Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Great,” I sighed, shaking my head.
“We’re not too worried about it. We figure if the Serbians were in that hard with the brothers, that they would have come for you themselves when you took out Nicholas. It could be as simple as the Serbians are the suppliers, and the brothers are just one of many dealers. The lowest of the low in the associates kind of world.”
And, technically, no capo or mafia boss would spend their time tracking down the killer of an associate. Our protection extended to Made men only. Which was why Venezio being so severely injured didn’t warrant a hit on one of the other brothers. Media and public opinion aside.
“Do you want me to find some men to put on the Serbians?” I asked. “Make sure they’re not plotting anything?”
“Think your crew is extended enough,” Lorenzo said, shaking his head.
“I can find the men,” I assured him.
“I’m gonna put Gavino on it,” Lorenzo said. “He’s been needing a boot in the ass to get a real crew together. This will give him that opportunity.”
And, luckily, I was close enough with Gav that he would give me intel. Possibly even before he gave it to Lorenzo. That was the best way this could go.
Because despite my insistence otherwise, it would be hard to move any more men around. I already had six men working each shift doing protection—two for me, two for Halle, and two for her grandfather. It was fine for the time being. But it would pinch to move more men around. The kick up would be cut significantly enough to make me not want to do it, but I would if I had to.
“Okay. Keep me in the loop on that. Anything else?” I asked.
“I got a visit from Leon last night.”
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” I said.
“He’s got some… complaints,” Lorenzo said.
“Oh, he’s gonna have a lot to complain about now,” I snorted.
“No more killing,” Lorenzo said.
“Who we killin’?” a voice behind me asked, making me turn to see Brio walking in.
“Fucking nobody,” Lorenzo groaned.
“I hope not. No one better be partying without me,” he said, throwing himself into a chair. “What’d I miss?”
“Possible problem with the Serbians. Dissent in the ranks…” Emilio said.
“So… just another Tuesday,” Brio said, shrugging.
“Pretty much,” Lorenzo agreed. “Look. I don’t want any more eyes on us right now. So you can’t take out Leon. If you want to intimidate him or shelf him, go for it. But no killing. And, keep in mind, fucking with him might create even more headaches.”
Nah.
He had to be punished for going over my head.
“Got it. Need anything else from me?” I asked, anxious to get back to the penthouse.
“Nah, that should cover it. Brio, I do need to talk to you,” he said.
“Aight. Hey, that girl you’re hiding,” Brio said, looking at me.
“What about her?”
“She like animals?” he asked.
Emilio and Lorenzo shared a chuckle, clearly in on something that I wasn’t.
“I dunno,” I admitted, and found I suddenly wanted to know.
“She’s gotta, right? Everyone likes animals,” he said, speaking to himself.
“Ah, sure,” I said, shaking my head, and turning to make my way out.
“You gonna put Leon on the shelf?” Miko asked as we got in the car.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Shelving a Made man was not something to take lightly. It meant cutting them off from everyone else, forbidding others to talk to them, and absorbing all their jobs and rackets into the rest of the Family, leaving them with no stream of income.
To most of us, it would be a fate worse than death.
Sure, Leon was a royal pain in my ass. And he’d overstepped. But I didn’t know if I wanted the headache of putting him on the shelf.
“Well, let me know what you decide. I can put feelers out for anyone from Leon’s crew we might want to move up.”
He dropped me off at my building ten minutes later, and I could feel this thrumming sensation in my chest as I rode the elevator up to the penthouse.
Anticipation.
That was what it was.
Excitement.
Not to be home, per se, but to be home with Halle.
I nodded at the guards at either side of the door, then unlocked it, and let myself in.
To the sound of some sort of pop music playing from the TV.
And Halle dancing around in the kitchen.
Wearing nothing but another one of my tees that she must have snagged for herself since I hadn’t gotten her any at the store. Maybe not my brightest idea. But as I watched her tits bounce around under her shirt as she danced around, I stood by my declaration that she didn’t need any bras.
She didn’t hear me coming in as she scooped something she’d chopped up into a pan.
I didn’t stop to think.
To be rational about it.
I just walked over there, sinking my hands into her hip, turning her around to face me, then catching her gasp of surprise with my lips.