Page 247 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

“Just Joe,” I reply, holding up the glass. Average Joe. I never give my real name. It’s too recognizable, and I’m the guy who likes to blend into the shadows. Makes me more menacing. More of a ghost.

I turn toward Chella, but she’s already storming off toward the back room, her long brown ponytail swishing behind her, the scotch-soaked ends slapping against her back.

Mmm.

Booze and pheromones.

Fucking magic combination. Lethal in their complexity.

I look around the crowded room. None of my guys have shown up yet, and even though I’m anxious to get answers and figure out how to handle the scumbags who snatched Zoe and my blow, something about Marchella makes me forget what’s at stake.

Luckily, it’s no longer Zoe’s life.

Whoever pulled the job the other night stuck her in a nearby hotel room, half-naked and a hundred-percent panicked. They tied her up just enough to give themselves time to escape, but not so tight that she couldn’t free her wrists from the restraints.

They wanted me to know what they did.

They wanted to show me that I could easily be duped.

And I fucking was, something Matteo will not let go of if he finds out about it.

I’m supposed to be his right hand, his eyes and ears while he’s away!

How the hell do I tell him I that took my eyes off the ball and let piece-of-shit Salvatore manipulate me?

Salvatore.

Fucking guy is lucky I didn’t choke him with a chained cinderblock and sink him to the bottom of the Hudson River.

Although, I still may do that.

I should have just set him on fire and let his ass burn when I had the chance!

I loiter at the bar, waiting for Marchella to reappear after she stormed into a back room. Another glance at my watch confirms that my guys are officially late.

I toss back the amber-colored liquor, enjoying the heat snaking through my insides when a finger taps me on the shoulder. A pretty blonde smiles at me when I turn around.

I came here tonight because I wanted to keep a low profile in the wake of the supposed heist. I didn’t want any of my enemies watching me strategize…and sweat. There are plenty of other places down here in the West Village where I’m considered a regular but tonight, I wanted…no, needed…anonymity.

“Joe, right? Your table is ready.”

Yes. Exactly what I ordered.

The hostess shows me to the table and places a stack of menus in the center. “There’s a girl working here tonight. Chella is her name?”

The hostess smiles. “Yes. She’s one of our best servers.”

“I’d like her to handle my business tonight,” I say, sitting down in the corner with the entire room in my view. I don’t speak another word to the hostess. I just nod. She flashes a quick smile and hurries toward the back room.

I’m not a guy who likes to hear the word ‘no’. I’m glad she got the memo.

And I’m damn curious to see how well-received it is by my waitress for the evening,Marchella.

My phone buzzes and I pull it out of my pocket. My brother Dante’s name flashes across the screen.

Huh.

It’s not like Dante to just pick up the phone and shoot the shit with any of us. He’s usually on assignment…paidassignment. He’s basically a problem solver. Whenever there is someone causing a problem, he makes them disappear.

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