Page 75 of Wicked Tricks

I was still alone.

19

Chapter 19

Antoni

“Fucking! Idiots!” I yelled, slamming the door of my car as we arrived back home.

Usually, I had an okay control on my temper - I wasn’t a very angry person, and I could generally keep my cool in any given situation.

But I could feel my thumping pulse, I felt my heart racing - every fibre of my being was filled and quivering with rage. I could have fixed everything, if they had not shown up and scared Rome off.

Stupidly, I kicked my car door out of frustration and instantly regretted it.

The perfectly polished black metal was now scuffed with the print of my boot.

My men shuffled in behind me as I entered the house with their heads bowed like scolded puppies. I slammed the door, and everyone froze. My mother poked her head out from the dining room. Ren was the only one who dared move a muscle, continuing to bite into his apple while lounging on the couch in the living room.

“Everyone,” I said, my voice booming through the silence, “living room, now.”

They all filed in, obeying my order at once.

Ren, Angel, and Dimitri were already sitting in the living room, not knowing what was going on. The men who had shown up in their cars and ruined everything, were not even my soldiers.

They were not truly initiated into The Family.

Logically, I knew that they were only following an order - but that order did not come from me, or even from Ren.

I knew exactly who it came from.

My mother entered the room, hanging back from the crowd and leaning against the door frame and watching me with a smug look on her face. She looked too pleased with herself, and it only angered me further.

“What happened tonight, will never happen again,” I spat, “no one makes afuckingmove, unless the order comes from myself directly, or from Lorenzo.”

They hung their heads, nodding in compliance - exactly how it should be.

My voice quivered slightly, the adrenaline and anger mixing together in a way that made my whole body react.

“And from now on, the girls at Lilith’s are under my direct protection. Diana, and all the women who work for her - you may now consider untouchable. If you go there, be fucking respectful. Don’t get in their way, and certainly, don’t show upunauthorised,to take their shit.”

There was only silence as I calmed myself with a deep breath.

“We will keep our weapons and thirty thousand to cover our losses. They will stop intercepting and stealing our shipments, and we will return the extra cash first thing in the morning.”

“You can’t be serious,” Mother shook her head, pursing her lips.

I held a finger up, silencing her immediately.

“There’s been some rumours lately, some shit-talking saying that I am not capable of leading this family. That I’m a doormat, a pushover, an embarrassment to The Family and my fathers’ legacy. I’d like to invite anyone who thinks that, to walk away right now. This will be your only chance to leave without consequence.”

I locked eyes with the older soldiers who avoided my gaze, they knew that I was speaking directly to them. I knew what they thought of me, they didn’t even try to keep their displeasure at me becoming the boss a secret.

But it didn’t change the fact that Iwasthe boss.

And it wasn’t changing any time soon.

“Because from now on, I will not be taking excuses or tolerating disloyalty - from anyone,” my eyes narrowed towards my mother.

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