Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
There was silence as those at the table got up to replenish their plates from the warmers. Amaranthe didn’t understand how they could possibly put away that much food. Geno remained sitting beside her. He sat back in his chair, looking relaxed, but he didn’t feel that way. Inside he was coiled like a snake about to strike. She dropped one hand below the table to place her palm on his thigh, showing solidarity. There was no doubt he’d caught the exchange of looks between Taviano and his wife. He was also aware Stefano was withholding information.
Be very careful, Geno, she cautioned. She couldn’t help herself. Stefano was a force to be reckoned with. He was also a man Geno respected and loved. If there were a falling out, it would hurt. She didn’t know why the head of the Ferraro family would hold back crucial information, but there had to be a reason.
His hand covered hers. He took a sip of coffee, his gaze moving around the table, touching each of his cousin’s faces and then Elie’s. Finally, he settled on Stefano. “No doubt you put your investigators on this as well. Considering that my parents were victims of these murderers, I think it’s a good idea to pool all information and see what we have.”
Amaranthe was proud of him. There was no threat in his voice. Geno sounded the way he always sounded. Still, Stefano flicked him a quick, very sharp look from his dark, piercing eyes. He knew. How, she didn’t know, but he was aware of what Geno was asking.
Stefano didn’t look at his youngest brother. He kept his gaze fixed on Geno. “Naturally, we did investigate. I’m certain Valentino and Dario had their own investigators on it as well. Elie’s wife, Brielle, is amazing with a computer.”
Elie nodded. “She came to the same conclusion your investigators did, Geno. We have the report for you. She and Bernado Macaluso were very thorough, and they included more on the families, but nothing that is going to change what you already know.”
Geno nodded but didn’t take his gaze from Stefano. “I have a gut feeling Stefano’s investigators may be able to point us in a new direction.”
Stefano didn’t so much as blink. “I’m not certain why you think my people would come up with anything different on these families that your investigators couldn’t come up with.”
Amaranthe listened to the cadence of his voice. Stefano had chosen his words very carefully. He wasn’t lying, but he was misleading. It wasn’t the most intelligent thing to do when he knew his cousin so well. At once she felt the difference in Geno. That ruthless quality in him rose like the tide. Did Stefano really think he was going to deter Geno? He had to know him better than that.
The room slowly filled with tension—with a dark antagonism that pushed against the walls despite the room being so spacious. One by the one the others became aware of the storm building between the two powerful cousins. The banter stopped and everyone fell silent. All eyes turned to the two men.
Geno and Stefano continued to stare at each other, locked in silent combat, neither giving an inch.
Amaranthe flicked her gaze to Taviano and Nicoletta, the only other individuals at the table who seemed to have the same information Stefano had. Nicoletta had shifted her body to partially conceal her husband from most of those seated across from them. Amaranthe could see him perfectly. There were tiny beads of sweat on his forehead. His breathing was elevated. His heart was racing. Nicoletta spoke softly to him, whispering in his ear, her entire focus on him.
Geno, look at Taviano. Something’s very wrong. Stefano would never betray you or your family. If you had to hold back information from Stefano, you would do it for only one reason—the protection of Salvatore or Lucca. He’s protecting Taviano. He’s not going to back down no matter how much he might want to.
Amaranthe tried to be the voice of reason. Geno was hurt. Stefano had been the one constant in his life, big brother, father, the one person who hadn’t abandoned him. In that one moment, he felt all the emotions he had when his father and mother had closed their door and never once spoke to him as parents again. He’d been locked out of their hearts. In some ways, Geno would forever be that child believing he had done something wrong, that he wasn’t good enough, that he was undeserving of love. Now Stefano had rejected him just as surely as his parents had.
No one else would see it that way, but Amaranthe was in his mind, and she saw that thirteen-year-old boy’s entire world crumbling. He loved Stefano and had believed in him when he didn’t believe in anyone else.