CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY NINE – WORKING THE RANKS

In the days and weeks that followed, Joan moved through the world as if caught in a waking dream, her mind constantly playing out scenarios and contingencies even as she redoubled her efforts within Antonio's ranks. The old man seemed utterly oblivious to the turmoil roiling beneath her surface composure, his own energies increasingly consumed by the pursuit of an audacious new prize – the complete and utter dismantling of the Gambino family's operations throughout Southern Europe. It was an ambitious play, one that could potentially upend the balance of power across the entire region should it succeed. And as such, Antonio intended to hold nothing back, bringing the full brunt of his strategic acumen and tactical resources to bear on the effort. Which, of course, meant Joan's talents would be urgently required. "You've got a mind for this kinda work, Keppler," he rasped as she was ushered into his private study at the Palermo compound. "The ability to see moves before they're play