“But you have Nick as aconsigliere,” Florian replies.
“Yes, and Nick is a crucial part of this, but I think I might like my own advisor too. If Gabriel and I are going to rule together instead of a single figurehead, then I don’t see why it would hurt to have two advisors. Nick has been with the Adamis for a long time, and you’ve been with the Grecos ever since we were young. I think you offer a wealth of insight that we need brought to the table, and you’ve shown how trustworthy you are already.”
“If it’s acceptable to all of you, then sure. I’d be honored.” Gabriel and Nick both nod in agreement and we have the beginning structure of our new little regime. “If only I knew back when I was throwing potato peels at you in the kitchen and taunting you for being a girl and thus unable to lead, that one day I’d be serving as your advisor,” Florian chuckles. “Funny how things come full circle.”
The next day, we all get straight to work. There’s much involved with putting twoborgatetogether, especially considering that it’s uncharted territory and there’s a lot of tension and uncertainty all around. But the two crews both trust Gabriel and I, and everyone seems willing to give it a shot. Granted, I think the Adamis still consider Gabriel a more capable leader than they do me, and the Grecos definitely feel more comfortable around me than they do around Gabriel. But just like we expected, there will be kinks to work out and trust to be built. At least there isn’t anyone actively working against us anymore. Just a few growing pains.
“Things are starting to pull together,” Gabriel says a few days later while we sit together in his condo over a glass of wine. I love sitting with my head leaning into his shoulder. It feels like home—a feeling I never really thought I’d find again.
“What about that problem with the defector?” I ask, referencing one of the men from the street fight who had once followed Leo but had promised he wanted to be given a second chance at fitting in with our newborgata.
“He had to be removed,” Gabriel answers with a heavy implication that the guy is now six feet under. “There can’t be any outliers. It’ll lead to tears in the fabric of what we’re trying to do. He didn’t really have a change of heart about wanting to be part of our new crew. He was already starting to cause trouble and spread rumors. Any few and far between outliers need to be squelched before they turn into a cancer in what we’re trying to build.”
“I agree,” I say, feeling sleepier and more fatigued than usual. I yawn and Gabriel gently lifts me up to carry me into bed. “I have legs, you know,” I tease him.
“Yes, I know, but this is ever so much more fun.”
In the morning, almost as soon as I wake up, I lay in bed for a few minutes and just smile. Everything seems to be pulling together now, and things are finally going well. Gabriel and I are building something together here and not only are we both happy and in love, but also free of any outside threats and working together as equals. I don’t think I ever really thought things could be this perfect. “Where are you rushing off to so early?” I ask him as I take the coffee cup he’s handing me and then watch him search around for his car keys.
“Oh, just a meeting with a business client, and old friend actually,” he answers. It’s a vague answer that leaves me wondering which one it is—a client or a friend, or maybe both? “A city official,” he adds once he finds his keys. “Ah, there they are.” He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and then heads out of the apartment, leaving me to simmer in weird feelings about Gabriel and his connections with city officials. And why didn’t he tell me what the meeting was for? I know he was in a rush, but he always tells me where he’s going.
I start to get a strange feeling that maybe he’s hiding something from me. I try to shake it off and chalk it up to being ultrasensitive to deceptiveness after what had happened with Leo. But I don’t want to grow untrusting of Gabriel, especially when there isn’t even really a reason for me to be suspicious of anything at all.
But when the same thing happens the next morning, I definitely start to wonder what’s going on. A tiny voice inside my head starts to question whether I should’ve really given up my independence to get married, especially when it seems to keep being the case that allcaposact the same. Why can’t men just be honest and upfront about things all the time? What could Gabriel be doing that he doesn’t want me to know about it? Maybe he’s hiding something from me.
“Do you think you can do me a favor?” I ask Florian when the two of us are talking later that afternoon.
“What kind of favor?”
“I have some gnawing suspicions that don’t seem to want to let go of me. I’m sure it’s nothing, but I was wondering if you could—”
“You want me to trail Gabriel for a while?” he interrupts.
“How did you know that?”
“Because I’ve been seeing him act a little weird lately too. I’ll follow him a bit and see if I can figure out what’s going on for you,” he says. “I’m sure it’s nothing, but it’ll help to put your mind at ease.”
I thank him, already feeling reassured that it’s probably nothing at all and I’m just being overly sensitive and paranoid following all the crazy crap with Leo. But then, while I go about the rest of the day and try not to think about it anymore, I notice another brewing issue—my period is late.
22
GABRIEL
“Alright, come out,” I say without even needing to run around to see that someone is following me. I’ve felt his presence tracking me for half a city block. I know Tribeca like the back of my hand, even with my eyes closed. So, when the sound of extra footsteps is heard, I know I’m being trailed. The only part that is a surprise is who it is that’s trailing me.
“Florian?” I must say, I’m surprised to see him step out from the shadows. “What are you doing?” I chuckle. “You know if you wanted to see what I was up to, you could’ve just asked.” My words aren’t entirely true. I actually don’t want anyone knowing what I’m doing right now, especially Camille. That’s why I’m walking through the streets in the wee hours of the morning with my hoodie pulled over my head like a street thug instead of a rich and powerfulcapo. I’m off to meet with a woman who’s dabbled in some of the darker temptations of the city before assuming her current post in governance. One of those temptations just so happens to be me.
“Sorry, Gabriel,” Florian says as he steps up to me in full view. “But Camille asked me to follow you, and I have to say, you sneaking off before dawn and heading to the other side of Tribeca does look a bit out of place.” He’s right, and there’s not much I can say in my defense that would be a believable excuse for my behavior.
“I understand,” I say. “So why don’t you come along with me then, Florian, and you can see what I’m doing for yourself. But I have to have your promise that you won’t breathe a word of this to Camille.”
“You know I can’t give you my word on that,” he frowns. “I work for both of you, but when the chips are down, my allegiance is to her.”
I sigh. “Okay, how about this, then? Swear to me that once you find out what I’m doing, if you don’t think it’s a threat to Camille and you don’t think it’s inappropriate, you’ll keep it a secret until I’m ready to tell her about it.” Florian thinks it over for a minute and then agrees.
When we get to her place, I knock on the door and she answers. Florian’s jaw opens wide with recognition as I say, “Beverley, please meet my associate Florian. Florian, you of course know the mayor.” Flabbergasted, he follows in behind me, and for the most part sits quietly during the meeting. But as we near the end, he can’t keep his surprise in any longer.
“This is incredible!” he exclaims. “I can’t believe you’re buying an entire section of Tribeca. The amount of money alone—”
