Page 57 of Taken By the Mafia King
Enough. Stop thinking about her.
“Any news?” My tone made the question sound like a challenge.
Francesco, looking as annoyed as ever, turned to look up at me. “Giuseppe is aware, and he’s likely making plans.”
“I don’t deal withlikely, Francesco. I need something concrete. Has he made any moves in the last few hours?” I began descending the stairs. Some of the men shifted, their eyes following my steps. “I’m done playing games. Give me something solid. No more bullshit.”
Francesco kept his mouth shut.
Mikey filled the silence. “No.” He was covered in ash and charcoal. Once I reached the bottom of the stairs and stood near him, I smelled nothing but smoke. “His warehouses are smoldering now.”
“You accounted for local law enforcement?” I looked from man to man.
Francesco huffed. “Everything was taken care of on that end. Everyone has been paid to keep their mouths fucking shut.”
“Good. Let me know if anything changes.”
“Where’s Alonzo?” Mikey asked, rubbing his filthy hands on his coal-covered jeans. He frowned down at his palms when they came away even filthier. “Did he go to the safehouse with the women?”
“Yes. Mikey, go home to your wife. Rest a bit. Shower,” I added pointedly.
He didn’t need to be told twice. He gave me a curt nod before turning to leave, shaking ash and grime onto my marble floors.He winced and turned to apologize, but I waved him off in dismissal. I had house staff for a reason. A bit of ash was hardly any concern compared to some of the gory messes they had to deal with in this house.
I turned to the others still gathered in the foyer. “Francesco, take a few men with you to the safehouse and make sure those women are taken care of and that the doctors are doing their jobs. The women stay put until I can talk to them.”
Francesco studied me, unmoving.
“What?” I growled. “Spit it out.”
Francesco ran a thumb thoughtfully along his jaw. “Giuseppe isn’t the puppy you think he is, Boss. Based on what he had in his warehouses, he took off running with his father’s enterprise and made some big moves. I’m talking about getting in with cartels in Mexico and the skin trade overseas. That might just be the tip of the iceberg.”
My pulse began to pound in my ears. My hands involuntarily balled into fists at my sides. “I don’t give a fuck who he’s connected with. Giuseppe is planning another move, that’s obvious. That’s what I want, Francesco.”
“You could make a trade?—”
I held up my hand to stop him from saying anything further. The rest of the men, sensing something was about to go down, started filing out of the foyer.
“There will be no trades, bargains, or deals with the de Luca” I said once they were gone. “Giuseppe will meet the same fate his father did. His blood will stain my hands, not my gun, not my knives. Myhands.”
Francesco licked his lips, nodding in understanding. He had the sense to hold his tongue.
I turned and walked to my office, slamming the door shut behind me. I moved to the liquor cart, catching movement outof the corner of my eye at my desk. A manicured set of red nails drummed along the leather armrest of my chair.
I poured myself a whiskey while my mother’s glare burned into my back. “Why are you in here?”
She’d been smoking in my office. I could smell it. Her voice crackled from years of her addiction. “Why is the Bianchi bitch still alive, Killian? I’ve told you to eliminate her. Why are you being such a little coward?”
I tipped my drink back and took three steady gulps. It burned.
“You’ve gone soft.” She pushed up out of my chair and walked around the desk to stand behind me. She trailed her pointy red nails across my shoulders. “What would your father say?”
“He’s dead, so nothing.” I topped off my glass. “Now get out.”
“I’m trying to save you from yourself.”
I turned to her, my pulse now a thunderstorm in my skull. “Don’t make me ask you again. Get. Out.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits, but she backed down, sensing danger. At least she had some shred of sanity left. She turned on her heel and her dark robes billowed out behind her as she stormed out of my office and slammed the door behind her.
