“We can leak the photos directly to several social media platforms. Once they are online, even Luca can’t stop them from spreading.”

“No, Luca is already out of control. He’ll make mistakes. That’s what we wanted. Look at what he did to those bikers. He’s unpredictable. The photos hit him where they were supposed to.” The bloodbath in Jersey had been discussed enthusiastically in several online forums in the darknet, with many speculations pointing toward Luca. I had no doubt it was him.

“All right. What are we supposed to do about the photographer?”

“He’ll be dead by now, or wish he was. Our focus needs to be on finding the possible spy in our ranks.”

“Luca’s started weeding out the Famiglia from what I hear.”

Of course, he had. He’d vent his anger on anyone who’d ever opposed him and kill as many of his opponents as possible.

I’d begun removing soldiers who weren’t loyal to me long before I’d become Capo. Luca had a lot of catching up to do. “Attack his borders and try to strike up a cooperation with the MCs in his territory.”

“They don’t cooperate well. They follow their own rules. We can never know if we can trust them.”

“I have absolutely no intention to trust any of them. I want them to carry out attacks on Famiglia clubs and storage facilities. We’ll provide them with drugs and guns in return.”

“I’ll try my luck. Right now, I don’t have any close contacts but I’ll try to build them.”

The bell rang. “I need to hang up now. Keep me updated.”

I stepped back out of my office just when Gabby opened the front door. Anna spotted me immediately and stormed toward me, the skirt of her plaid dress fluttering around her short legs. I picked her up and kissed her cheek. Livia had styled her hair with French braids again, Anna’s favorite hairdo. “Where is he?” she asked excitedly.

I smiled, nodding toward the kitchen door where Val just walked out with Leonas on her arm. Anna’s eyes widened. “He’s white!”

I chuckled. “He’s pale blond, but his hair will probably darken a bit over the years like mine did.”

Anna peered up at me. “Your hair was white when you were a baby?”

“Like Leonas’ hair, yes.”

“And I have Mommy’s hair?”

Val smiled as she stopped beside us. “Almost.”

Giovanni and Livia joined us, smiling proudly.

“Did everything go well?” Val asked her parents then kissed Anna’s forehead.

“Everything went well,” Giovanni said, but his eyes darted to me and tightened. Since he’d found out about the staged photos, he’d kept his distance to me. I assumed because he worried otherwise he’d show his anger. Being my father-in-law as well as Underboss proved tricky.

Livia crooned over Leonas but he didn’t wake.

“Daddy?” Anna peered up at me. “Why’s he asleep?”

“He’s tired.”

“But I wanna meet him.”

I stroked her hair. “Soon, Anna.” She regarded him, her head tilted to the side as if he was a toy she didn’t understand. Val gave me a small smile, looking exhausted and happy. No matter how difficult things in the Outfit were, this sight always gave me hope for our future.

We all headed toward the dining area. I set Anna down so she could follow Val and ask her questions about Leonas.

“Can I have a quick word with you?” Giovanni asked when the women settled at the dining table.

“Of course,” I said and led him a few steps away. “I know you don’t approve of my plan.”

Giovanni shook his head. “There should have been another way to handle the situation, Dante. I don’t like how this could reflect on Val.”

“Nobody knows anything.”

“Yet. To be honest, I’m glad Luca managed to keep the photos from making headlines.”

I didn’t say anything, not willing to admit that I was too. The plan was working its cause anyway and so I was determined to file it as a success, at least for outward appearances. “This plan affirmed my suspicion that we have a spy in our ranks. The photographer was kidnapped, and I doubt Luca could have sent someone from his Famiglia over so quickly. They would have to ask around for the address, and that would have attracted plenty of attention. The job must have been done by someone from our men who knew where to find him.”

“The man has been on our payroll for years. Many people know about him. The list of possible spies would be very long.”

“I know. We need to write every possible name down and go over them. If we can narrow it down to certain people who might have reason to be dissatisfied with their position in the Outfit, we’ll take them aside and talk to them. If they act suspicious, we’ll intensify our efforts.”

Giovanni frowned. “I don’t like the idea of a spy among our men. Do you really think it’s the case?”

“I hope not, but I think we need to accept the possibility. Do you have any apparent suspects?”

Giovanni looked away with a distant expression. Something about his face made me believe there was someone he had in mind but was still reluctant to name. “Giovanni?”

He quickly shook his head. “I’ll put down names for you today and email them to you. I think we should join our wives, they are waiting for us.”

He was right. Val and Livia were looking our way. The plates were already filled with food. I inclined my head, but my suspicion remained. If Giovanni hesitated to reveal a name, it must be someone he was close to, so either one of his closest soldiers or family. “Is Orazio still in Chicago? He’s been working with the Famiglia closely and might have clues about possible suspects.”

Giovanni’s expression darkened. “We got in an argument yesterday. I haven’t talked to him since then. He’s supposed to help me with our new drug lab until next week.”

I hadn’t seen Orazio in a couple of months. Since the war with the Famiglia had broken out again, he’d mostly worked for Pietro in Minneapolis and only occasionally when Giovanni insisted in Chicago as had been the case the last two weeks, but we hadn’t crossed paths. It had been a constant conflict between the two that he refused to finally return to Chicago and work with his father. After all, Orazio was supposed to take over as Underboss at some point. I knew Giovanni was dangling the position over his head under the condition that Orazio settled down and married a woman his parents chose for him. I hadn’t gotten involved so far, neither as Orazio’s brother-in-law nor as Capo. Forcing him into a bond he was reluctant about wasn’t part of my duties. But eventually, Orazio would have to take over from Giovanni, so one of them would have to back down.

Val gave me a questioning look. I smoothed my expression. I didn’t want to give her reason to worry. She should only focus on our newborn son, not the problems between her father and brother.

After lunch, I headed into the office and tried to call Orazio but the voicemail answered. Instead, I called Pietro, wondering if Orazio had returned to Minneapolis without telling his father. I’d have preferred to spend the day with Val and the kids, but as Capo, I couldn’t let problems get out of control. Maybe I needed to have a word with Orazio. The conflict between Giovanni and him affected their work and Val, both of which were unacceptable.