Sienna POV
The moment I walked into the ballroom I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary dinner.
The businessmen and politicians in expensive suits were only the surface.
The people actually sitting in that room were the ones who controlled the casinos, the ports, the underground transport lines and the private security companies.
And tonight there was only one man Luca really wanted to see.
Don Vittorio Bellini.
He was in his sixties, and he had enough seniority and connections in this city to matter more than most.
Most importantly, he never picked a side lightly — and he controlled a large stretch of the port’s warehousing and shipping network.
If the Hawthornes wanted a share of control over the port, they needed his tacit approval.
“Ready?”
I knew what he was asking.
“Yes.”
”Go to the side hall in a little while.”
I nodded.
Luca had investigated Bellini’s background in advance.
He knew that Bellini’s only daughter, Elena, had loved the violin, and he knew which piece had been her favorite.
That girl had been dead for many years, and her father had never truly come out of it.
And my job was to finish the last step for him.
A few minutes later the band stopped.
The conversation in the ballroom hadn’t fully died away when the door of the side hall opened and a member of staff handed me a violin.
When I walked out, the eyes in the room gathered quickly.
Which was exactly what Luca had wanted.
A strange young woman suddenly picking up a violin at a reception like this one was noticeable enough on its own.
The first note was caught quickly by the people nearby.
Those who were still talking gradually fell quiet, and the eyes began to turn in my direction.
I didn’t look at Bellini, but I knew he must have recognized the piece.
Victor had forced me to learn a great many things, including instruments that seemed to have nothing at all to do with killing, intelligence, or underground deals.
Later I understood why: a really good infiltrator had to be able to walk into any setting and make everyone believe she had always belonged there.
The piece wasn’t complicated.
I didn’t need to show off technique.
The last note fell.
The ballroom went quiet for a beat, and then applause rose.
My gaze went across the crowd and landed on Bellini.
He stood where he was, his eyes fixed on me, the glass in his hand forgotten, still raised.
Someone beside him seemed to sense that something was wrong and reached out to steady him.
He pushed the hand away.
“Mr. Vittorio?”
Bellini came toward me, one step at a time.
The talk around us dropped lower and lower.
By the time he reached me I could see that this man, who carried real weight in the Los Angeles underworld, had something undisguised and wet at the bottom of his eyes.
His voice was hoarse.
“What is your name?”
Before I could answer, Luca had already stepped out of the crowd.
“Mr. Vittorio.” He raised his glass first.
“I heard you’re fond of classical music, so when I saw there was a violin here I thought I’d have her play a piece for you. I hope I haven’t disturbed your evening. She’s my assistant.”
Luca turned slightly, and his eyes came to me.
“Sienna Hart.”
I inclined my head to Vittorio Bellini.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
Bellini was about to say something more when applause came from behind him.
“Wonderful.”
I turned.
Adrian Moretti was walking over from the other side of the ballroom.
A black suit with no tie, a glass in his hand, that seemingly careless smile on his face.
He came close and looked at Bellini first.
“Long time no see, Mr. Vittorio.”
Bellini nodded to him.
“Adrian.”
Only then did Adrian turn his eyes to Luca.
“Mr. Hawthorne.”
No handshake.
No small talk.
Just a moment of eye contact, and I could feel the atmosphere in the room change on the spot.
Adrian’s gaze came to rest on me.
He looked me up and down, and the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.
“I have to say, your arrangements tonight are very pretty.”
Luca didn’t answer. New chapters come out on g.com first.
Adrian showed no sign of stopping.
His eyes dropped to my gown.
“Even the color is chosen so well.”
Bellini’s expression shifted slightly.
My fingers tightened around my glass.
“Paired with her favorite piece on top of it. Luca, you really put your heart into this.”
This time Luca finally spoke.
“You talk too much.”
”I only said what everyone here can already see.”
Adrian turned his head to Bellini, his tone still easy.
“Though I am curious, Mr. Vittorio — do you know why this piece showed up tonight?”
Adrian raised his glass and sipped slowly.
“Because of the port.”
The air went still.
“He knows what you care about most, and he knows what will make you remember her, so he arranged this whole thing on purpose.”
Luca’s jaw tightened.
“That’s enough.”
”What?
Afraid he’ll say more?”
Adrian looked at him, the smile not retreating by a fraction.
“You did it this well. You shouldn’t be afraid of people understanding it.”
Bellini’s face had already darkened.
He looked at Luca.
“You investigated my daughter?”
Luca didn’t deny it.
“I only learned in advance about the man I was meeting tonight.”
Bellini set his glass down hard on the table, and the last of the warmth left his face.
“I thought the Hawthornes at least knew what things not to touch.”
Luca’s gaze went heavy.
“Mr. Vittorio, I never meant anything like that.”
Adrian stepped back at exactly the right moment and didn’t add any more fuel.
He had already torn open the trap Luca had laid so carefully.
Bellini turned to leave.
“This evening is over.”
Luca stood where he was and didn’t go after him.
I looked at Bellini, already several steps away.
If I let him walk out now, everything arranged for tonight would be wasted.
I put down my glass and hurried after him.
“Mr. Vittorio, please wait.”