She softened a little when I kissed her temple softly as the doors opened.
There were three cars on them with Tommy in charge that fuck. I'm sure mouth will have a lot to say about the heavy security but she'll have to get over that shit.
I watched as they left the underground garage before climbing into my own car with the boys.
"Tell me."
"Ricci's on the take." Tony took the lead this time.
"Say what now?"
"Yeah very recent, it seems our boy Taylor had his own sideline going, he's been taping conversations in the club, well some areas anyway, he was only able to plant one listening device."
"We sweep every week." I gotta deal with this bullshit now on top of everything else? Fucking dirty cops no loyalty and no ethics whatsoever, why the fuck Poppy ever got into bed with them in the first place was a mystery. I say just shoot the fucks on sight if they get in your way and be done with it.
"He moves it around accordingly, anyway we have Ricci talking to someone we believe is James Foster, the conversation took place right around the time he came in and you took care of him. I think from the sounds of it it's some kind of jealousy thing, you love Arianna, she's trying to get with you..."
"I thought you said this didn't involve Mouth?"
"It doesn't not really, well not in anyway that we can't handle; the bigger issue is what Taylor might've gotten on his surveillance. The Ricci thing is just female drama."
"You think that makes a fucking difference? So what, she brought James in to cause static or was there something else?"
"Something like that, from what we heard, and the shit's a little convoluted, you'll probably make more sense of it when you hear it yourself, but she seems to have gone around the bend. Her thinking's all whacked.
"You think? If the trick thought to go up against me she's not just fucked in the head she's got a fucking death wish. What did she expect him to do to Mouth anyway?
"Um...take her out to hurt you, but like I said we knew there was no way that shit was going to happen. Mouth is safe bro, you've got her covered from all angles nothing to worry about on that score."
I tightened my fist, my first inclination was to turn around go get mouth, take her home and lock her away somewhere. I had about as much chance of pulling that shit off as I did pulling down the space needle one handed. Fuck.
Pulling out my phone I called her anyway just to hear her voice.
"What Falconi?"
"That fucking mouth, where are you mob girl?"
"In the car on the way to Nordstrom where I plan to spend every dime of your money before going off to Neiman Marcus and Hermes to get started on your card."
I guess she thought that would scare me.
"Spend as much as you like there's more where that came from, I'll see you later baby." I hung up on her snort.
"Where's Ricci now?"
"She's at the club."
"It's time to clean house, if the twat betrayed me in this who knows what else she's been up to."
"So far it's just her and the cop, but you already know the cops are trying to keep you in the mix, legit business is no benefit to them."
"We're almost there anyway, I'm still gonna keep my hand in in some things but it's time to clean this shit up. I think Mouth would like that."
"You are so gone." Mikey snorted at me.
"A real man thinks about his woman's happiness, only a fucking ape wouldn't, now you two are a whole other story, you're just plain whipped."
"And what are you, getting married and shit, she's domesticating you, next thing you know you'll be wearing an apron and cooking her breakfast in bed."
"That's Tony's deal." Mikey and I razzed him a little because he really was such a wife, I'd be fucked if Mouth was going to turn me into het stooge.
"Hey, it keeps my girl smiling, fuck you two. Assholes, you don't know shit."
Mikey and I laughed, it was good to ease the tension that had risen, soon enough we'd be knee deep in somebody's blood. Fuck I'm tired. I just wanted to take my mouthy one and hide from the rest of this shit for a while, but the chances of that happening anytime soon were slim to none. First because with her I doubt I'd ever have another moment's peace for the rest of my days and two I still had a fuck load of shit to clean up before my kid was born.
Chapter 3
I didn't spend too much time on Taylor, I just had one question for him and that was what info he'd sold to the Staccos, now with father and son gone that organization would be over run by the violence of underlings trying to be top dog unless I moved in and dismantled the shit, which is what I planned on doing anyway.
The next few months were going to be hell with me trying to clean shit up in my backyard. I'll have the cops and the fucking criminals breathing down my neck, if I could get some of the others on board to go legit things might be easier. A few of the old timers were already on board, but there were still a few more who didn't see the benefit. I'll make sure and show them the error of their ways. I'm going to make this city safe for my son or daughter if it fucking kills me.
By the time Taylor's carcass was being nibbled on by fish in the deep, I was on my way to deal with Ricci.
My phone went off alerting me to a call from Tommy, my heart went haywire before I even answered the call.
"What is it?"
"Someone made a play, we're headed to your family estate, meet you there."
"Where's my fucking woman?"
"She's safe, they're all safe but I'm taking them in until we know more, this old boy was from back home."
"The fuck?" My heart actually fucking hurt it was beating so hard.
I hung up and called Mouth, I needed to year her voice for myself, be sure she was okay.
"You okay?"
"Well hello to you too."
Fucking girl could never do what I expected.
"Arianna stop fucking around, are, you, okay?"
"We're fine the girls are all excited, except for Pia, I think she might need a sedative or something, nothing much really happened, I just happened to recognize someone from back home; I didn't think he was here for the scenery so I alerted your goon squad and voila. We've been herded like sheep and being packed off to God knows where. Needless to say, we are not amused, there's a pair of Loubotins with my name on them."
"I'm coming to you, just do what the fuck your cousin tells you to and for heaven's sake none of your bullshit, you pull any shit Mouth and I swear it's gonna be your ass."
"See what I mean, never a sweet word, you're such a sweetheart, I can't tell you what a pleasure it is looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you."
This fucking girl.
"Mouth, now's not the time, somebody made a play for you, don't you get that?"
"Shane, how much do you know about my father and his organization? Somebody's always making a play for me; I'm the hottest bargaining chip in the underworld. Why do you think I do what I do?"
My stomach hurt hearing that shit, I never considered it like that, she was too fucking young to be dealing with that shit.
"Baby..." Fuck. "We'll talk when I get there, I'll see you soon, I love you."
I hung up the phone on her gasp.
Shit, did I just say that, I hadn't meant to, she just drew it out of me with her nonchalant way of describing her life as the daughter of the head honcho in the mob world. Yes it was easy to believe that she would've been the pampered, protected princess in her gilded cage, but there was the other side to that, the one where her father's enemies would try to use her to bring him down. Fuck, no wonder she was so tough; I'm such a dick for not putting it together sooner.
I still didn't want her involved in this shit, now more than ever I needed to go legit; I had to make her life safer. Before it was just something I wanted to do, I didn’t want to play the heavy for the rest of my life like poppy, now it was about my family, me and Mouth and whatever kids we might have.
"Head to the estate guy
s."
Damn this shit was making me tired.
We pulled into the driveway of my parents' home, there were way more cars there than I expected, Mikey and Tony were as pissed as I was, after all their wives were involved too, and who knows what kind of shape ma was in. Shit, dad was not going to be too pleased with this shit.
I jumped out of the car before it came to a stop and went looking for her. There were lots of voices coming from inside as the boys came in behind me, hot on my heels.
They'd heard bits and pieces from my conversation with Tommy on the phone as well as the little bit I'd filled them in on; as much fun as we had picking on each other, these guys were serious as fuck when it came down to it, you fuck with their wives they'd go mental on a motherfucker, I might end up having to rein them in.
I bypassed everyone else, which included her father and uncle, and even Poppy, I don't want to know, I'll get to the bottom of that mess later, right now I needed to see my baby, make sure she was in one piece.
I should've known the nut would be fine, she was in the kitchen with ma and the girls, ma was sitting with a cup of tea, the cook Gerty was bustling around the kitchen throwing out orders as usual, the girls were regaling her with their latest adventure, and Arianna was looking through a magazine.
"Hey." I got halfway to her before the magazine came flying at my head.
"What the fuck?"
"Shane!"
"Ma..."
"You jerk..."
"What did I do now? Is it the price of gas...a new war broke out somewhere, one of your handbags went up another couple thousand, what?"
I kept going towards her, it had escaped my notice that everyone else had gone quiet; I was focused entirely on her. It didn't matter to me what the hell crazy notion she was on this time, she was whole, and she was fine. She was pissed.
"You tell me you love me for the first time over the phone?"
"What?"
I pulled her from the chair and into my arms before kissing the breath out of her.
"Oh Shane, how could you?"
"Ma, why are you always siding with Mouth? I thought I was your darling son here?"
The girls snickered just as Mikey and Tony came to see about them, hopefully they'd drag them off somewhere so they could stay the hell outta my business. I should've known better.
"You are my darling son, but you're also a man, tsk, tsk, tsk, and after all my hard work."
"What, you tried to turn me into a girl or some shit?" I was confused.
"No dear, but I did try to instill some sense into you, you know, so things like this didn't happen. All those lessons down the drain, you're locking your future wife away in closets, threatening her with all manner of things and now this. No candlelight Shane, not even a flower?" She shook her head like I was an imbecile.
"Ma, Mouth doesn't need that shit..."
"And her name is Arianna."
Mouth poked her tongue out at me. Cute.
"Ma I love ya, but you have no idea what's going on here trust me, as for me telling her I love her over the phone at least I said it, that should be good enough."
"That's right Casanova, you tell them." Mouth snarked at me, she even had the nerve to roll her eyes at me after saying that shit, like she'd been professing her undying love for me or some shit. I'm so not having this fucking conversation right now; can you imagine the two nightingales? Shit.
"Forget this shit, is somebody going to tell me what the hell happened?"
She elbowed me in the gut and then gave a slight shake of the head before indicating ma.
Oh I get it; we're pretending everything was okay for ma's sake.
"What the hell is she doing here?"
"Hey look it's Jimmy, how the hell is it sitting Jimmy bean?"
Fuck me, I forgot about him, the two jackasses started laughing, ma wanted to know how Ari knew her James and my sisters were looking back and forth between them with a quizzical look. It only took Poppy and the two old murdering bastards to join the fray to round out the circus, looks like dad wasn't here yet.
"Hey junior, no love for your Pop Pop? Quite a looker you got there, and I hear she's nifty with a bow and arrow." He howled with laugher like that shit was funny.
Kill me, kill me now.
Chapter 4
The kitchen was a fucking madhouse; Mouth and Jimmy as she torturously kept calling him, were taking swipes at each other. Poppy, Rossi and Alphonso were up to no fucking good how do I know, they were breathing weren't they? Murdering fucks.
Mom was in her glory having all these people to take care of, and the two jackasses and my sisters were making googly eyes at each other.
Outside the house must look like the president was in residence, the amount of manpower surrounding the place was out of fucking control but no way was I gonna take any chances with her safety.
By tactful agreement no one was mentioning what had happened at the mall. All I gathered so far in the few rushed minutes I'd stolen with Tommy was that Mouth recognized some fuck named Joey three fingers or some shit, she'd made him, he'd drawn his piece and she'd somehow outmaneuvered him and alerted Tommy and they’d gotten ma and the girls out of there instead of going after the guy.
What I wanted to know was why were they coming after her? If the faction that had been after Rossi was dead, then why the fuck were people coming after her here?
This fingers guy was supposedly a free agent so no one knew for sure who the fuck he was working for at least that's what Tommy thought; I'll have to look into it.
Rumor has it that he never missed, there's always a first time for everything and he'd missed today which meant to keep his reputation he was going to have to make another play.
I'm getting tired of people fucking with what's mine.
Fucking mob was like a three-headed snake, you cut one of those fuckers off and another one took its place.
"You're marrying her?"
I came back to the here and now at James's outburst.
"What the fuck, who are you talking to?" He knew better than to question me like that, ma or not I'd fuck his shit up right here I'd had enough.
"Uhm...." He looked like he'd swallowed something sour or some shit, like he was about to crap himself.
"Sorry."
"Don't fuck with me James."
"I still don't understand how Arianna knows our James, he hasn't been out of the house in quite sometime not since his accident I don't think.
"They met when I sent him on an errand ma that's all."
"Hey Ari is this the one you capped?"
Alphonso the fuck had to open his big mouth.
"What?"
"Nothing ma, he's kidding."
She didn't say anything else but she was looking all kinds of skeptical.
I gave the Rossi brothers a shut the fuck up look but they just smirked at me. The fucks. I wonder which one Mouth got the attitude problem from?
As soon as it was possible we men excused ourselves to the study, dad was still at the hospital but he wouldn't have had much to do with the meeting anyway, then again with mom involved he might've wanted in.
"Okay, so who's this Joey fingers what the fuck?" I got right to the point, no sense in beating around the bush.
"He's a wildcard, the best iceman in Chicago." Alphonso lit a cigar as he pulled up a seat.
"Word is he never misses." That’s what I was most concerned about, the fact that these guys never quit.
"Nope, not once in twenty years. Rossi answered.
"He missed today, which means he'll be back."
"That's my kid, we did good there Alphonso.
"Damn straight, she would've made an excellent Don."
"Fuck that noise, she's not running your outfit, we're getting married and she's staying here with me."
There was a look passed between the two old fucks, Poppy meanwhile hadn't said a word, but the look on his face said it all. He was enjoying the show.
"What, what the fuck's tha
t look about?"
"I'm guessing she hasn't told you that she's planning to return to Chicago in a few days."
I heard her father as if from a distance, fuck me not this shit again. I jumped up and flung the door to the study open.
"Arianna get over here now."
She came from the living room where the women had congregated.
"You bellowed your crankiness?"
I pulled her into the room and slammed the door shut.
"You're not going to Chicago."
"What?" She glared at her father and uncle.
"Don't look at them look at me, tell me you understand what I just said, you are not going to Chicago, no way no how."
"It's only for a short while."
"No."
"Shane..."
I cut her off with a hand around her throat.
"Mouth do not fuck with me on this, you only think you've seen me pissed, push me on this and live to regret it."
Mikey and Tony came to flank me, but funnily enough her father and uncle did nothing; not that I'd really hurt her but I did have my hand wrapped around her throat about to throttle her.
"Shane maybe you should..."
"Stay out of it Anthony she wants to pull the tiger's tail, let her see what happens.
"Son it's only for a short time, she has some unfinished business, there's still some cousins or some shit left from the family that was in bed with the Staccos, she asked me if she could take care of it and I said yes."
"She's not going after any more fucking mobsters and especially not with my kid inside her."
You could hear a pin drop it got so deathly quiet then.
"Kid, what kid?" Rossi looked between us trying to make sense of my words.
"Your grandkid."
"Shane cut it out, dad don't listen."
Of course the room erupted in chaos with everyone speaking at once. I just stood back and watched, waiting to see where the chips would fall, no matter what though she wasn't going.
The Assassin (The Spitfire Book 3) Page 2