Page 150 of Creep

That shit could get him killed.

But he had ruled over this organization for more than a decade, and it was getting big.

He stood atop a small makeshift podium as if he needed help to make himself taller.

I took in the man from head to toe. Theo was notably tense beside me.

He didn’t think we should get involved, but I didn’t care either way. I just wanted Briggs’s head, and if I had to go through an entire organization to get it, I fucking would.

The chatter died off quickly as Tacchini raised his hand.

“As you know,” he began, his booming voice loud enough to make it over to where we hid in the back. “We’re having some trouble with the Camorra who had settled in Boston several years back. They want our territory here in New York.”

As soon as Tacchini said it, angry shouts and protests rose among the men. He raised his hand up for their silence once more before speaking.

“Quiet. I am just as angry as you are. It is enough that we have the Abbiati family to deal with already here in New York, but now the fucking Camorra wants to get involved? We need to deal with the problem if we want the East.”

“Yes,” one man shouted from the front. “What are we going to do?”

Tacchini smiled. I assumed he thought it was charming. I just saw someone who had no trouble using his men to gain more power.

“I have a proposition. The Camorras are getting out of control, and we need to stop them before they can step foot in New York. The only way to do that is by killing off the head.”

Ah, so that was where he was going with this.

“Bring me Miguel Gallo’s head. Any man, I don’t care if you are a foot soldier or a capo, if you bring me his head, I’ll grant you one favor. Any favor.”

And to have the favor of thecapo dei capiwas better than anything else these fuckers could ever achieve in their lifetime.

I smiled.

Theo moved in close, whispering in my ear. “Don’t even think about it. Gallo is rumored to be a brutal man who would kill first and ask questions never. It would be a suicide mission for any of these fuckers.”

“Luckily,” I said, wrapping my arm around his shoulder. “I’m not like these fuckers.”

* * *

Theo fumedthe entire ride back home.

He could throw a fit or give me the silent treatment all he wanted, but my mind was made up.

I knew what the next course of action should be, and nothing could change it, not even if he brought Lia up. He pulled into the parking garage of my apartment building and parked the car.

I looked around the empty space. It was hitting three in the morning, and not a soul was in sight. I let out a small sigh, already tired of the night.

“Just say it,” I said, breaking the silence.

“You’ve always been reckless when it comes to your safety, but this one definitely takes the cake.”

“It’ll be fine. We made it out of the last situation unscathed.”

“And you think we’re just going to keep getting lucky?”

“Briggs is still out there, living his best fucking life. You really want to stop? After all these years?”

“I don’t fucking care anymore!” Theo yelled, slamming his fists on the steering wheel. I turned, taking him in fully. Theo rarely ever loses his cool. “I don’t care about Leo fucking Briggs anymore. I don’t care about all the shit we endured. I just care about you! What the fuck am I supposed to do if something happens to you?”

“It’ll be fine, Th?—”

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