"Did I meet Vincenzo, no? Do I know if he's a man or myth? A mere rumour, I suppose." Tessa zipped her lips and made a show of throwing the key away before she turned to leave.
Vincenzo turned to Matteo as soon as his savior crossed the gate. "Are we sure about Rossi's involvement with those killers?"
"Not yet."
"Do you want to wait till I'm dead?" Vincenzo eyed him, then stared at his savior's retreating figure, feeling the loss of what could be. He pushed the feeling away. "I want you to find out everything you can about her."
Vincenzo busied himself with things about his territory to keep his mind off a certain woman with wavy chestnut hair, a smallish waist and legs that seemed to go for days with a feisty mouth that matched.
Since he learned her name. He hadn't been able to get it out of his head. He imagined that she was here with him in this room filled with dark wooden furniture quipping as he let drop a nugget or two about the business. If Tessa was his—
The door opened and he sat up, not wanting to be caught in a vulnerable moment. Since he was the Mancini leader now, it was important to keep his command of authority high. But when he saw that it was Matteo, he dropped his guard.
"Any news?"
"Good news."
Vincenzo sat up, hoping Matteo would say something about Tessa accepting his offer.
"We've caught the killers."
"Oh." Vincenzo blinked.
"I thought you would be excited."
Vincenzo sighed. Of course, he ought to be. It was just that news about soon-to-be dead men was less exciting than a certain woman.
"Who sent them?"
He already suspected a certain crazy leader of one of the faction that struggled for control of this city, Federico Rossi. Federico had set a trap for Vincenzo’s father and killed him. He had been outside the city in a place that was well controlled by Federico because he was sure they wouldn't dare to attack him and start a rival war. But, Federico sent some scum bags to do the dirty work.
"You were right. We whipped the fools in the cellar. I'm surprised Federico sent such low-level idiots, willing to spill in exchange for money."
"I'm not surprised. He's a master of under-handed ways."
"Apparently, he also had plans to attack the South Quarter." Matteo explained.
Vincenzo nodded. "It's not that easy to pull the city from my control. He probably thinks I'm just stepping into my father's footing and I'm unsure of what's going on."
"So, what do we do?"