Page 53 of Brutal Queen

“Stefano just got here with Luc. They’ve got Doc Em readyand waiting for her at the hospital, which is where we’re all going now.” Sinclair's voice is steady but the stilted tone betrays his anger.

“Is it not going to look a bit odd? Three high ranking Bianchi men bringing in a girl in this state?” As much as I want her safe and cared for, I have to think of the safety of my guys.

“Doc Em’s got a tame ambulance guy. We’re delivering her to them,” Sin replies as if he can read my thoughts.

“Good thinking. But she’s okay?”

“She’s alive, and none of her injuries appear life-threatening. Butcolibrì, she’s the furthest thing from okay.”

I nod and it’s only when he asks if I’m still there that I remember he can’t see that. “Yes, I’m still here. I’m just…fuckingpissed.”

I run my hand over my face and think for a moment before saying, “I’ll meet you at the wet room with Zo in an hour. I’ve had just about enough of these frat-boy-fucks. I don’t give a damn who their daddies are. Animals like this deserve to be put down.”

“Understood, Don Bianchi. I’ll meet you there.”

The men around the office remain quiet while I take a deep breath and slowly exhale, attempting—and failing—to calm the rage that’s bubbling under the surface of my skin. They wait patiently until I feel I can speak without shouting. While the organisation has adjusted well to a female don, I still feel the need to present myself as calmly as possible at all times. I swear the first one to accuse me of having an emotional outburst will end up deep throating the pistol I keep in the holster on my belt.

Admittedly, no one in this room would ever treat me with that level of disrespect, but that doesn’t mean I want the security gossiping about volatilefemalebehaviour. I have a lot of faith in my people, but that doesn’t mean I want to fall intobad habits that will give rise to archaic beliefs sneaking back into the collective consciousness of the organisation.

In my head though, I’m throwing chairs around the office and wanting to storm out of here, drive straight across town, and give those monsters a taste of their own medicine. Maybe with the handle end of my trusty baseball bat. Thinking about it though, I love that bat, and the idea of having to clean it after it’s been in their asses takes the fun out of the idea.

“Gentlemen, I need you to make this quick. We have an appointment to get to. Fill me in on the highlights and the areas you want to focus on. I already got your request, Dom, to consolidate office space. Explain that first, please.” I speak evenly with a soft but stern timbre.

“When Gabriella took over Manny’s remit, she inherited responsibility for a lot of real estate on the East side. With all due respect, it’s absolutely pointless keeping it. It’s not fit for purpose. She needs base camps she can mobilise surveillance teams out of and half of them are run down with no running water or electricity,” Dom says, leaning back in his chair and crossing an ankle over his knee.

“It would make more sense to sell them off. It’s not like we need a foothold in those areas. We already have plenty of other businesses in that part of town, so it’s not a question of losing territory and we could use the cash flow,” Dante adds.

“Are we cash-poor right now?” I ask, tipping my head towards Dante.

“No, but there’s also no point in maintaining buildings we don’t need and can’t use.”

“Fair point,” I say. “So where are you suggesting we base Gabriella?”

“I think she should rotate around the clubs and invest in smaller, more discreet safe houses for her teams across the city.”

I consider his proposal. He’s an idiot if he thinks I can’t see his fascination with her written all over his face, but that doesn’t make his suggestions a stupid one. “You’re basing this proposal on your recent collaboration with her and Leandro?”

“Yes, Don Bianchi,” he replies with a hint of nervousness. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s worried I’ll refuse him or if it’s because he thinks I know about him and Gabriella. It’s probably both.

“And it won’t interfere with the day-to-day running of the clubs?”

“No, Don.”

I glance over at Dante. “And you’ll handle the real estate?”

“Yes. My plan is to sell off the properties for development and then buy smaller suburban houses to conceal Gabriella’s teams across the city.”

“And why are we having this conversation without Gabriella? It seems more than a little heavy-handed to be deciding what another capo will or will not be doing with her assets and people?” I arch an eyebrow at the men opposite me and it amuses me when Dom swallows hard while Dante looks a little offended.

“I assumed this was all with her approval?” Dante says, glaring at Dom. “What are you playing at?”

“It’s nothing like that. She mentioned it the other day, but she’s been too busy working on The Knights surveillance. She’s been quite hands on because of the importance of it and I wanted to… help,” Dom blurts out in what feels like a single breath.

“Uh-huh,” I say, rolling my eyes at him. I’m sure he has the best intentions, but if I found out the man I was fucking had completely rearranged my team's resources without my permission, I’d have his balls for it. “Well then, the next time you see Gabriella, how about you present your proposal to herand get her approval? When you’ve done that—and not a moment before—send it across to Dante to action.”

“Yes, Don Bianchi.” His contrition satisfies me well enough, and he needs to know that undermining the authority of any of my capos won’t be tolerated.

“Good. Now you have twenty minutes to take me through any other business, and then I’m out of here.”

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