Page 2 of Mob Queen

“Petro,” I say as I stand and offer him a handshake.

He runs his sleazy gaze up and down my body and smirks. My skin crawls and I want to scoop out his eyes with my fingertips and shove them down his throat. “Frankie,” he replies with irritation. “Is your father finally marrying you off?”

Hold it together, Frankie.

He completely sidesteps me, and heads straight for my father. Fucker.

“How old do you think she is?” Dominic asks me quietly while my father, Don Ruben and Petro ? asshole ? Augusta all exchange pleasantries, although it’s clear the air is thick with tension.

“She can’t possibly be any older than eighteen,” I say. “Why would he have brought her?” The girl is standing to the side, her eyes downcast, and her shoulders hunched. “It’s clear she’s not part of our world.”

“I have a problem with this,” Dominic says to me.

“We both do.”

The door opens and in walks Don Vitale Venanzi with his underboss and oldest son Alessandro. “Frankie, you’re looking good,” Alessandro says as he comes in for the whole double kiss thing.

“You too, Alessandro. It’s been a while.” I turn to his father. “Don Vitale,” I offer a courteous nod.

“Frankie.” He steps in and gives me the customary double kiss. “You’re raising a shark here, Martino,” he says to Dad with an easy tone.

“Women shouldn’t be seen,” Petro grumbles. “They’re only good for one thing.”

Dad’s jaw jumps and I can’t help but groan my irritation. “Leo,” Dad calls the waiter. “Grappa.”

“Yes, sir,” Leo replies and scurries back to the kitchen.

Great, I’m going to have to control my urge to kill that drunk-ass sexist Petro. “Vitale, you didn’t bring Michael or Gabriel?” Petro asks.

“No,” Vitale’s reply is brief.

“It’s okay.” Petro turns and summons his daughter. “Elena.” Obediently, she darts toward us. Her posture hasn’t changed though, her head is down and she looks like she’s trying to fold into herself. “Alessandro, you need a wife.” Petro wraps his fat fingers around her upper arm and tugs her toward Alessandro. “She’s pure, she’s good for breeding.”

I look to Dad and beckon him to say something, because if he doesn’t, then I will. Dad shakes his head, silencing me before I rip Petro’s hand off of her and shove it up his fucking ass.

“Your daughter is beautiful, but not for Alessandro,” Vitale easily disregards Petro’s revolting offer. Vitale is clearly as unimpressed by Petro’s offer as Dominic and I are.

“She’s pure,” Petro insists. “Take her to the doctor to be examined.” He shoves Elena toward Alessandro. The poor girl is trembling with fear. My heart is hammering in my chest, and I’m ready to kill this fucker. “What about you, Frankie? Do you want her?” I stare at Petro for a good thirty seconds. My lips are pursed into a thin line, and I’m unblinking. Petro scoffs and pushes his daughter behind him.

What a piece of shit. He’d pimp out his daughter just to form an alliance with another family.

“Grappa,” Leo’s announcement breaks the anger bubbling through me. He pours the first bottle out for everyone, leaves a second bottle, and retreats to the kitchen.

I throw the first drink back, and turn to look at the girl. She’s nibbling on her lower lip and has backed away while her father jovially laughs and inhales his drinks, one after the other.

Thankfully, the meeting starts and the girl is forgotten about by her father. But, in the back of my mind, I’m already planning his death.

* * *

“How can you do business with that fucking animal?” I say to Dad once we’re alone in the restaurant.

“Because if we don’t, then he won’t give us access through Louisiana.”

“Kill him and take his territory.”

“Frank, you need to play this cool.” Dad faces me and gently runs his hands up and down my upper arms. “You’re my underboss, not the don yet. You need to calm down, and let me control things. I know what I’m doing.”

“The way he was treating his daughter though, that’s not right.”

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