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"How can you say that? Our women are to be respected; we’re supposed to protect them! It’s part of the oath; it’s one of our commandments! How is that not your problem? It’s all of our problem!"

The room fell into a tense silence, and everyone stared at Vincent, stunned Corrado spoke before the strain could grow "If you don’t mind, I think we should catch up with Carmine"

"Yes, do that," Salvatore said "Use whatever you need"

Corrado stood "Come on"

Vincent pushed his chair back and followed Corrado out of the room Whispers started as he exited, but Salvatore deht away Vincent shouldn’t have reacted, but he was so disgusted he couldn’t stop hi he had done had been in vain, a waste of tiy, because Caroing

And the girl certainly hadn’t been saved

"You h the house "Speaking to hiet you killed"

Corrado opened a door to a back roorabbed weapons, tossing Vincent two 45 Suns for hi with more ammunition

Giovanni lived not far from Salvatore The house was empty when Corrado and Vincent arrived, so Corrado slipped around the back and kicked in the door The two of theh drawers and files, looking for anything they o and unfolded it on the desk beside hi riddled riting Vincent recognized some of it as his son’s, the sloppy words scribbled with a frenzied hand

"They have Ivan’s properties pinpointed on the map, but there’s no way they would’ve taken Haven somewhere with his name on the deed," Corrado said "He’s smarter than that He would’ve found soh away to keep the two separate So stumbled upon, but not so isolated that their traffic would draw curious eyes Somewhere people ood detective," Vincent mused

Corrado shot him an incredulous look "Just because I understand the ood cop"

"Yeah, h the coot an excessive force complaint"

Corrado stared at hi to the map, and Vincent focused his attention on Giovanni’s computer Nu stood out as important

Corrado pointed to a section of map circled with a pencil "What’s on this side of Austin?"

"Nothing that I know of," Vincent said "Bad neighborhood, a lot of gang activity Most of the businesses s"

"That’s what I thought," Corrado said "It’s a money pit, yet Natalia Volkov owns property there"

"Ivan’s daughter? Isn’t she still a teenager?"

"I believe she just turned nineteen"

"Sounds odd"

"It does," Corrado said "It also sounds like a good place to start"

49

The sun had set, darkness falling over Chicago as Vincent and Corrado drove to the west side of the city A fullit partially shielded by a thin cloud covering The hipped a bit, vibrating the car with its unpredictable gusts

The lack of communication wore on Vincent’s nerves He had no idea what his son was up to, what situation he was in, or if he was okay Giovanni had never given Vincent reason to distrust hione awry didn’t sit ith hi attention, he should have seen it

Corrado turned off the highway and cruised through the streets Most of the buildings appeared abandoned, worn down and boarded up Gang signs were strewn around with spray paint by street thugs who considered themselves hardcore Men with no true loyalty, no respect within their orders

Their lack of civility had always disgusted Antonio He loathed their usage of the word gangster, cringed at their definition of brotherhood Vincent couldn’t count howhianization had respect They may have committed heinous crimes, but in his mind, all of it was founded His father took the oath seriously and believed, until the day he died, that they were a true faer than blood

Vincent never thought he would see the day where he wished his father was still in control

"Are you all right, Vincent?" Corrado asked "We can’t afford second thoughts"

"I’ about how disturbed my father would be about this"

"None of this would be happening if your father were around," Corrado said "He was an honorable anization was united"

"And noe’re no better than the guys tagging these buildings"

"I wouldn’t go that far I think most of us still have our honor What you’ve done for Haven, after what she’s cost you, is honorable I can’t say I’d do the same if I were in your position If it were o"

"I almost did," he said "I wanted to"

"But you didn’t," he said "Instead, you’re risking your life to find her, and that’s where the honor is, Vincent Soer picture"