Deception (Infidelity #3)(45)

When the room was silent, he nodded to Jimmy, the man on his right. The burly hulk was more than a bodyguard: he was known as the enforcer. The last thing anyone wanted to see was Jimmy’s mug at his door in the middle of the night. If that ever happened, it would be the last thing that person ever saw, as well as the only warning that morning wouldn’t come.

Without speaking, Jimmy stepped back and led the parade as the room cleared, leaving Carmine and me alone.

“Oren, you’re family. My Angelina, she loves you. Lennox, he’s family.”

My chest constricted as I tried to breathe. Lennox was only ten years old. He was the real reason I’d moved Angelina to Westchester County and the reason I wanted to make Demetri Enterprises legitimate. I didn’t want him to be sitting in the same position as me. If I had my way, he’d never know the truth behind the business. That was why I worked countless hours. I secretly hoped that with time, the families’ powers would be whittled away. By the time my son was old enough, he could truly run legitimate operations.

“Yes, family,” I confirmed.

Carmine nodded. “Trust, Oren. I’ve trusted you with Angelina, but you see, I’m not convinced that you’ve made her happy. Will you make me happy?”

“Sir, our marriage is healthy. I love Angelina, and her happiness is my goal. Sometimes she is… feisty.”

Carmine’s laugh filled the room, echoing from the bookshelves to the walls. Being an interior room, it lacked windows. I’d never thought that was by accident. “Feisty… good word. She’s a Costello. We’ve been called worse.” He lowered his voice. “She confided in my Rosa that she wants a daughter.”

I couldn’t hide the surprise from my face. “We—we talked about it.”

“Sometimes women, they say one thing, they mean another.”

“You want me to give my wife a daughter? I-I can’t promise a daughter. Even if we were to have another child, it could be a boy.”

Carmine nodded. “But you’re willing… to try?”

What the fuck?

“Angelina and I should talk.”

“Yes, you should.” His forehead wrinkled. “But I’m sure I don’t have to tell you… talking won’t give my girl her daughter.”

I was at a loss for words as I simply nodded my head.

“Oren, I have a job for you. You do want me to be happy, don’t you?”

He has a job? Impregnating my wife is a job? Or is it more?

“Sir?”

“I want you to accompany Vincent to California.”

I clenched my jaw and immediately regretted the knee-jerk reaction. Perhaps if I relaxed it, my tension would go unnoticed.

Carmine’s eyes widened. “Or are you too busy to take a trip with my son?”

Of course it didn’t go unnoticed. “No, sir, I’d be happy to go to California.”

“I’ve never asked you to help the family before, but, son, I need to know where your loyalties lie. After all, you have been negotiating with others and not with me.”

Loyalties?

“I assure you that my loyalties—”

“Words. It’s all words until I see evidence with my own eyes.”

“May I ask,” I began, “what this job will entail?”

Carmine shrugged. “It isn’t a family connection. It’s a debt—a favor. A man who once helped me asked me for assistance. That’s what we do: we help our friends. Right, son?”

“Yes, of course.”

“This man,” Carmine said, “has a problem and asked that we help him get rid of it.”

My pulse raced. His words between the lines were louder than the ones he spoke. I’d lived around it, even before Angelina. After all, my father worked the docks. I knew the score. I knew what was done, but I’d never participated, not in anything of this magnitude. I’d arranged money laundering, even allowing my reputable business to service those needs. I’d collected debts—financial debts—but never had I participated in murder.

“Son, you want my help. I’m requiring yours in exchange. After the jewelry stores, there will be other businesses, other endeavors. I’d like to offer my allegiance. I need to know it’s reciprocated. Is that a problem?”

The knots in my stomach painfully twisted. “No, sir. No problem.”

“Tomorrow.”

I looked around the office before my eyes settled again on Carmine. “Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow, you and Vincent will help my friend. It’ll look like an accident—quiet and quick. It needs to happen fast. This problem is due back to his home in Savannah in a few days and if he returns, well, let’s just say, my friend won’t be happy.”

“Sir, I’ve never…”

“But this time, Vincent, he’ll teach you. You’ll learn. You’ll witness and participate.” And then you too will be indebted to the Costellos for their silence.

Carmine didn’t need to say the last part. It was more than implied.

“Yes, sir.”

“And,” Carmine said, “when you return, I’ll not only consider your request for the jewelry stores, but I’ll have a gift for my Angelina.”

“A gift?”