Chapter 12 " Don't be so dramatic . " He moves his gaze to the open sea . I tap the edge of the railings that circle the boat . Damascus steel glints off my index finger . " You know that you can't make me do it if I don't want to ." " I'm just trying to persuade you . She's a nice young woman . Dutiful , respectful . Quiet . She would do anything her father asks her . Marry you , for example . " In other words , a fucking idiot . But probably , that is what our world turns our women to . People who would do whatever their family expects them to ; for the family's sake . Family is , after all , everything to a mafioso . " Persuasion ? " I scoff . " You set me up . " " You might still change your mind . " He shrugs , an amused look on his face . If only he knew . " In any case , you know where to find me . " I don't say anything . " About our little problem … Any updates ? " He asks . " We haven't found him . He still hasn't communicated with his sister yet . We have the place bugged . We'll know . " My gaze goes to the point in the horizon that his eyes are on . " That mole has to pay . " " I will make him pay . " He nods . " The Sacra has descended a new low this time around , getting a spy to try to infiltrate our ranks . " " I have them on my radar too . It will only be a matter of time until they get our message . José Salvatore will be the message . " My hand massages my neck , easing the tension there . " Tomorrow , I will be in Las Vegas . I trust that you'll handle everything at home , especially our new headache . " 1/3 Chapter 12 I nod . " José Salvatore will contact his sister very soon . I know it . And then we will deal squarely with him . " An hour and a half later , I'm sitting in my car , staring across at a lit house . The occupant only just arrived . Now , he's heating up his serving - for - one meal in the microwave . His kitchen faces the street and the curtains are drawn to the side so I see him move across his kitchen . I study the three - bedroom house . The driveway has a Cadillac in it . There are some dying . plants in the hedges that line the gravel drive . The porch is not lit. His family does not live with him . I knew that before coming here . Fucking convenient . I tap my fingers on my steering wheel . Should I give him time to eat? What if he throws up all he's ingested once I start ? I think about globs of vomit on my oxfords and realize that he will not have the time to get that food in his system if I have anything to do with it . My phone buzzes on the dashboard . I grab it . " You left Valentino Lorca's dinner early , " Javi says on the line . " Couldn't wait to be rid of your proposed bride ? " " That is not funny . Even your uncle dares not call her my bride . " My voice is deathly calm as always . But probably , that is the problem . " Woah , easy . " Javi laughs . " I did try to warn your father. That you're a screwed - up ass . " " Well now he knows , " I say drily . " He's not pushing the topic anymore but I'm sure a part of him thinks I will sleep over it and wake up convinced the next morning . " There is a grin in his voice . " Anyway , Vito and I are getting wasted later tonight . The Don is making a trip tonight and won't be back until next tomorrow . But I'm sure you already know . " " I do . He told me on the deck . He's going to Las Vegas . " 2/3