“Did Stewart always work with the Albinis?”
“As long as I’ve been around.” Travis cocked his head to the side. “People talk. The Albinis have been in charge of this area for a long time, but they’re not the only family. It wasn’t even them who your dear ol’ stepfather owed the money to. And each generation there are new names trying for power. Your mother’s accident could have been a setup, to make you think it was the Albinis and break off the agreement.”
“This fucking sounds like fiction. This shit doesn’t really happen, does it?”
“It’s your mother in the hospital and your stepfather who drove into the ocean. You tell me if this shit really happens?”
“Whom did you pay the money to? To whom was Randall indebted?”
Travis’ expression filled me with a sense of pride. “Your listening skills have improved. You’re following along.”
“And you’re doing a better job of talking in complete fucking sentences. How about you keep it up? If you know who it is, tell me.”
“The family’s name is Durante.”
I blinked as I tried to remember people and faces. “Why does that name sound familiar?”
“Your friend Sheila—it’s her maiden name.”
I fell back against the seat, a wave of nausea hitting me like a sledgehammer. “Is she involved?”
“No. I can say that with confidence. She knows about her family and its businesses, but she’s not involved. I’d suspect that’s why she’s so engaged with charities like the Harrington Society. It’s her way of balancing out what others do. However, her husband is a different story…” Travis’ dark eyes left the road and stared toward mine, probing and encouraging me to use my brain and connect the dots.
“Fucking Senator Keene, he’s the brother-in-law to a crime family that wants to overtake the Albinis?”
“Yes, Mrs. Harrington, congratulations.”
I looked at him with utter bewilderment. “Are you fucking joking?”
“No, I’m dead serious. With your little show of unity with the Albinis, you for the first time officially are the one to fuck Senator Keene. My guess is that he won’t be happy when he realizes that he’s the one with a dick in his ass.”
I tried to remember my mother’s confession. “Is Niccolo the top one? I don’t even know how to phrase it. The head of the family?” It reminded me of a fucking episode of The Sopranos.
“No, he’s not. Carlisle is. He’s Niccolo’s older brother.”
“Didn’t I read somewhere about firstborn sons and shit, or is that all TV crap?”
Travis shook his head from side to side. “I don’t know all the ins and outs. Honestly I think the daughters are revered too. But either way, Carlisle has the oldest son.” He gave me a sideways glance. “His only child, named Wesley.”
“Really?” I knew Wesley and I were in the same grade, but then again, I was older, wasn’t I? If I’d had my real birthday, I’d have been two grades ahead of Val. “Does Niccolo have any sons?”
“Two, but they’re younger. I heard a rumor that Carlisle’s wife was at one time engaged to Niccolo. I don’t know if that’s true, but it doesn’t matter. If Niccolo offered you the Albini family support, you have it. Fuck! You impressed the shit out of me. Maybe you can use your brains as well as your pussy.”
Asshole! Against my better judgment, I grinned. “Thanks, I have other plans, too. First, I need to take care of Parker.”
“With your pussy?”
“I don’t plan on it.”
Travis’ forehead furrowed. “Interesting, Mrs. Harrington. By the way, it’s we, not I.”
“We what?”
“You’re not going to the warehouse alone.”
I sighed, honestly thankful for his presence. “Parker insinuated that he would demand that I fire you after I signed his contract. I don’t think he likes you very much.”
Travis shrugged. “Well, you did fire me a few days ago. So I don’t give a fuck what he likes and what he doesn’t like. You don’t like me either. I’m still here.”
I looked out the passenger window. The morning storms had cleared and the familiar blue of day had turned to the black of night. As cars and buildings passed, I thought about the view. “How come I never rode up front before?”
“I think the better question is why are you doing it now?”
“I don’t know. I like it.” I tilted my head toward the backseat. “It’s lonely back there.”
“You like it?”
“Yes, I do. I can see better up here, better than I can in the back.”
Travis nodded.
“And maybe,” I confessed, “you’re not as big of an asshole as I previously thought.”
“The sentiment is mutual, Mrs. Harrington.”
I rested my head against the seat and watched as glimpses of ocean shone between the buildings. The moon was full over the water, creating reflections like millions of small mirrors bouncing the silver rays back toward the sky. As we neared the apartment, I tried to make sense of everything, but nothing made sense.
According to my mother, if the Durantes could prove that I—her and Carlisle’s daughter—was alive, they could use that as proof that the Albinis lied, that Wesley wasn’t Carlisle’s first born. Stewart knew all of this. Had he helped to propagate the idea that I was a Conway to both families? After all, one would assume that even in a male-dominated world, a daughter of the Albinis, the strongest family around, wouldn’t be shared, and certainly not openly, by the man who provided one of their biggest covers.