Page 37 of Wicked Tricks

“We’re losing business. We’re losing inventory somewhere, and someone out there is undercutting our weapon sales. Mum seems to think that the girls at Lilith’s are working for the Redline Angels.”

“Diana Wheaton?”

I nodded, passing the cigar back and he inhaled as he looked into the distance thoughtfully.

“Other than that, how is business going?”

“Fine,” I threw my hands up, “the chop shop is doing well, the clubs are doing great. The cocaine is now one of our biggest revenue streams, and will easily make up for what we’re losing from the guns.”

“What about that girl? Demanding that we don’t return to Lilith’s? She needs to be dealt with.”

“I’m handling it.”

“How, Antoni?” he said sharply, crunching the end of the cigar into the glass ashtray.

“I’m getting close to her to find out if they’re hiding anything.”

“Bullshit,” he said, clasping his hands together in his lap and leaning toward me, “she disrespected you. She disrespects you, she disrespects all of us. Including your family, and the legacy of your father and grandfather.”

“Uncle-”

“No, Antoni,” he shook his head, standing, “you owe it to your men to lead by example. Loose ends are what ruin these operations. This girl storms in here, puts a gun to your head and makes demands? And gets away with it? This little bitch-”

I stood, towering over him, and he flinched backwards only slightly. Gregory’s eyebrows shot up in shock at my reaction, he looked me up and down as he considered me.

“This girl,” he continued, “needs to be made an example of. Do you think your father would’ve taken that?” he frowned, searching my face with his dark eyes, “do you?!” he grew loud.

I shook my head.

He grabbed me by the arm, digging his fingers into my skin and pulling me close, “your father would’ve put a fucking bullet in her head, and everyone who was associated with her,” he spoke quietly, his nails gripped my arm tightly.

The Family only had one rule, and that was no women or children should be harmed. Before now, I had clung to the thought that as bad of a man as he was, my father had never killed a woman or kid.

Gregory’s statement made me wonder how true that was.

“I was thinking about the safety of my mum and sister.”

“Your mother knows what life she signed up for!” he interrupted impatiently. “Nothing comes before your duty to The Family.”

I felt like a little boy again.

“And your one duty, the most important of all, is to make sure you don’t make us look fucking weak.”

I looked at my shoes.

Gregory shook his head in disappointment, sighing before heading for the door. I didn’t move - couldn’t. I felt my father in that moment, and I stood in the office as just a boy - just a boy playing Mob Boss.

11

Chapter 11

Rome

“How about this?” I asked, coming out of the en-suite connected to Bea’s room. I was wearing a low cut white top and high waisted jeans.

“Booooring!” Livie booed.

“Agreed, try this,” Bea said, throwing me a latex feeling piece of red material that barely constituted the word dress.

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