Chapter 21

ARMANDO

The moment the music ended, I noticed Don Fabio shift in his seat. It wasn’t the kind of shift people made when they were settling back into their chairs. No, this was different. One of his men had leaned in, whispered something in his ear, and just like that, Fabio stood up. It was quick, almost too quick, like he didn’t want to be seen leaving the table.

I didn’t hesitate to send Eleanor back to the table. She had served her purpose for the night, and I didn’t need her tagging along anymore.

These parties weren’t just for appearances. I had long suspected that behind the music, food, and fake smiles, there was always something going on. The dons didn’t gather unless they had a reason. Most of them were too paranoid to be around each other just for social niceties.

As soon as Fabio left, I maneuvered through the crowd, keeping my eyes on him. The lights were dim enough that I could slip through the hallways without drawing much attention.

It didn’t take long to catch up wit