Luna looked at her grandmother, her eyes full of sincerity. “I think we need to start looking for a nicer place. I’m making good money.”
“Mija, I’m old. Moving is a major life change. I don’t have the money to move.”
Luna reached over and touched Isabella’s arm, “I do. I make good money, and I want to be here with you.”
Isabella’s gaze was direct, as if she could see inside her granddaughter. “You want to live with me, or you feel guilty?”
Luna wasn’t offended by her grandmother’s candid question. Isabella was a strong woman, and Luna had become accustomed to her nature years ago. She’d inherited her Grandmother’s personality in many ways.
“It isn’t because I feel guilty. I don’t want to live alone. I can help you, and we can move to a better place if we split the rent.”
“So, where is this better place?”
“I don’t know yet, but anything has to be better than this rathole.”
“Hey, it’s all I’ve got.”
“For now, it is, but I think the future is looking brighter.”
Isabella smiled at her granddaughter, “You’re a good girl. Don’t settle when it comes to a man. You deserve the best. That nice young man who was with my slumlord is a good man.”
Luna’s laugh sounded like music to Isabella, “You can’t tell if he’s a good man by meeting him once.”
“Yes, I can. I’m never wrong. I’m telling you he’s a good man. You should nab him before some other woman does. I don’t normally go for bald men, but Hugh’s good looking.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Abuela.” Though Luna was just agreeing with Isabella to keep the peace, she had to admit Hugh had left a good impression on her too. Not many men would stand up to their boss, but Hugh had done it with no thought of himself or the repercussions. Not to mention he was hot in a dangerous sort of way. Abuela saw a nice guy, but Luna saw a man with a wide streak of badass. She’d always had a weakness for bad boys, and Hugh had that quality even though he was good at hiding it. She’d seen the way he’d looked at her. Maybe she should use that card he’d slipped in her hand. Hugh looked like six foot four of come get me, and it had been a while since she had sex. Yeah, maybe she should use that card.
Chapter Fourteen
Glazov cut his eyes at Novak. “It’s one job. You better not fuck it up.”
“Why do you look like you want to choke me if you’re so all fired-up about me working with a guy I can’t stand? It’s not like I didn’t agree to take one for the team.”
Glazov looked up through hooded eyes that held the promise of an ass kicking if Novak fucked up. “Because I’m going to kick your ass if you fuck up. We can’t afford a war. You’re the one who is always making sure I don’t catch a charge. I need this job done. I want Sliver’s signature on those papers. As far as taking one for the team, suck it up, buttercup.”
“That’s Bratva-cup to you, and if Antonio Wayne is half as dangerous as his reputation warrants, you’ll have those papers by tomorrow. Rumor has it, Antonio’s a real psycho. I’m shaking in my shoes.” Novak’s face clearly showed he wasn’t afraid of Antonio or any other psycho. He was as crazy as Antonio without the sadistic side. He just liked beating the shit out of people. That wasn’t sadistic; at least he didn’t think it was. Novak lived by his own rules. He’d do whatever it took to get those papers in Glazov’s hands.
“When I’ve got notarized papers on my desk, then I’ll relax.”
“Glazov and relax, don’t go in the same sentence.” Novak’s stare went cold, “I’ll make sure you’ve got those papers, signed, sealed, and delivered. If I have to break every bone in that weasel’s body.” Nope, no sadistic tendencies.
Glazov took a minute to study his cousin. Nobody but Kathleen had stood by his side like Novak had. Many times, Novak put Glazov before his own needs. He’d do anything to protect the Pakhan. Novak was sold out to Bratva. Glazov had never seen anyone as devoted to the cause. It was the reason Glazov had a deep respect for his cousin. Glazov knew he could trust him. More than once, Novak had killed for Glazov.
“What, Glazov?!”
“I’ve never told you thanks for all you do. When we wrenched the kingdom from my father’s hand, I considered it a union of sorts. Half of everything is yours. You’re the brother I never had.”
Novak stopped weaving the Russian coin through his fingers and stared at Glazov. It wasn’t like the Pakhan to get sentimental. They knew how they felt about each other, and usually, that was enough.
“I’d die for you and the cause. Though I’m warmed by your sentiment, I know you’d do the same for me. This is a partnership. You know how I see things. We’re born Bratva—we die Bratva. I’m in it to win it, cuz—just like you. As far as the brother thing goes, you’re damn straight we are.”
“Yes, we are. Now let’s get this land. Territory is power, and you and I are going to own downtown Louisville.”
“Sounds good to me. I’m kind of curious to see Antonio at work. I’m looking forward to seeing Sliver’s run out of town. The guy’s a dirtbag. He deserves whatever he gets.”
“Anybody who doesn’t put family first does. Funny, isn’t it?”
“What’s that?”
“That we’re using organized crime to ensure families aren’t displaced.”
“Life’s just full of ironies.”
“Yes, it is.” The smile on Glazov’s face was a sinister plan in the making. He was building a kingdom that would ensure all he’d worked for would remain in the Glazov name—a family tree that had been bathed in the blood of his enemies and those who were foolish enough to believe they could have anything in this town without his say-so.
Chapter Fifteen
Hugh looked down at the tiny woman standing akimbo in front of him. Well, tiny to him anyway. He resisted the urge to smile. Somehow, he knew it wouldn’t fare well. This was going to be harder than he initially thought.
“So, let me get this straight. You’re telling me you got us a place in Magnolia gardens for the same price we’re paying here. Just how did you manage that? That’s a pretty upper-echelon territory. That place actually deserves to have the word garden in its name.”
Hugh leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I’m helping the cartel kidnap Hex and make him sign over his properties. I’m not the gentle giant people think I am. You don’t need to tell Abuela that, though. No need to upset her.”
“Hmph, Abuela has seen more shit in Sinaloa and Colombia than you could dream up on a bad day. Magnolia Gardens is nice.” She checked Hugh out from head to toe. Slowly.
“Like what you see?” he asked, a sardonic brow raised.
“My grandmother thinks you’re good looking.”
He bent down and stared her in the eye, “And, what do you think?”
“I think you pull off the bald look well. I think there’s a whole lot about you that would scare off the general population. I’m not the general population. I’ve seen plenty in Sinaloa and Colombia too. I’m jaded. Anything else, big guy.”
“I think you and I should team up, conquer the world together.”
“First, you’re going to help us move.”
“I’m free until the kidnapping. Bossy little thing, aren’t you?”
“Get used to it, big guy. We’re going to be neighbors.”
“If I have anything to do with it, we’ll be roommates before it’s over.”
“Pretty confident, aren’t you.”
“You have no idea, but you’re getting’ ready to find out.”
“Chop, chop, you’re on a schedule.”
“There’s nobody I’d rather chop, but we’ll save that for later.”
“Depends on your moving skills, so you better impress me.”
Hugh looked at the girl walking away from him. Whoever said dynamite came in small packages was right. Hugh had never felt an attraction like this to any woman. Being her neighbor was going to be fun. If nothing else, it was damn sure
gonna be interesting.
Chapter Sixteen
“I’m looking forward to this shit. The way I see things, I can take out all my aggression I have for you on Hex, Novak.”
“Fuck you, Antonio. I don’t want to be here either. I say we both take out all our aggression on that bastard. I hope you set up a torture chamber.”
That brought a sinister smile to Antonio’s face.
Novak squinted, studying the man in the driver’s seat. “Is it true you’re a sadist?”
“We’re all sadists. You’ve got to be a certain kind of crazy to be in our line of work.”
“Get that mask on because there’s our mark. Who would have thought the slumlord is a lush.”
“Shouldn’t be hard to load him in the van. He better not puke in my van, or I’ll kill him myself,” Antonio growled.
Novak leaped into the back of the van. Antonio slowly followed the man, oblivious to the fact he’d become a kidnap victim soon. “Drunk as he is, we don’t need the masks,” Novak scoffed.
“Keep ‘em on. Ricardo will shit bricks if I catch a charge. Too many cameras around nowadays. Fuckin’ government’s watching everything we do.”
“Glazov’ll shit a brick too. I’m not dealing with that psycho. Glazov gives the word a new meaning. He makes you look like a boy scout.”
Antonio followed the man into the alley. “Don’t I know it. You work for a maniac. I’ve got mad respect for him. You have to earn that from me, and it doesn’t come easy. I guess he has to piss, and he’s stupid enough to go in the alley to do it.”
“Let him finish. If he pisses in the van, you won’t have to kill him. I’ll do it for you.”
Antonio looked at Novak and smiled, “Puke or piss, we take him out.”
“Deal,” Novak agreed.
Antonio decided working with Novak wouldn’t be so bad. “What’s the deal with the Russian coin?”
“I killed a guy who was counterfeit Bratva for it. It’s my good luck charm.”
“Ever noticed how superstitious gangsters are?”
“Yeah, I once knew a guy who wore two different socks every time he went on a hit. Those socks had more holes than thread in them. No matter what, he wore those, every time he killed a man. He never got caught, so there must have been something to it.”
Antonio jerked his head around. Novak had jumped out of the van so fast he didn’t see it until he was in the back tying up Hex with zip ties.
“No wonder they say you move like a panther.” Antonio had a look akin to admiration on his face. This was the first time he’d been forced to work with Novak, and it wouldn’t be the last. Next time it would be by choice. The guy had balls the size of a bowling ball, and that was something even Antonio Wayne could respect. He turned around and watched Novak at work.
“You give new meaning to ‘put a sock in it.’” Novak had taken the man’s sock off and shoved it halfway down his throat.
“Don’t kill him before we get those papers signed.”
“He can breathe through his nose,” Novak growled.
Antonio pushed his foot down on the pedal as far down as possible without breaking the speed limit. He needed to get this guy to the warehouse before Novak took him out. The rage on Novak’s face said it all. Antonio was getting a real-time view of just how deadly Novak was. This was going to be more fun than Antonio initially thought.
Chapter Seventeen
Luna stood outside by the moving truck staring up at Hugh. He had lifted a man who was almost as big as he was a foot off the ground with one hand. Pretty impressive.
“I told you I didn’t want the women lifting a finger—no work.” He jerked his head over in Luna’s direction, “Looks to me like my woman is working.”
“I’m not your woman, Hugh.”
“You are if I say you are.”
The mover decided it was better to take Hugh’s word for it and grabbed the box from her hand.
“That’s better,” Hugh said, appeased for the moment.
“You gonna kill anybody if I go inside and help Abuela pack up?”
“Nah. But no heavy lifting. These guys need to earn their pay. Just take what you need. I already furnished the place, so limit it to sentimental stuff.”
“Nice to know you’re a killer with a soft side. I wasn’t sure what I was getting into.”
Hugh watched her climb the steps. It was a ‘loved to watch her go’ moment. Something about that girl had wrapped talons around his heart and need around his cock. He wouldn’t quit until he made her his. It might take some time for her to see things his way, but it would only make victory sweeter. “Get your fucking asses to work and no looking at my girl, or you’ll be going home minus a hand. Just think how that’ll affect your career.” Hugh noticed the men stepped up their game. Lifting the boss a foot off the ground must have worked. Good thing it did because the next alternative was death, and he didn’t have time to get another moving company.
Luna noticed her neighbor, the gang-banger drug dealer, made a wide swath around her as she went up the steps. Hugh must have put the word out. Maybe it wasn’t so bad having a six-foot-four gentle giant on her side. The thought brought a smile to her face that reached her eyes. It had been forever since that happened.
Abuela turned from the window where she’d been standing watching the whole thing. She looked at Luna and smiled. “I told you: such a nice boy. A little on the dangerous side, but we both know nowadays that’s a necessity.”
“I don’t know, Abuela, he’s formed an odd attraction to me. He’s starting to grow on me, though. Is that weird?”
“No, I don’t think so. I married your grandfather in a week after meeting him. Sometimes it’s what those romance books call insta-love. Your grandfather and I were together until he passed away. Never messed around on me, either. That alone says a lot.”
“Don’t I know it. Most guys are dirtbags who think with the wrong head. Hugh said don’t worry about taking anything that wasn’t sentimental. He already furnished the place.”
“Works for me,” Isabella said. “There’s no telling what lives in this furniture. This is a new beginning for us. I, for one, could use that. I’m too old and tired to live in this neighborhood worrying about crackheads breaking in and stray bullets coming through the window. I say the good Lord sent that man, and you’d be a fool to let him go, but I’m just an old lady. What do I know?”
“So, you’re going to play the guilt card? So, cliché.”
“I’m old. I use whatever arsenal I have. I try not to resort to guilt. Wouldn’t want to traumatize you.”
“I see living with you is going to be a challenge.”
Isabella had a glint in her eye that spoke of impending trouble, “You have no idea, Mija.”
Luna just smiled. If anybody could handle a challenge, it was her. It was enough to get her grandmother out of the dump she lived in, and for that, she was grateful to Hugh, and always would be. It might not be the average functional family, but it was good enough for her. A new beginning sounded good to her.
Chapter Eighteen
Novak fingered the antique morning star medieval device Antonio had hanging on the warehouse wall. It consisted of a ball with spikes on it.
“You are a sick bastard, Antonio. On the good side, this thing’s probably worth a fortune.” He had to yell over Hex’s screams.
Antonio Wayne was doing a number on Hex, waving a blowtorch back and forth over his bare arms, enough for first degree burns, but not enough to send him to the emergency room. He didn’t want the bastard having second thoughts and snitching on them. Most of Hex’s screams came from fear. Antonio was getting too close for comfort with that torch he was playing with. Hex had signed the papers thirty minutes ago.
“The guy signed the papers thirty minutes ago.” The look on Novak’s face revealed he was ready to go.
Antonio Wayne jerked around with a smile on his face. The men had removed their masks once the threat of street cameras was no
longer an issue. He was sweating, and his hair draped down over one eye, but he looked happier than Novak had ever seen him. “I’m torturing him for all the displaced families in the area.”
“Well, hurry up, man. I’m getting bored. I’ve already checked out all your cool toys, even got some ideas.”
“Okay. A couple more minutes and I’ll be done.” Antonio went back to the grueling work of torture he loved so much. He stopped, looking back over at Novak. “Think we should kill him—put concrete blocks on him and toss him in the river?”
Both men ignored Hex, who was now wildly shaking his head with a newfound adrenalin dump at the thought of dying. Novak waited to answer just to add to the guy’s pain. He had displaced all those families. Antonio was right. Not cool. When he was satisfied, the guy had been close to scared shitless, he spoke. If the guy crapped his pants, they would have to kill him. Though the agreement had been piss and puke, shit constituted a death warrant too. “Nah,” Novak sauntered over to Hex and stood in front of him, “Get your ass out of town tonight. If you don’t, you signed your own death warrant, and I’ll have nothing to feel guilty about. A man needs to leave this life with a clear conscience.”
Hex frantically looked at Antonio’s wild gaze. Clearly, the guy was just getting warmed up. He looked at Novak, pleading through his eyes, and garbling through his sock gag.
“What-the-fuck? We’ll cut the guy some slack and roll him out of the van into that alley adjacent to the bus station. Novak bent down in front of Hex and looked him in the eye, “We’re never gonna see you again, right?”
Once again, the frantic head shakes as Hex stole a glance at the psycho Colombian. Antonio smiled for effect.
Novak ripped the sock out of Hex’s mouth.
“You’ll never see me again. I’m as dead to you as if you’d thrown me in the Ohio River.”
“You’re dead to us too. If you breathe a word about what happened here today, I’ll kill you, your plants, your mother, and anything else you give a fuck about. Now get in the van, dumbass.”
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