Page 95 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

Without constraint.

Without thought.

Joey…he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and called me for help.

I was neck-deep in an underground poker game with the dredge of the Earth, and with twenty grand in the hole, I didn’t give a fuck about anything but winning, riding the edge of danger, the thrill of sex and booze and money and power.

I stayed in my game.

He got in the middle of a gunfight.

I lost my fucking car.

He lost his fucking life.

I was stupid, arrogant, and toxic.

So, I got my shit together. I found my focus. Built my armor and made sure my brothers didn’t fuck up like me.

And in Joey’s honor I did more than focus and grow stronger. I honed my talents, sharpened the ruthless streak inside me, built my world of structure and pulled all that wildness back deep inside. I don’t let it out. Ever.

It doesn’t matter. As I stand and stare at the church it strikes me. Not the building. I’m not religious. But her.

Heaven.

My bride-to-be.

Heaven’s snuck under my skin.

I knew that could happen. My plans work better that way. And maybe she’ll live; as I said, I’ll send her away and let the rest die. She’ll hate me, but it’ll be worth it. She’ll be bound to me, but I can leave her in a dusty corner of Sicily under my family’s watchful eye, and I’ll build and strengthen my ties and empire.

And I’ll burn Dominguez down to the ground when I’ve used up what I need from him.

None of it matters except winning. Fulfilling my goals.

“Matteo,” a gravelly voice says.

Every nerve goes on high alert.

That’s not my father.

I turn slowly and face Jorge Dominguez… This time, he’s wearing a blood-red tie with his ill-fitting expensive suit. I’ll bet the tie’s not a coincidence. Fucker.

“I came to wish you congratulations,” he says with a smile, yellowed teeth flashing. “Your bride is not here?”

“I’m not in the mood for your games. Why are you here?”

“I’ve been thinking, Matteo. About what I said at your club.”

I narrow my eyes. “We stick to the plan. There’s no changing the rules. Unless I decide to do so, and if I do, you’re not going to like it, Dominguez.”

“My trust in you is wavering.” He eyes me up and down. “What are you going to do about that?”

“Your problem. Not mine. You can walk but then you get nothing.”

“I get dead Mulligans.”

I smile. “They’re under my protection until I say otherwise. Remember, I have things you want. I control avenues you need. Both my own and theirs. And you know it.”

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