Page 4 of Shotgun Daddy
“Come on, Michael and Matteo were very clear,” Owen answered, a note of real caution in his voice. “You know that I’m down with you no matter what, but they made their feelings clear. This is a stakeout. No more, no less. And definitely no killing.”
Faustino snarled.
He didn’t know when or how it had happened, but since their coup and takeover of the family, Faustino had found himself somewhat on the outside looking in. With Matteo and Michael assuming the lead, Faustino’s role had been limited to street-level actions, and even then Faustino felt like he was being kept on a tighter leash than he used to be before, when they weren’t even in charge of things for themselves.
Fuck those guys.
They’re family, and I love them…
But fuck them.
Faustino was forty-one years old and hated the fact that he was somehow destined to always be seen as the little brother or junior partner in the triumvirate of him, Michael, and Matteo. It wasn’t right. Faustino knew that he had contributed just as much any anyone to taking down the old regime. This wassupposed to be his time in charge, running things, and making all the big calls and plays.
But so far, the only thing that Faustino had run was surveillance.
And without the fury of gunfire and death to follow, Faustino was getting very bored indeed of his watching brief…
“I know you’ve got my back,” Faustino said, looking across to Owen. “We’ve been to hell and back together. So I’m saying to you this… if you want to get out of this car now, you can do. I wouldn’t blame you and there’d be no problems for you down the road either. But if you’re riding with me, then ride with me.”
Faustino looked across and saw Owen stare right back at him. The two of them were like soulmates in some ways. Both loved the violence, risky operations, and fighting against the odds. And the pair of them were truly deadly shots too.
“Hey, do you even need to ask?” Owen chuckled. “Of course I’m down with you, my man.”
“Okay, so the plan is we hit this motherfucking den and leave with cash,” Faustino grinned. “And if a few low-down bodies hit the deck full of our bullets, then so be it.”
Faustino laughed and watched as more men entered the gambling den.
It was likely that there would be way more than cash inside, and Faustino knew that if he could get his hands on some diamonds then that would really make it a great day. The fact of the matter was that this was an illegal game on Fendi territory. Such a thing simply couldn’t be allowed to stand. And this was despite thefamily making it very clear that there would be a zero tolerance approach to all things like this in the future.
“Matteo and Michael are going to be seen as weak,” Faustino said. “I know they want to do this whole political thing of trying to make peace across the city. But fuck that. I’ve been around as long as them. I know how this works. You only ever find peace through death. That’s the way it’s always been.”
“I hear you,” Owen answered. “I know I’m not family, but I’ve always seen the Fendi clan as ruling through the gun. There’s no other way. It’s not like we’re in a world of offices and police and all that shit. The rules are different for us. Step out of line, you get got.”
Faustino nodded. Owen could see exactly where he was coming from, and it was making Faustino more and more frustrated that apparently his own closest family couldn’t see it for themselves. Maybe it was the fact that they were now heading up the family, but Faustino couldn’t help but feel that Matteo and Michael had changed. And Faustino didn’t like change. In fact, it was the thing he hated the most.
Justin’s death was ten long years ago, but Faustino still hadn’t been able to move on. He knew that Justin was never coming back. He also knew that they hadn’t even been together long when he died. But that changed very little. All Faustino knew was that he had opened his heart to a wonderful boy, only to see his heart wrenched out and crushed while the light of Justin’s beautiful heart had been extinguished in the cruelest of ways.
But Faustino knew that this wasn’t the time to be in his feelings.
Faustino gritted his teeth as he saw yet another pair of men enter the building, each one followed by a security guardholding a heavy, thick duffel bag. Money, diamonds, whatever else… it was all good.
“It’s time to work,” Faustino said, locking and loading his shotgun as he stepped out of his car.
With Owen by his side and the element of surprise too, Faustino felt ready and able to cause the worst kind of chaos – and he didn’t give a God damn whether Matteo and Michael approved or not. Faustino didn’t take orders. Not from anyone. And when he was done taking lives and money, Faustino knew there would be one more thing on his hitlist –
It would be time topartylike only Faustino Fendi could…
Chapter 3
Reece
Reece’s chestnut brown hair flopped and bounced as he paced up and down the stage, shining bright underneath the theater’s downlights. The audition was in full swing and so far, all signs were good.
“My word! The ranch has never looked better!” Reece declared, his Midwestern drawl sounding on point and his smile beaming across the empty stage and down toward the director and his two assistants. “And never have I felt better. I think we can make this work, I really, truly, do believe we can!”
Reece took a moment to compose himself and then stood still, in perfect silence as he waited for feedback from Timo Taylor, the rapidly rising director who Reece knew could hold the keys to his career.
As he waited for Timo’s thoughts, Reece took a deep breath and focused his thoughts.
