused. "Maybe it can still happen." His eyes glinted as he stared at Ilaria.

Soren let out a soft snarl.

Ilaria laid a hand on Soren's arm, which both Riccis noted. "The Bianchis approached us, and I wasn't interested. And I'm still not interested. In any marriage alliance." Her voice softened a little, but she kept her eyes on Matt, wanting him to understand.

Matt didn't want to drop it. "Then how is this partnership with the MacGregors set up, if not by marriage?"

"That's not your concern," Soren answered, dangerously calm.

Alfred touched Matt's arm, telling him to back off, and cleared his throat. "The Bianchis especially wouldn't have tried to hurt your parents. They're smaller than the Carosis. And murder is not an equivalent revenge for something like a marriage rejection. None of the other families would take their side, and they'd be on their own."

Soren nodded. Ilaria could tell he knew this but wanted to hear Alfred say it out loud.

"You might want to look into your own family," Alfred suggested. "And not just Vincent, the obvious suspect."

Ilaria met his gaze for several beats. He knew something, but that was all he was going to say. "Noted," she replied.

"Families develop disloyal members every so often," Alfred continued, looking at Soren. "You're lucky if it's rare. Which I hear is the case with your family."

He and Soren assessed each other and then nodded, coming to a kind of unstated understanding.

She met Mrs. Lee's eyes, who brought over two large bags of takeout, which she placed next to Matt.

"Just a tiny gesture to thank you for meeting with us today." Ilaria said as she stood up. "I know Martha loves the walnut prawns."

"Yes, she does," Alfred chuckled as he stood up with her. "She'll be thrilled. I'll be lucky if I get a piece."

"That's why there are two orders in there," Ilaria responded with a sly grin. "Tell her I said hi."

"I knew you were a smart girl." He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Martha will reach out soon and have you come over for dinner."

"I'd love that." Ilaria gave his arm a squeeze.

Alfred reached out to shake Soren's hand. "Tell your uncle I look forward to staying on his good side."

Soren shook Matt's hand as well, squeezing it and holding icy eye contact for longer than necessary. Matt tried to maintain eye contact but uncertainty flashed over his face and he looked away first.

Then the Riccis walked out.

Back at their car, Ilaria loaded her own bags of Jade Garden takeout, with extra lo mein, into the trunk. As Elowine pulled the car out of the parking lot, Soren looped an arm over the top of the backseat and turned to Ilaria.

"DeAngelo, as in Mark DeAngelo, Chicago's mayor?"

Ilaria chuckled. Figured Soren would make the connection. "Mm-hmm. DeAngelo's eighteen-year-old daughter got pregnant during election season, and Matt was one of the primary paternity suspects. DeAngelo threatened to ruin his life and crack down on the Ricci's businesses. My dad was a friend of the mayor, and Alfred asked him for a favor. Long story short, the girl got an abortion, and the whole affair was swept under the rug. And no one was allowed to acknowledge what happened."

"Ah." Soren immediately understood the potential disaster the Ricci's had faced. "And you saved your ace until the right moment." He looked impressed. "Ricci was right. You'll do just fine."