-ASHER-
"This way, Mr. Holbrook," the hostess said as I arrived for dinner.
I’d arranged a meeting with Alessio Vitale, son of Massimo Vitale—the city’s reigning don. Inviting the next head of the mafia into my office was reckless. Meeting him on his turf? Worse. Thrilling, in the kind of way that gets you killed.
A quiet, discreet restaurant was the compromise.
We passed through a hushed dining room with dark wood floors, paneled walls, and classic lighting fixtures. White linen tables, cream velvet chairs. Tall windows draped in heavy curtains looked out over the river.
She led me to a table tucked in the back. Alessio was scrolling through his phone, but his posture told me he’d clocked my arrival.
Men like him didn’t survive by being unaware of their surroundings. He stood to gre
