office, moving immediately toward the floor-to-ceiling window.
Whatever was wrong with Stephanie was much worse than he wanted to tell me.
“I made some phone calls as we discussed on the phone. It would appear that the senator’s investigation hasn’t been going on long enough to warrant the kind of information he alluded to in the article.” Christian snickered. “He may not be behind this after all.”
“Oh, I’m fairly certain he is directly behind the threats, including the one I received last night.”
He turned to face me, his eyes narrowing. “What did he say?”
“That he was going to expose my secret as well as information regarding the entire sect. Imagine my surprise that this particular asshole would have any idea about the dark secret only three people knew.”
It took only a few seconds before Christian understood what I was getting at. “You think I told someone about Father McGivney’s dying words?”
“I think it’s possible depending on what you were promised.”
He took long strides in my direction, lifting his fist. I refused to back down or budge in any way. “How dare you. Why would you ever think I would want to hurt you or our family in any way?”
“That’s the question I haven’t been able to answer. Why.”
He glared at me for a full minute before hissing, “No one knows what the father told us. Not even the Council members.”
“Then tell me what Donovan O’Brien said to you and the other Council members to persuade you to accept such a ridiculous offer since the Taglionis were already promised Winter.”
Christian faltered, his face falling. For all the strength I’d seen in him through the years, the arrogance that was his signature, he seemed almost broken. “I wasn’t at the meeting. Bobby and Frank talked with him alone.”
“Breaking Council protocol. Isn’t that correct? You’re still so damn power hungry that I’m surprised.”
“Don’t judge me, Matteo. You’ve wanted nothing to do with the Council. The only reason that you agreed to being the controller for the sect is because there was no other choice.” His voice broke and he looked away.
“Fair enough. What’s going on?”
He laughed bitterly. “Donovan refused to provide any clear details except that he had no intention of allowing the Taglionis to have anything to do with his daughter. From what I was told, the man seemed desperate. He made an offer to have Winter included, begged that she would be married to one of the sect members.”
“He sold his soul to our enemy and you welcomed him with open arms,” I huffed. “Even offering him a Council seat.”
“That is not correct. We did no such thing. In turn, he was told he would not be tossed out of the sect altogether.”
“Tossed out or eliminated?”
Christian gave me a wry smile. “Those old ways are dead.”
“Like the Box,” I snapped.
He raised his fist again then ran both hands through his hair. “I’m sorry. I thought the situation wouldn’t get out of hand.”
“Well, you thought wrong, brother. The question is why would Donovan risk everything by making such a ridiculous offer to the Taglionis unless they had something on him?”
“That’s what I’ve inquired about.”
“And?”
“The answer lies with Carmine Taglioni.”
“No, the answer lies with Donovan. I suggest we pay him a visit. I have a feeling that he can shed some light as to why his thirty-year friendship with Senator Bellows fell apart, oddly enough, right around the time that the senator began an active investigation into the sect. That’s the question that’s troubled me. Why would Donovan’s very good friend put his buddy in harm’s way?” I thought about the deal I’d placed on the table with the phone call I’d made, the one that was only accepted an hour before. I was uncertain I’d done the right thing.
“Only if there was a damn good reason to do so.”
I lifted my head, thinking about everything that Winter had told me. “Like the fact the senator has already put into motion plans for running for president of the United States?”
Christian shot me a look, giving me a slight smile. “He certainly couldn’t have ties to the Taglioni family, or he’d never made it past the primaries.”
“Exactly.”
“You never did tell me where you received the tip on Senator Bellows about his second family.”
“That’s because I didn’t have any idea. Until now.” I chuckled as the pieces started to fall together.
“You know, brother, perhaps it’s time we develop outside allies of our own.” Christian gave me a curious look.
“I’m already ahead of you. I made a phone