I want to tear the world apart, rip it to shreds, and break its bones to keep my Lena safe.
“He’ll only want her more,” Patton goes on. “Unless we have a good reason. A good story to tell.”
“I know.” I sigh. “But I have to try.”
“Why?”
For a second, I think about telling him. I could explain about the need scorching my insides, as though purifying all the darkness and the viciousness of the life, as though inviting me to start something new.
I can still taste her, still, feel her, still see the shape of her lips.
The tattoo was simple, a subtle piece, but I hope it brings her strength. I hope it lets her know there’s a chance she can fly away from all this.
“When’s the meet?” I ask, ignoring his question.
“A few hours, at the usual spot. No toys.”
I nod. No toys mean no weapons. It’s a good policy to have when a bunch of mob men meet, especially when they’ve got history like Conor and me.
“How much are you going to offer?” Patton asks.
“Two million,” I tell him. “But I’m willing to go up to five.”
That’s a lie to make this more palatable to my consigliere. The truth is I’d happily empty every single one of my bank accounts to get Lena out of Conor’s clutches and avoid a war.
I’d give up everything I have just to be with her, to hold her, to know there’s no threat hanging over her head.
Patton swallows audibly. “And what’s our reason? What are we going to say?”
I pace to the other end of the gym, staring out at the long greenery of my estate’s gardens. The gardener raises his hand, and I raise mine back, but the gesture feels a million miles away, as though I’m disconnected from everything.
The only thing I can think about is Lena, last night, the way she shivered for me, the pressure of her lips against mine.
“She’s a trained portrait artist. I want an in-house artist, somebody to memorialize my lieutenants and me.”
“And we’re willing to pay two million for that,” Patton mutters.
I almost punch the glass, his tone making me want to do some damage.
“Yes, we fucking are,” I snarl.
It’s not the best excuse. It’s not even a good one.
But I can’t think of anything else.
Softening my tone, I say, “Unless you have any suggestions. I mean it, cousin. Anything. You mentioned a good story?”
“I was thinking earlier,” he says. “But if you’ve already made up your mind….”
“No.” I sigh shakily. “I know I’m pissed, but no. I always want your counsel. A leader is nothing without his men.”
“Conor’s a lunatic.”
“Agreed.”
“A sadist.”
“I know that.”
“So let’s pretend we’re the same. A man like that only understands pain. He only understands what he is, the self-centered motherfucker. Tell him you’ve been holding onto a slight for years. You’ve got a vendetta against the Bonetti family. You want to hurt this – you want to hurt Lena.”
“I’d never hurt her.” My voice is shaking, my body trembling, my heart thundering. “I’d die before I did that.”
Patton pauses. Again, I sense him wanting to ask why, but he knows better when my tone is so flooded with fire.
“I get that,” Patton says. “But this isn’t about what you’d do…this is about what will make him more likely to agree. If he sees you down on his level, if he believes you’re as fucked-up as him, it might make him more willing to take the offer. You know how he sees you.”
“Yeah,” I grunt. “I think I’m better than him because I don’t keep four so-called wives, and I don’t treat women like shit, and I don’t try and deal drugs in the city.”
“Exactly,” Patton says. “He’ll get a real kick out of dragging you down into the mud with him.”
I sit at the window seat, my fingers drumming against my leg.
“I don’t know why you want her so badly, cousin,” Patton says. “But it’s my job to help carry out your orders. This is the best path. With all due respect, it makes more sense than your plan.”
“You’re right,” I reply. “I see the logic. When it comes down to it, getting her away from him is all that matters.”
“And avoiding a war.”
“Yes, that too.”
“I think this could work,” Patton says. “If we play it right.”
“You’ve never led me wrong, cousin,” I tell him. “We’ll do it your way. And thanks for being honest with me. Not many would.”
“You’re a scary bastard, Luca.” Patton laughs grimly. “But I’d never knowingly lead you astray. You know that.”
“Of course I do. Speak soon.”
I hang up, appreciating my cousin’s shrewdness and honesty.
He’s right. I can see it now.
The portrait artist thing makes no sense. There’s no incentive for Conor to agree to it. He won’t do it merely for the money, not with how badly he wants Lena for himself.