Page 5 of Wicked Tricks

“It’s possible,” I mumbled, turning back to my computer.

She crossed the room and turned the monitor off, the spreadsheets on my screen fading to black.

“You must get dressed, and go Downtown immediately.”

“Why?” I yawned.

“You need to get Diana and the girls at Lilith’s under control. One of them broke Robert’s nose last night, and DiCarlo said that something didn’t seem right,” she grasped at her pearls, her voice rising higher with anxiety.

I chuckled deeply, imagining Robert with blood pouring out of his nose. He probably deserved it.

“You really think they’re that much of a threat, Mum?”

We had always been aware of the mild undertakings of Lilith’s. The theft, the conning and scamming - but I had serious doubts that they would become a true threat to our business.

“Don’t underestimate Diana, she is a clever woman. She was friends with your father, and now that he is gone, we don’t know if she will remain loyal,” she said.

I sighed.

She looked around, “they are in with the Redliners, I know it,” she whispered.

I turned my head so she could not see me roll my eyes. Mother never meddled in the business when my Father was alive. Ever since his funeral, and she spent more and more time alone, she became more involved in the business - what she saw as Dad’s legacy.

“I will organise a meeting,” I said while chewing on the end of a pen.

Why did I need to be threatened by an old lady and her crew of strippers?

But in order to get my mother off my back, I would oblige. She hovered for some time, straightening the items on bookshelves and dusting the leather couch. Even though she was just hanging around my house, she was dressed to the nines as usual.

Vera was an almost comically stereotypical Italian-Australian woman. Wearing a black dress, tan suede jacket and long silver earrings, she looked as if she were going to an important event at all times - or a funeral.

I heard more people shuffling below us, filling the house, and I groaned. Even as a child, I recalled our houses always being full. There was always something happening, something or someone to attend to. I had moved out of the family house for this very reason, hoping to have at least some separation from the life every now and again.

My plan had failed.

My home had simply replaced my mother’s as the hub for all operations and business.

Though it was a grand, two story home with plenty of rooms and space - everyone still seemed to gather in my office. I had a bedroom that I rarely visited, but even there I wasn’t guaranteed privacy.

“Good morning, Vera,” Ren chirped happily, stumbling into my mother as he entered the room and gave her a kiss on each cheek.

“Lorenzo,” Mother cooed, her attitude switching instantly after seeing her favourite non-biological son. He was more casually dressed than the men that followed, in his simple black tee and dark jeans, “are you just getting in?” she scolded.

He flashed a mischievous grin as he flopped onto the couch, lacing his fingers behind his head.

“Worth it,” he chuckled, “you should see Robbie’s face.”

“See!” Mother urged, and I rolled my eyes, stretching as I stood from my chair.

I glared momentarily at Ren for bringing it up and giving Mum extra ammunition for her argument. She was always anxious, always worried, and I understood why my father had kept her in the dark for so long.

“You need to take control, you need to deal with this immediately. This is a blatant show of disrespect to the whole family,” she ranted, chasing me as I made my way out of the office, downstairs to the main room that was used by The Family and our associates. I nodded a greeting to the men who worked for me as they went about their business.

“Fine,” I sighed, “I’ll do it now. Please, Mum. Go home,” I said, opening the door and ushering her out.

“We can’t afford this show of weakness, Antoni. Think about what your father would have done.”

“Yes, yes,” I kissed her on each cheek, wanting the whole conversation to be over with. Vera pursed her lips and shook her head as she left, resting the straps of her crocodile-skin handbag in the crook of her arm.

---