Page 152 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

Nate snorts. “Relax. We’ll come up with another plan. I never should have asked you to go there tonight. I need you here, anyway. This place is a madhouse, and without my right hand, it’s murder.”

“Ha,” I say in a light voice. “Funny. You said the ‘m’ word. You don’t know how close to accurate you might be.”

“Smartass,” he mumbles. “I’ll see you later.”

I click to end the call and lean back against the wall as I stuff the phone back into my bag, pull out my Mace, and take another tentative step upstairs.

To find Sergio’s office.

Because there’s no way I came this far to duck back without any answers.

I creep up the full flight of stairs and tiptoe down a corridor lined with modern-looking wall sconces lighting the way.

A few feet ahead, I come to a closed door with a bright light shining out from under it.

But there is nobody standing outside.

I furrow my brow.

That doesn’t make sense. What the hell kind of mafioso doesn’t have security staked outside of his office, you know, just in case?

It makes my job easier, but it’s really kind of stupid on Sergio’s part.

I press my ear to the door, struggling to hear something…anything…but it’s all in some other language.

Italian.

One of the voices switches back to English, but it’s one I don’t recognize. It’s not the sexy, growly, hungry voice of Sergio. This one is raspy and gritty.

“So you got the meeting scheduled. Good. Now, how about the cash?”

I recoil.

Meeting.

What meeting?

Oh, please tell me what meeting!

“Don’t worry. I’ll have it ready in time.”

A shiver flutters over my skin.

Sergio.

“And what about the other guys? They’re fucking persistent, boss. Like flies on shit.”

Some rumbling follows, mumbling in Italian in a voice that sounds less than thrilled.

What other guys?

The voices drop and now I can only make out single words.

Barely.

And I don’t like any of them.

Bad situation…that prick…fifty million…kill…bloodbath…