Page 263 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

“Another reason why you’d never make a good leader,” I muse. “Captain goes down with the sinking ship. You’ve heard that, yeah?” I furrow my brow. “But this…Captain sinking the fucking ship with everyone still on it…that’s a new one.”

“If I don’t make it out, nobody does!” Salvatore smirks. “You might wanna look up Frankie’s sister, too. You never know. We mighta pulled this job on you before and you didn’t even realize it. She might have some of the money we stole. Just sayin,” he says with an ominous chuckle.

My spine tenses.

Frankie’s sister.

The date I missed.

How the hell could I have gone back to the restaurant, knowing it was her brother who stole all of that blow? How could I look her in the eye, knowing I was hours away from skewering him?

I couldn’t face her.

I couldn’t stomach the thought of looking at her, if I’m being honest.

That Amante blood runs through her veins, too. And as hot as she is, I don’t need any more toxins seeping into my goddamn life.

“Selfish prick,” I mutter, rolling my eyes at Bobby and Ray who dragged Salvatore’s fat ass over here, same place where I popped Dario barely twelve hours ago. “Sellin’ out everyone and his fucking mother on his way out,” I grumble.

“What are you gonna do?” Ray asks in a hushed whisper.

“I’m gonna hold his hand and read him a story…just before I put a bullet between his beady-fucking-eyes. Cushion the blow a little.” I snort. “What the hell do you think? I mean, the guy’s already anchored, for Christ’s sake.”

Ray clears his throat and gives me a pointed look. “Boss, can I have a second?”

I walk away from the guys, leaving Bobby to handle Salvatore’s angry spewing. “What is it? We don’t have a lot of time for small talk,” I mutter, the reality of what Sal just said knotting my gut. What if he’s not bluffing? What if they really did pull shit like this before? I thought I’d only snoozed on five-hundred thousand, but maybe it’s more. Maybe it’s a lot fucking more!

“Are you sure this is the best way to handle this?” he asks. “All this blood. Have you spoken to Matteo? He wouldn’t?—”

I narrow my eyes, hairs on the back of my neck prickling. “First, don’t ever fucking question me, you got that? Second, Matteo gave me orders to keep shit running smoothly while he’s gone. I don’t have to check in with him for every little dipshit thing. And third, I haven’t even been home yet. I’m tired, angry, and hungry. So don’t piss me off more with this crap, okay? If your conscience is a problem, take it with you and sit in the goddamn car while I handle things here.”

A look of shock flickers across Ray’s face.

Fuck.

I didn’t mean all of that.

Most of it, yeah.

But not all of it.

Ray’s on my side, and the last thing I want to do is alienate anyone. Especially now.

I let out a frustrated breath. “Listen, Ray?—"

He holds up a hand. “No, boss. It’s fine. I shouldn’t have challenged you. Just tell me what you need.”

I lean my head back against the wall. “You’re right. It’s too much blood.” He doesn’t need to know why I’m so desperate to spill it, but I think enough has been done to prove that I can steer a tight ship.

Sal’s out.

There’s no way he survives. He’s an arrogant prick, a sellout, and a slimy, two-faced bastard who only pollutes the world we live in. He can taint even the most vile places…case in point, the Hudson River.

But Frankie…I could show him some mercy. He was my best friend at one point. Besides, there is a big problem that still needs to be addressed and he can help with that.

I need legitimacy.

I’ve shown these guys that I can rule with an iron fist, but does that make me a good leader? Am I that much better than fucking Sal?

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