Lucas looked up. “She didn’t volunteer the information. She started talking after Julio’s brains splattered all over her face,” said Lucas.
Killing Julio wasn’t part of the plan. Carlos probably hopped on the next flight out of town. Too bad there isn’t a place he can hide.
“I stopped by her place to jog her memory when I caught them in bed fucking like rabbits. I shot him after I took several photos of them fucking,” said Lucas.
“Killing Julio and Maria is tipping our hand. Carlos isn’t at service if he finds them dead.”
“He didn’t kill her. I was so surprised I played the date on a lottery ticket. I won fifty dollars,” said Hank. He tapped the pocket where a purple handkerchief sat in the pocket.
“Fuck you Hank,” said Lucas.
“Caroline’s crotch must be stretched out like a saggy pissy mattress at a consignment shop because you’re wound tight,” said Hank.
Maria knows Carlos will kill her and that bastard in her stomach, so why cheat and risk your life? I’ll never understand how some women put themselves in these situations all for some ass. If that child in her belly is Carlos’s, then it dies with Carlos. He killed Antonio so his legacy dies with him. Is she pregnant with Carlos’s child?
“When’s the last time you got laid? Theses callouses on my hands are from killing men not stroking my dick. Your weird-ass has never had a girlfriend,” said Lucas.
“Don’t get mad are you trigger-happy now?” said Hank.
“I should pay Natasha a visit on the way home,” said Lucas. He cut his eyes at Hank.
“If you touch one hair on her head. I’ll kill you,” said Hank. Hank had the sharp razor blade to Lucas’s neck.
“You wouldn’t know she wears wigs all the time. You haven’t seen her real hair,” said Lucas. He smiled and looked down at his gun pressed dead center of Hank’s chest.
“Let’s see if bullets fly faster than blades,” said Lucas.
“I’ll die but you will too, but Natasha lives,” said Hank.
If it weren’t for me these two would’ve killed each other years ago. After twenty years of working together, they still got along like oil and water. I don’t have time for their bullshit.
“You two grow the fuck up. The only person dying today is Carlos Ramirez.” I look at Hank.
This mess with Natasha needs to be handled. Why did I trust him when he said he was fine? “You said you didn’t want to talk about Natasha kissing Jerome.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. She’s free to date whoever she wants,” said Hank. He pulled the blade away from Lucas’s neck and shoved it in his jacket.
“Who the fuck is Jerome? What’s his last name?” asked Lucas. He shoved his gun inside his jacket.
“You want to kill Jerome. You just had a gun pointed at Hank’s heart.”
“He’s her boyfriend,” said Hank.
“Wrong. Jerome was her organic chemistry tutor who tried to force himself on her when she said no.”
“He’s a dead man,” said Hank. He reached for the door handle.
“Please tell me you killed that piece of shit. Men who force themselves on women deserve to die a slow and painful death,” said Lucas.
“I already took care of it. I’ve taken care of her. She told Jerome that she’s in love and that’s why she couldn’t date him.”
Hank turned away. His face flooded with color and his hands fisted at his side. “Does he deserve her? She’s too young to be in love right now. Who is he?” asked Hank.
“He doesn’t deserve her because he allows his fears to affect their relationship.”
“A coward. How could she love a man who can’t protect her?” asked Hank.
Lucas narrowed his eyes at me before looking at Hank. “You love her. Go to her and cherish her for all the rest of your days,” said Lucas.
“Lucas you’re not fit to give advice. Get your head out of your ass. You’ve been sloppy lately and begging for a death wish.”
“I’m never sloppy.”
“I’ve come in your condo every night this week undetected, and stood over you, while you slept.” I’m more than shocked, and I can’t break my word to Sofia. I do enough without her haunting me from the grave.
“You’ve been breaking into my condo again?”
I rolled my eyes. “I would’ve but the front door was unlocked.”
I run my hand through my hair. “What do you think the Moretti mafia would’ve done to you?”
Lucas shrugged. “I’m not scared of them. In our business it’s only a matter of time before we’re gunned down in the street,” said Lucas.
“It’s a difference between going down in a blazing of gunfire and being killed because you’re passed out drunk with the front door unlocked.”
Lucas’ ears turned red. He scooted down in the seat.
“You want to die but your life belongs to me. When this is done, I need you to take care of something for me.”
“I’ll leave as soon as I place fresh pink roses on Sofia’s grave,” said Lucas.
“I’ve already done it. Two dozen pink roses were delivered there this morning. This can’t wait.”
“No man takes care of Sofia but me,” said Lucas.
“If you don’t take care of this then you’ll get your wish, and we’ll join Sofia soon.”
“Boss I can do it,” said Hank.
“Hank, I need you here.” Things are rocky right now, but I’m about to fix this shit. It was still early and not many people were out. It seems best to go into my Bella’s Pizzeria, which I own.
“Let’s go inside Bella Pizzeria, and wait for Carlos to come out.”
Once I walked through the door, the few people that was dining in the restaurant started chugging down their foods. Sebastian ran the pizzeria. He was a quiet old man who never asked questions and ducked when the bullets would fly. Sebastian over time had developed odd signals that he’d do if he felt my enemy was in the restaurant.
I headed toward the back. The aroma of mozzarella cheese and pepperoni made my mouth water, but I’m not here for the food.
My chair faced the door. Turning my back to a door is something I never do. Trust is a luxury that I don’t have. From my seat, I have an excellent view of everything in the restaurant playing out on the cameras in front of me.
“The service should be over now,” said Hank. He removed his gun from his jacket.
“The Moretti’s have nerve thinking that they can move on us, but it’s a mistake that they’ll pay for,” said Lucas. He pulled both of his guns out.
“This is a good thing. I’d rather deal with this head-on now instead of blindsided.” On the camera, Carlos and three other men walked into the restaurant. My eyes narrowed as he pulled out a chair. Carlos had to know coming here would seal his fate. Unless he felt the benefit outweighed the risk.
“Are we going in there now?” asked Hank.”
“He must be waiting on someone. Let’s watch for a minute.”
Ten minutes later, a man walked through the door. He had a dark brown suit on, and the silhouette of his gun was seen through the jacket lining. He eyed the surroundings like he was committing everything to memory. In his right hand, he had a black briefcase.
Is that a bomb? There’s a chance that he’s going to leave that briefcase on the floor and head out.
“He looks familiar. I’ve seen him from somewhere,” said Lucas.
Oh shit. “You’re saying he’s FBI?” I’ll commit his features to memory. Pushing the button, I zoomed in on him, as he sits at the table with Carlos.
“I think so. We can’t kill him. Not yet,” said Lucas.
He slid a piece of paper across the table. I angled the camera and zoomed in on the paper. Damn. It said Federal Bureau of Investigations on it. A few minutes later he slid the black briefcase across the floor to Carlos.
Hank snapped a photo of the man. “I’ll find out who he is.”
“We get Carlos as soon as he leaves.”
&nbs
p; The mystery man scooted his chair back, and waltzed out the door, leaving the briefcase. I held up my hand for them to wait. I panned the outside camera to the street. The man jumped into a black tinted window coup, which had rental plates. After firing off a text message he drove off down the street.
“Let’s get him.” I burst through the door shooting four of Carlos’s men, before sliding behind a table toppling over, using it like a shield. After the return fire ceased, I took several shots at Carlos. One bullet caught him in the shoulder as he grabbed a woman and used her as a human shield.
Lucas who was standing out in the open kept firing. He shot Carlos in the leg. Hank was behind me shooting, and there was only Carlos and another man alive. The rest were lying dead on the floor. There was blood everywhere and I fired a shot at Carlos.
The bullet lodged in her head, and she fell to the ground. Carlos ran out the restaurant. I hopped over the tables running to the door. Something grabbed my leg, and preventing me, from leaving.
Snatching the knife from my jacket I plunged the blade in his head and twisted it. After kicking him in the head I burst through the door.
Carlos was in a silver truck. He peeled off down the street. Damn. I glanced over at my car, and all four of my tires were flat. Carlos thinks he’s escaped but I’m coming for him.
Snatching the front door open I kicked the chair out of my way. Lucas had a man bound to a chair. Hank bent down and carved several lines in the man’s chest. His screams were muffled by Lucas’s hand.
Dragging a chair from the middle of the floor I sat in front of the man. He shook as Hank brought the blade to his neck.
“I’m only going to say this once. Tell me everything.” I leaned forward palming my gun in my hand and shoved it in his cheek.
“Sergi is a double agent working for Russia,” he said.
“That doesn’t make any sense. Carlos killed Antonio, and you know it.”
“You can believe what you want. Carlos would’ve killed Antonio, but we were double-crossed by those pigs,” he said.
“You made a mistake when you spilled Mancini blood.” I put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. His blood bathed my face as his brains splattered everywhere.
Taking the handkerchief from my pocket I wiped my face. “Lucas take care of the security tapes.” Watching Lucas disappear through the back I turned to Hank.
“This shit may be deeper than I thought.” Pulling out my phone I dialed Victor Owen.
“What’s up,” asked Victor.
“I’m going to send you a picture. I need to know who he is, as soon as possible.”
“Understood,” said Victor.
Hanging up the phone I sent him the photo. Lucas came from the back. We headed out before calling Edward and Ben the local cops on our payroll. They were quick and efficient with disposing the bodies.
Stopping at the club Fein, we drove into the parking garage. My club was always popping with a flow of tourist and regulars since it was the swanky, popular hangout for the rich and wicked. Walking inside the elevator I punched a button, after a second, the handprint popped out. Placing my hand on the scanner the elevator went to the bottom floor of the club.
When the elevator reached the underground level, we walked out. The dried blood covering me smelled acidic and I needed a hot shower. Today was the first time a man slipped through my fingers when he is supposed to die. I’m not happy. Shit isn’t going the way I need it to.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I glance back at Lucas and Hank who are leaning against the wall looking at me.
“I need to take this. Give me a few minutes.” Flinging my jacket on top of the desk, I answered. Victor Owens. I hoped his ass had answers for me. I hated that he came back to the family but right now I feel blessed to have him at my side.
“I got some information for you. Christian and Salvatore are planning to take you out. They have help from the inside to do it. It’s going down in three days, so you need to lay low,” said Victor.
“They aren’t that stupid. You need to check your resources.” I know that Christian Esposito wants me dead bad. His beady eyes have been on my empire for a while now. I guess they think now is the time to strike, since I lost my brother and all, but I’ll go to war with them all.
“Maria’s Café is my resource,” said Victor. The sound of an engine roaring came through the phone.
“I’m sending friends now,” said Vincenzo. Victor had lost his fucking mind. He’s not safe in Italy. I lost Antonio and I’m not about to lose Victor too.
Putting the phone on speaker I rapidly fired off several texts sending thirty men to Victor’s location. I am not taking any chances with his life.
“No. They don’t know I’m here. Let’s keep it like that. My private jet should be ready in thirty minutes,” said Victor.
“Friends are on the way. They’ll see you safely on the plane. Do you know the man in the picture I sent?”
“I don’t know yet, but I’ll know as soon as I get back,” said Victor.
“Guys come in here.” I poured some scotch. My temples throbbed with the worse headache I’ve had in a long time.
Lucas and Hank walked in. They sank down on the leather sofa.
“Salvatore and Christian have formed an alliance to kill me and take over my empire. Lucas, I need you to pay Christian Esposito a visit. He needs to die tonight. His daughter Ginevra needs to die too.”
“I’ll leave tonight,” said Lucas. He stood and walked out the room.
“Hank, you and I are going to pay Bianca Moretti a visit. The word on the street is that she’s run off with her boyfriend Emanuele Russo.”
“Are we going to war with the Russo mafia?” asked Hank.
“No, we’re just going to get in and snatch Bianca and get the hell out of there.”
9
Tatiana
I sat up in bed. The room was empty. Slipping from the bed, I lumbered to the bathroom. Every muscle in my body was sore. I felt parts of myself I didn’t know existed. The pulsing between my legs made me grit my teeth. Flashes of last night filled my head. Images of me moaning and clawing his back like a bear in heat made my face hot. How do you fein for the enemy?
Stepping into the shower, I let the hot water flow over me. Lifting my legs, I allowed the showerhead to message my tender tissues. Closing my eye, I lathered the soap over my body. I need my strength if I’m going to escape Vincenzo.
Rummaging through his drawers, I put on one of his jumpsuits. It was several sizes too big but at least my butt cheeks weren’t hanging out. Trying the door, it was unlocked, and there was no guard posted outside the door. Running down the hall, I dashed into the office as a male’s voice startled me.
Slipping into the office closet I waited. The floor creaked as the man walked inside the office. He looked like he weighed three hundred pounds, and he had a baldhead. His stomach hung well over his pants, and he looked like he stunk.
“Vincenzo thinks he’s so smart, but he isn’t that smart. He can’t see past the death of Antonio,” said Jimmy.
“He went to visit Carlos, so I’m here at the house. I’m looking for his safe. I know he has extra money around here somewhere,” said Jimmy. He slid the brown leather chair out and sank down in it. After a second, he threw the drawer open, sifting through the contents.
Damn. He hasn’t vetted the people that he has working for him. This man was trying to steal from him and do his own thing. What would he do to me if he caught me? Placing my hand over my mouth I stopped breathing as he walked closer to the closet door.
“What do you mean he killed your whole crew? I guess he took her with him,” said Jimmy. He slammed the drawer and bent down to move the Italian rug, flipping it back, running his hands over the floorboards.
“When he brings her back, and leaves again, I’ll have me some fun,” said Jimmy.
My heart fluttered. The thought of him forcing himself on me almost made me vomit in my mouth. I’d rather swallow a
grenade than let him touch me. Where the hell is the giant with the knife? He may long to cut my tongue out, but he didn’t want to force himself between my legs.
“Damn, let me go. This is the fourth time he’s called me, and I didn’t answer,” said Jimmy. He hung up and slipped the phone in his pocket.
He stood and walked out the office. The floor creaked under his weight as he disappeared down the hall.
If he answers the phone and its Vincenzo, he’ll know that I’m here with him. I got to get out of here before he answers the phone.
Opening the door, I crept over to the office door. Peeking down the hall I didn’t see him. I crept down the stairs, pausing on the last step placing my ear to the wall. There was loud music and smoke drifted toward my face.
Above me, I heard the man talking on the phone. I darted from the step down the hall, and through the door. It was a casino. A fancy upscale casino, and it was packed. I smoothed his jumpsuit over my athletic form and rushed through the crowd.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted security officers talking on the earpieces in their ear. My steps quickened as I turned the corner and headed for the door. Turning around, I saw three security guards on my heels. Without making a scene, I turned the corner and broke to a sprint. Just as I reached the elevator a hand covered my mouth, and I was lifted off the ground.
I struggled as someone flung me inside a hotel room and locked the door. The room was dark, and I sank my teeth in the man’s bicep.
A second later the light came on. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Sergi removed his hand from my mouth before lifting his gun and walking over to the door. He stared out the peephole with his gun lifted to the door.
I sank to the floor, my hand over my mouth as I sobbed. I didn’t know how long I’d be able to live, but I was standing in front of my brother and that’s all that mattered.
“Are you alright?” asked Sergi. He slid the gun in his tuxedo jacket and helped me to my feet.
“Hell no. What the hell is going on? The Mancini mafia is trying to kill us. What did you do?” I wiped the tears from my face and walked toward the window.
Taken by Vincenzo Page 5