NOW:
Paul checked himself in the rearview
mirror and found it hard to recognize the man staring back. The blond hair was
longer than his FBI days and stylishly cut, but an occasional errant strand of
hair threatened to stage a rebellion. Contact lenses had replaced his
wire-rimmed glasses.
Gone were the days of bargain basement
clothing and do-it-yourself tailoring. Now it was Italian silk suits, usually
gray or light blue, Egyptian cotton shirts, and calfskin shoes as soft as
cashmere. No tie, just the top two buttons of his shirt left open to show off
the gold chain and dangling Italian horn, lest anyone question his lineage.
He had been living this façade for almost
a year, gradually easing into the Tagliani family lifestyle. It was important
he didn’t rush things, that he allow his employers to decide how quickly he
rose in the organization. If Paul took one misstep, he knew it could be fatal.
And his employers were cautious.
Continue reading “VICIOUS CIRCLE – CHAPTER THREE”