Miles Away (Carrion #1)(44)

“After you, gentlemen,” Lila said as Knox, Dustin and Landon passed through the doorway.

The Velvet Room was an intimate setting with stained cherry paneled walls. Small circular tables peppered the room with red velvet-upholstered arm chairs at each. A bronze chandelier hung from the ceiling and offered dim lighting for the patrons of the Velvet Room. Tea lights twinkled from each table, and the sounds of Chopin’s Nocturne Opus Number 9 gently flowed through the room. Lila led the Capadonno brothers to the center of the room. Knox lowered himself into an armchair, giving Lila a wink as she walked off, disappearing behind a sheer curtain. Dustin and Landon took a seat, Landon peering around at his surroundings uncomfortably. It was clear that this was not a setting that he was used to. Dustin, on the other hand, looked bored and unfazed.

Lila reemerged from beyond the veil with a chalice of chianti in her grasp. She placed it down on the mahogany table and passed each of the men a leather menu. Running her hand along the curve of the table, Lila’s eyes fell upon Knox‘s face. Her hand stopped just short of his own, almost as if it was an invitation, but rather than accept it, Knox held his hand up, indicating the need for space.

“Leave us,” Knox said coolly as his brooding eyes grazed over the young woman’s face, her eyes recoiling from his rejection.

Wrong audience, darlin’, Knox thought, as he watched the hostess saunter off, giving him one final glance. “Sergio will be right with you.”

As the leather door swung shut, Landon’s eyes shot across the table towards his brothers.

“What’s going on?” Landon asked in a voice full of skepticism.

Knox grabbed the chalice and slowly poured himself a glass of the fragrant wine.

“Well, that all depends on your theory. The old man needs to appoint a replacement.”

“A replacement?” Landon asked, trying to draw a conversation out of Knox.

“Acting boss,” Dustin said quietly as he turned his cell phone off.

“Who is he thinking of? Has he said?” Landon asked as he leaned forward in his chair.

“It’ll be a Capadonno…” Knox explained cryptically, not elaborating further.

“I expected so,” Landon admitted. “It’ll never be me. He doesn’t trust me.”

“I have no idea why, you’re a good enough kid,” Dustin admitted as he reached over and shook his younger brother’s head full of blonde hair.

“Argh! Knock it off!” Landon complained as he flattened down his short but thick head of hair.

Knox took a sip of his wine as Dustin watched him.

“How can you drink that shit?” Dustin asked as his chair skidded out from the table.

Making his way over to the bar, a few bottles clanged loudly as Dustin looked for his drink of choice.

“Yo, Landon, pick your poison!”

“Dangerous words, coming from the Capo…” Knox said as he winked at Landon.

“Snakebite. Think you can handle that?” Landon asked with an edge to his voice.

“Nice. Shouldn’t be a problem…” Dustin said nonchalantly as he turned back towards the bar.

“What are you drinking?” Knox asked Dustin as he watched him begin to mix his drink.

“Irish Car Bomb,” Dustin admitted. “I foresee a long line of them comin’ my way.”

“Your Italian ancestors are probably spittin’ on you,” Knox said with a laugh.

“Fine by me. My Irish forefathers can kick their Mafioso asses.”

“While you’re over there, pour me a drink! A Manhattan,” Knox demanded.

“Lazy bastard,” Landon said with a laugh. “Just who do you think you are? Flashy ass DA…”

Knox laughed smugly. “They only call me the DA in New York. Around here they just call me Consigliere…”

Consigliere… Landon thought. Counselor to the boss.

Landon had never heard Knox admit it out loud.

Shaking his head from side to side, Dustin mixed their drinks and prepared for the conversation at hand. Landon, looking up at Knox with a dark tone setting in his eyes, wondered where his brother’s loyalties truly lay. Which of his roles did he really hold true to, the hard hitting DA of New York, or the loyal to the death Consigliere, and right-hand man of Michael Capadonno? Landon thought he knew where Knox’s chips fell, one could never be too sure though. Especially with a character like him.

“So tell me,” Landon began. “Who do you think the old man is going to put in charge?”

Knox swirled his wine in his glass. Looking up at Landon, he had a look of deep scrutinization on his face.

“The question is, Landon, who do you think Michael will choose?” Knox said as he nodded his head at Landon.

“Well, I always assumed it would be you,” Landon admitted coolly.

Dustin let out a dry laugh as he carried over three drinks to the table. “Fat chance.”

Knox’s eyebrows arched in amusement.

“Definitely not me,” Knox admitted. “I’m way too high profile.”

“Mr. Celebrity,” Dustin said as he rolled his eyes.

Quietly, Dustin placed a Manhattan in front of Knox, causing Landon to lift an eyebrow in interest.

Mr. DA sipping on the drink of choice of the Italian mafia. Interesting, Landon thought.