Page 502 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

I manage a smile. “Truth.”

She smiles. “Come into the office. Dr. Sheppard wants to hear about your plans during vet school. He may have an opening at the teaching hospital for you to consider.”

“Thanks,” I say. I should be elated right now, except I can’t shake the feeling of dread festering deep in my gut. I twist my fingers around my ponytail as I follow Allie back to the office.

Keep your eyes open, Lil.

Be careful, Lil.

But he’s gone. I watched him go.

Ugh, I need to calm the hell down!

A quick peek over my shoulder at the empty road makes my stomach roll. I bite down on my lower lip.

For now, anyway.

Because the knot in my gut tells me it won’t be the last time I see him.

Whoever he is.

CHAPTER9

ZENO

My cell phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out, Sergio’s name flashing on the screen. “Yeah?” I bark into it, ducking into a hallway so I can actually hear whatever bullshit he’s about to task me with as part of my “security” detail.

“I just got word that the skinny dork with the hoodie is back. He was spotted on one of the security feeds, but he’s alone right now. None of the others are with him.”

I let out a groan. “Shit,” I mutter. “Did you ever hear back from Alek? Is the guy a known cheat?”

“Nothing yet,” Sergio says in a tight voice. “So we’re gonna do our own investigating and find out who’s funding him. He’s got a backer. There’s no way the cash he’s gambling with is his own.”

“Maybe he’s got rich parents,” I grunt.

“Or maybe there are fucking criminals looking to steal the rug out from under us so we crash and burn during our first month open. Hell, it could even be worse than that. It could have something to do with our alliance with the Severinovs, too. Their enemies are now our enemies and all of that.”

“The idea of this syndicate just keeps getting better and better,” I say in a sarcastic voice.

“Your father needs this, and we’re putting our asses on the line for it to happen, so deal with it.”

I roll my eyes. Yeah, right, andIneed this like two bullet holes in my skull. “Okay, so you want me to rough him up a little? Get him talking? I’ve got some pliers in the basement?—"

“Jesus,” he moans. “Can’t you just have a conversation? Do you always have to resort to torture? Forget the shit you pulled back in Palermo. We need information, not limbs.”

I roll my eyes. Is he serious right now? “Listen, I’m not Human Resources for the family, Serge. I’m not gonna sit next to him, hold his hand, and become his friend before I get his goddamn life story. I’m gonna yank it out of him! And if that doesn’t work, I’m gonna slice off the tip of his tongue and maybe his balls!”

“You know, I really shouldn’t have been shocked when you pulled that stunt back in Sicily and went after Domenico Messina at his underground casino. It’s just like you to attack without thinking of the consequences — to you or anyone else! And your father may have let that shit slide, but I won’t, Zeno. Not while you’re out here in my hotel!”

I grip the phone tight, clenching my teeth so hard, I almost get lock-jaw. I need a break so badly from my life. It was no coincidence that I was picked to take out Messina’s crew for Joe Salesi. There’s no love lost between us, and just because I missed my mark in Sicily, didn’t mean I was gonna miss my second chance to cripple Messina’s organization after he did the same to ours.

Although, to Sergio’s point, I’m damn lucky to have a life right now. He’s right about that and about the fact that I don’t usually think. I get too fired up and all of that vengeance just pours out of me, forcing my hands to do all sorts of things, but mainly a lot of pummeling and maiming.

It’s kind of like an out-of-body experience, one that gives me a rush like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

Sick, I know. But it’s been pretty effective in the past.

Until I found myself up against the wrong enemy.

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