The Devil You Know (58 page)

‘How did I know you wouldn’t feel the same way this morning?’

he said. ‘You act like a goddam virgin, Rose, you know that?’ ‘Actually,’ Rose said with dignity, ‘I am a virgin.’

He stared at her. ‘Get out. I thought you were joking, before. And still nobody?’

‘Not that it’s any of your business, but no.’

‘Hmm.’ Rothstein ran a hand through his hair. ‘That’s kind of romantic, when you think about it. Weird, but you always were weird.’

‘You’re weird,’ Rose retorted, childishly.

‘I’m not gonna be the one to change it.’

‘Nobody asked you to,’ Rose said, surprised at how disappointed and rejected that made her feel.

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‘At least not right now.’

‘What the hell are you talking about, P,.othstein?’

‘You. Me. I told you, you’re my woman.’ He came over and sat

on the side of the bed. ‘Yesterday I proposed a business partnership.’ ‘Yes, you did, and I haven’t made my mind up about it yet …’

‘Sure you have,’ he said confidently. ‘You’d love to take over Rothstein Realty with me.’

She had to admit it. The thought of her sitting behind William lothstein’s desk was delicious. Putting right everything that bastard had done wrong.

‘Possibly,’ she agreed.

‘So let’s just go a little further.’ ‘You’re talking about marriage.’ ‘That’s the ultimate partnership, toots.’

‘You’re talking about me marrying a Rotkstein,’ she explained. ‘I hate the l

‘You don’t hate me. You’ve been in love with me from the first moment you saw me.’

lose grinned. ‘You are a cocky son of a bitch, you know that?’

He kissed her. ‘Well, you know what they say about birds of a feather …’

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Poppy made her peace with Henry. It wasn’t difficult. A formal welcome for the cameras, a quick statement to the press about Henry LeClerc’s ideals and how she fully supported them, and then Henry tugged her out of the media glare and back to his hotel room, and the formal pecks on the cheek gave way to passionate kisses, kisses that tore at the mouth the same way his hands tore off her clothes, and her fingers pulled off his pants. They tumbled on top of the bedding, hot mouths and skin and hands and limbs meshing together in a frenzy of lovemaking.

‘A record label. I think that’s a great idea.’

‘Suitable for a Senator’s wife?’

‘For this Senator’s wife.” Henry looked down at his bride-to-be, her lips parted in anticipation. ‘But please, no more hip-hop.’

Poppy scowled. ‘There’s gonna be plenty of hip-hop. Just none like Menace.’

‘Deal,’ Henry said. And made love to her again.

‘Daisy? This is Rose.’

Daisy beamed into the receiver. ‘Hey, you. I didn’t think I was going to hear back from you so soon.’

‘It was something of a shock. Listen, I’d like to come over and talk to you,’ Rose said.

‘Be my guest!’ Daisy exclaimed. She felt teary. ‘I’m so glad we’re talking. After yesterday, I need some good news.’

‘Why, what happened yesterday? Are you OK?’

‘I’m fine.’ Daisy sighed. ‘It’s just that I thought I had something

with Janus, my investigation agency, but they’ve hit a blank.’ There was a pause at the other end of the line. ‘I’ll see you in ten minutes, OK?’ Rose said.

When she arrived at Magnus Soren’s house, Rose felt a strange sense

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of lightness. She had had a night to sleep on the strangest thing that had ever happened to her, and though she was still shocked, she was more accepting of it. Hers had been an extraordinary young life. She thought she could cope with one more curveball.

Last night with Jacob had resolved some things she’d been battling over. Her loathing of William and Fred Rothstein had warred with her love for Jacob, a love she’d tried and failed to suppress. Now she had an opportunity to seek justice, but to do it at his side. If she couldn’t ruin Fred Rothstein, removing him would do.

Rose pressed the bell. Before she got ready to strike the last item off her to-do list, she allowed herself a second’s delicious fantasy. She, Rose Fiorello, sitting behind Fred Pothstein’s desk. P,.unning his company. And wearing his son’s ring …

Perfect revenge. Her father would have been proud.

A maid came to the door. ‘This way, ma’am.’

Rose was ushered in to Magnus Soren’s gorgeous living room again, where Daisy enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug. Tm so glad you’re here.’

Rose scrutinised the familiar features. The too,’ she said. Daisy caught the tone. ‘Something wrong?’ ‘No. Let’s sit down.’ ‘Would you like some tea?’

‘Nasty Limey habit, but I’ll take some coffee, if you’ve got any.’ The maid disappeared to the kitchen before Daisy could make the request. ‘So tell me,’ Daisy pleaded. ‘I know you’re hatching something; I get that look myself.’

‘I was thinking, maybe you’re right about finding our birth parents. Just to allay the curiosity.’

Her sister sighed. ‘I really don’t think it can be done. I’ve been trying for a year, and even Janus, who were very bullish at first, say they’ve come up with a blank.’

‘From what I’ve heard of them, that seems unlikely,’ Rose said.

Daisy blinked. ‘You’re suggesting they just pocketed my money and didn’t bother to do any work?’

Rose shook her head. ‘Far more likely, they were-scared off. They haven’t been on this case long enough to make a determination like that.’

Daisy was silent for a few moments.

‘I think I can find out for sure,’ Rose said. ‘But it would mean

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getting your hands a little dirty, so we should probably get Poppy to sign off on it, too, before we started.’

‘What exactly are you talking about?’

The coffee arrived, and the maid poured it into a couple of wafer thin bone china cups, disappearing as discreetly as she had materialised.

Rose sipped the fragrant brew, making sure she was gone from earshot before she leaned forward and half-whispered to her sister, ‘Do you know who Don Vincent Salerni is?’

Poppy was drawing up wedding plans when 1Kose called. Running a record company was one thing; getting married was a whole new nightmare. She had to calm her mother down, but Marcia eventually accepted that having a Congressman, soon to be Senator, as a son-in law was some compensation for her daughter marrying a gentile …

Poppy had tried, as gently as possible, to break the news of her two sisters to her parents. After they had lowered their hands from their mouths, they were insistent that Rose and Daisy come to visit. Poppy winced.

‘Don’t you think we all need a little time to adjust?’

‘Adjust? What’s to adjust? her father demanded. ‘If I can adjust to all your longhaired druggies, Poppy, they can adjust to the family …’

When Rose called, Poppy and her mother, who was utterly determined not to be cheated of her role as Planner-in-Chief, were going over swatches of bridesmaids’ fabric.

‘This is a very good colour, strong,’ Marcia said approvingly.

Poppy sighed. ‘I can’t ask Dani to wear tomato-red. She’ll look like an actual tomato.’

‘So she should drop some weight,’ Marcia insisted. ‘Mom -‘ ‘Poppy! Phone!’

‘Thank heaven,’ Poppy muttered, racing downstairs.

‘Hey, it’s Rose. Sorry to bother you at home.’

‘Don’t be. Wedding preparations.’ Poppy grimaced. ‘Ugh. Las Vegas and an Elvis impersonator looks pretty good right now.’

Rose chuckled. ‘You too, huh? It’s spreading like a virus. We’re all getting married.’

‘What, you too? Who?’

‘Jacob Rothstein.’

‘I thought you hated the 1Kothsteins.’

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‘Oh, I do. It’s a long story. But this isn’t about that. Daisy and I were thinking of finding our birth-parents. There’s something off about how we were adopted, and I can’t let it rest without finding out what, exactly.’

Poppy paused. ‘I appreciate how you feel, but it’s no go. Daisy already told me. If Janus came up blank, hiring anyone else would just be a waste of time. They’re the best.’

‘I have another option,’ Rose said, and told her.

Her sisters had little faith in Rose’s plan, but they agreed to go along with it. Rose wasn’t concerned. The other two girls came from different worlds; they had no idea what a man like Don Vincent Salerui was capable of.

She made an appointment to go and see him. Don Salerni received Rose in the penthouse suite at the Rego Park complex, lose’s first and still most-beloved big real estate deal. She had spared no expense in fitting it out; the walls had been tipped down and replaced with Armorlite, UV treated and three inches thick, that glittered like the glass it impersonated and gave Salerui exquisite views over Queens - along with protection from snipers’ bullets. If any would dare. The floors were marble, and the ceiling painted irt a faux-Italian mural, a pastoral scene. Rose had had the taps ald shower head plated with gold, she had installed central air, a garbage chute, the best appliances on the market - everything the modern mob boss could desire. And Salerni had obviously been pleased, because he had kept out of her hair.

More than that. Rose Fiorello had one of the best-run construction sites in the business. Her workers were never late and they never slacked off. The very association with Salerui was enough to get her that respect.

Pose had not had many dealings with Salerui. She had not chosen to get involved with him in the first place; but there was no getting away from it, when he owned the hotel. Still, she knew her father would have disapproved violently. Salerni was an extortionist, a murderer.

And yet she was still here.

Rose wilfully pushed her doubts aside. Jacobwas tight. She wanted answers. And this was the only way she knew how to get them.

‘Don Salerni,’ she murmured, pressing his hand. She had to force herself not to bend and kiss it. This guy wasn’t the Pope.

‘Rose. Sit.’ He waved her to a chair, his narrow eyes scanning her, checking her out. She was modestly dressed in a business suit from Donna Karan, a cream silk shirt and a string of pearls, and somehow his glance made her feel as dirty as if she were in a stripper’s tassels and G-string.

‘Thank you,’ she said.

‘To what do I owe the pleasure? My personal charms have finally

gotten to you?’

Rose swallowed, hard. She’d rather die than let this guy touch

her. ‘They would have, Don Salerni,’ she said carefully, ‘but I’ve recently gotten engaged.’

He chuckled. ‘No need to flinch, kid.’

She blushed.

‘Auguri,’ he said. ‘Is it an Italian, like you?’

‘No. A Jew.’

He frowned, so she moved on, quickly. ‘Don Salerni. I have a problem. I wondered if I could seek your help.’

The narrow eyes danced. ‘Finally. I was wondering how long it

would take you. Trouble with the Rothstein boy in Alphabet City?’

Rose paled. ‘No. No! I am engaged to Jacob Rothstein.’

For the first time, Salemi looked wrong-footed. He blinked, then

he burst out laughing. ‘Crazy girl!’

‘It is about my parents. My real ones,’ Rose said. ‘I want to find

them.’

‘You hardly need me for that.’

‘It’s a little more complicated than usual. If I could explain …’

Salerni listened intently. Rose was a little put off by how much he seemed to be enjoying her story. He did not interrupt, and neither did he answer his phone, which buzzed quietly at intervals.

‘I was thinking it was odd, a firm like Janus, just up and quitting

like that.’

Salerni nodded. ‘Yes. Well, we can start with the fact that you are

Italian.’

‘We don’t know that.’

‘I knew it from the second I saw you, bellissima.’

‘Possibly,’ Rose said, smiling slightly. She bore the name Fiorello,

it would be nice to be Italian. And it might explain her desire to be

avenged …

Salerni smiled thinly. ‘Despite what you read in the papers, we still

have some reach. Especially in the old country, though things are

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going to hell down there … They even have women running some crews.’ He grimaced.

Rose didn’t dare say a word. She knew that half of Italy was under Mafia control, especially Sicily and the poor south. She’d done a little research into international real estate, and the harsh climate and earthquake potential weren’t all that dampened property values in what was, after all, a G8 nation; nobody wanted to live in a town or village controlled by the Cosa Nostra.

‘I can make a few calls,’ Salerni said finally. ‘Do you a favour. Perche no?’

‘Grazie,’ Rose murmured, ‘Don Salerni.’ She swallowed, hard.

His sharp eyes picked up on it immediately. ‘There is something else?’

Rose struggled with her courage. ‘Yes. This is to involve my sisters. Don Salerni, they are not of our world … I know, when someone receives a favour from a Don, that person is in his debt. But I tell you fairly, you cannot have a hold over my sisters and me. I will never submit to it, and I will not do anything illegal …’

‘So you refuse to be the mule for the sixty kilos I wanted to get through Newark next month?’ Salerni asked, then chuckled,:at lose’s shocked face. ‘Ah, bellissima, you never would make a soldiSr. You are a woman. What would I do with you?’ .

Rose felt bizarrely annoyed that Salerni said he couldn’t use her: She could be a fine Mafiosi if she wanted to be …

‘You have balls,’ Salerni said. ‘I like you. For you, that’s enough.’ He waved at the apartment. ‘And you keep this place good.’

Rose blessed the day she had decided to outfit Salerni’s penthouse with the best of everything and present it to him free of charge.

He flicked his hand, indicating her audience was at an end. ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ Salerni said, and Rose withdrew.

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When she got the call almost a month later, Rose decided her sisters had to be in on it. Poppy flew in from LA, delighted to be away from wedding planning for a little while, and Daisy flew over from England, where she had been staying with her parents. Rose was surprised to discover how much she liked seeing the other two girls. She hugged them, and meant the hug. It was almost like family, she thought to herself with a grin. Maybe Daisy was right; maybe in the end, blood would out, after all.