Tristan Isabe’s idea just might work.


    It’s all we have now. The only lead. A man Mortimer trusts to use his house as a base where he canmunicate with his daughter.


    I messaged Massimo requesting an urgent meeting and with that I had to approach Dominic, who hasn’t spoken to me sincest night.


    We gathered in the meeting room ten minutes ago and connected with Massimo so we could see him.


    While he still has that worried appearance from the other day, he looks hopeful.


    As Massimo talks though, there’s tension in the air so thick I’m not sure the proverbial knife could cut it, but we’re all talking because we’re working.


    “I think this could work,” Dominic says to Massimo. “Isabe says she talks with her father once a month so the man will be conversing with this guy regrly to make arrangements for that, and maybe other things to do with the guards. I can do something simr to what I did the other week and track the location of calls thate to that house and try to hack in.”


    I listen to him and it’s the first time I think that someone who can do all that is an extremely dangerous man.


    “You think you could do that?” Massimo asks.


    “I can try. I’m positive I can do something. I just need to get my head around how I’ll do it. We don’t have a phone number for him. I’ve checked him out and the house phone is delisted. I’ll have to design something.”


    “All right, design something. Do what you can. I have faith in you that you can do it,” Massimo says. “I think if anything’s going to work it’s that. If that’s the only way Mortimermunicates with his guards then we’re bound to find something that will help us. I don’t know anybody else who can work this kind of magic.”


    “Thank you, it’s nice to be appreciated,” Dominic answers. That’s not an answer he would normally give.


    I resist the urge to look at Massimo. Dominic is not a man who misses a beat. If I look, he’ll know I said something. In fact, I’m guessing he’ll already suspect I’ve spoken to Massimo because we’re not the kind to keep secrets.


    “You know I appreciate you,” Massimo replies. “That’s why you’re my consigliore.”


    “I know,” Dominic nods his head.


    “Okay, looks like we’re getting somewhere. In other news, the V olkovs are nowhere to be found.”


    My lips part when he says that and when Dominic and I exchange nces I know I haven’t lost himpletely yet.


    “What do you mean nowhere to be found?” I ask.


    “I mean exactly that. Nowhere to be found. The Romanovs and I got together yesterday deciding we’d pay the V olkovs a visit, and we found nothing and no one anywhere.”


    This is exactly what I mean about trust. Now who the fuck could have told them we knew they were responsible for the bombing of the Syndicate?


    “Who do you think told them?” I ask. That’s the question to ask. None of us have time to pussyfoot around shit.


    “It’s not Viktor or Aiden, it’s not any of us, so I think someone followed them that night when they got Wilson. That’s all we can think of. Someone followed and alerted them that we might know of their guilt. Guys there’s not a damn sign of any of them. men, women, and children are all gone.


    Hiding.”


    I release a ragged sigh. “What the fuck do we do now? What are you nning to do?”


    In my opinion we need something like the Syndicate. Yes, they had dark practices I didn’t agree with but the only reason why men like Mortimer would want to dismantle them is because of the power they held. Having a force like that is something to be reckoned with.


    You just have to have the right men. The right people.


    “I think it’s time to be official about reforming the Syndicate and get on with it. I’ve waited long enough and maybe forming the alliances will help us find the traitors quicker. I think our anonymous friend wanted me to do this because of who I know. The letter mentioned forming strong alliances.”


    I stare back at him wondering if he’s serious. I know who he knows because we all know the same people.


    “You’re serious?” Dominic says catching on to his meaning.


    “Yes. I’m serious as fuck. There are many powerful men in our circle. Many.


    And I’m not thinking six families either like before. I’m thinking of whoever I trust most. I’ve already broken the idea to udius Morientz and Vincent Giordano. They’re thinking about it.”


    I actually get goosebumps at the mention of those names. Those are two powerful bosses from Chicago who are also friends.


    “You really did that Massimo?” I have to ask.


    “I did. I’ve been thinking about it for a while and that’s the conclusion I’vee to. I can’t imagine them saying no to this opportunity, but they won’t join us in shit, not when they don’t need to.


    I need all the secrets to reveal themselves and to find out what the fuck happened. I’m holding a meeting tomorrow evening. Before I venture to reform the Syndicate I’m going to pick out the devils.


    This meeting will be the first of that kind. I think it’s time to talk to the Mazzones.”


    Spoken like a true leader.


    I nod and ept what he’s saying. Dominic does too.


    “What do you need us to do?” I ask.


    “Well. With this new n in the works it would be good if you guys coulde over for the day, just for the meeting. I need you to be my eyes and ears.”


    That’s doable. I think it would be okay to leave the ind for the day ande back the following day.


    “I think that would be okay. Dominic what about you?” I ask.


    “Yes,” he answers but he’s not looking at me. He’s looking at Massimo. “It might be a good idea too, since I can get some of the gadgets I’ll need.”


    “Great. Okay. I’ll need you both at D’Agostinos by two.”


    “We’ll fly out first thing,” I say.


    “Perfect. See you then guys.” He nods his head and looks at both of us.


    The look he gives me though holds worry for Dominic. He can see too that Dominic was different.


    The call cuts and Massimo’s image disappears from my view. Dominic gets up ready to leave and I watch him really wondering if he’s gonna just leave like that.


    I wait for him to walk out before I follow and gear myself up for another argument when I call after him.


    At least he stops at the base of the stairs and looks back at me.


    “What? What do you want?” he asks.


    “Dominic, is this how we’re really going to be? What the hell happened the other night?”


    “You tell me brother.”


    “You pulled your gun on me,” I point out.


    “You pulled yours on me too.”


    “You fucking know why I did.” No way am I going to stand here and allow him to make me feel guilty when he must remember it was he who reached for his gun first, not me. There’s no way in fuck I’d think to do a thing like that if I wasn’t protecting myself first. That’s the only way. “This isn’t us.


    It’s not you and me. We’re not the brothers who do this.”


    “Stop it, fucking stop it. Don’t act like you’re there for me. Don’t,” he says shaking his head. I’m shocked to hear this because as far as I’m concerned I was there. I’ve always been there for him whenever he needed me.


    “What are you talking about?”


    “Tristan… I have too much shit on my head to argue with you now. I can’t do it. Right now I have to do the things I’m needed for and make miracles happen. No one will have a hopes chance in hell if I don’te up with a solution.”


    “Yeah, you’re right about that. We don’t have a chance without you. But finding out what’s up your ass is more important to me now than anything else. What’s going on Dominic, what do you mean I wasn’t there for you?”


    He grits his teeth, looks at me long and hard then presses his lips together .


    “Look I don’t want to talk about it.”


    “Give me something, you can’t tell me that and just expect me to ept it and not do shit about it.


    I want to be there for you,” I insist. “Dominic please tell me you know that.”


    “Yeah… I know. Look, don’t worry about me. There’s too much to worry about to waste time on me.”


    “Dominic, you heard what I said. I mean it. It’s important to me to hear what’s going on with you.”


    “No. Nothing is going on with me.” Is all he says and I think of what else I can say to him.


    “I’m sorry,” I tell him. I owe him that if he thinks I’ve wronged him. Maybe I have and I don’t know. “All I can say is I’m sorry. Please… tell me how I can help you. I saw you take something the other night. You wouldn’t have acted the way you did if it wasn’t true and you would have been able to trust me.”


    He shakes his head. “I’m not taking anything,” he answers and we both know it for a lie.


    “Dominic, I saw you. Was it drugs?”


    “No. Now stop.” His tone tells me not to push.


    I don’t push back because I don’t want to upset him.


    I stare back at him and he turns away from me, proceeding up the stairs.


    That conversation was fruitless. Nothing came of it except knowing he thinks I haven’t supported him.


    When I think of what he could mean I think of everything that’s happened. It’s been too much for him and we’ve had to do shit we’ve never pushed the limits to before.


    I remember how his face looked when we kidnapped Isabe and how he looked when we tortured Sacha.


    It’s all shit I’m not proud of, even if I can stand here and say I’m a man who can push the limits to do what I have to.


    My shoulders slump but I will myself to keep my head above water. I can’t check out now I have to stick to the n. When it’s over, if I make it I’ll figure everything else out.


    At least he’s on board with helping in whatever ways he can.


    I have to see Isabe and let her know I won’t be here tomorrow.


    Earlier I couldn’t give her an answer when she asked what we’d be doing about us.


    The answer should have been as I said… we can’t be. Except I don’t want to let her go yet and if I have tonight with her then I’m spending it with her doing what I want.


    Right now it feels like she’s the only thing that can keep me sane.


    The woman I kidnapped and I’m holding captive is the one thing keeping me going. I’m not proud of the way I’ve treated her either.RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    She’s the first person in years that’s made me think outside the darkness. She’s pushed me over the line of reason. I can’t see the line anymore, although I know it’s still there.