Page 143 of Broken Mafia Prince
“Three?” Papa screeches like he’s just been told that his entire shipment has just sunk to the bottom of the ocean. “That’s not enough.”
“The rest of the men have already been stationed at other points. The north side is the least likely to be attacked because of the proximity to the law enforcement station at the docks. We should concentrate most of the men closer to the loading bay.”
“Get five more men to the north side,” Papa announces callously.
The other man sputters. “Um, boss, we’re out of men.”
“Get anybody off the streets who needs money and can fire a gun,” he replies. “I don’t care how you do it, but I need at least eight men in the north side. You know what, get as many people as you can off the streets. This shipment is important, and we can’t afford any mistakes.”
“Yes, boss.” I hear the sound of footsteps, and I start to pick up my book again.
“Get my daughter to see me in my study. Now,” Papa orders.
I roll my eyes, wondering what he wants this time around. I’ve been doing my best to stay out of his way since Senator Barlowe’s wedding, where I evaded all his efforts to matchmake and went to bed early instead of joining the senator and his new wife for a few drinks.
The man peeks his head into the library and opens his mouth to relay Papa’s demand. I hold my hand up in the air. “Loud and clear. I’ll be right there.”
I take my time standing up and stretching, because unlike what he thinks, I’m neither one of his men nor a dog that comes running when he calls. I make my way to his office, wondering what he wants now or if he’s just itching for a fight to burn off all the agitation this new cargo is giving him.
“You called for me,” I say, barging in without knocking.
His eyes harden as they land on me, disapproval written over his face as he takes in my gray sweatpants and the oversized maroon T-shirt slipping off one shoulder. If only he knew whose wardrobe I’d pilfered the outfit from, he’d definitely have a conniption.
“What is that?” he snaps.
“Clothes,” I say curtly, dropping into a chair. “You wanted to see me.”
I refuse to let my father use me as his punching bag today. This incoming shipment has got his briefs in a bunch, and honestly, it’s none of my business. In a few days, I’ll be far, far away from here. Raffaele and I will be each other’s family, and I’ll never have to beg to be noticed again.
“You’ve probably heard me mention an incoming shipment,” he begins, steepling his fingers together under his jaw.
A time or one thousand, I think.
“What you don’t know is that this is the most critical move I’ve ever made as the head of this family,” he scoffs. “What am I saying? It may just be the most ballsy move anyone in the mafia has ever made or heard about.”
I nod slowly, waiting for him to get to the point.
“Everything we need for our survival is on that ship, headed to us. And if something happens to fuck it up—like for example, someone leaking information about it to the enemy—we’ll be ruined. Completely.”
I freeze, blinking at him. Does he know something? Have I been too careless about this relationship with Raffaele? Did he discover us that day at the wedding? A bead of sweat rolls down my back, and my hands suddenly feel clammy.
“I’ve taken care to eliminate every loose end, and I believe this will be a smooth operation.” His face hardens. “I’ve also put measures in place so that anyone who tries to sabotage our success will regret it. I dare those Gagliardi pigs to come for me.”
My heart starts to beat at a normal pace again. He doesn’t know about us. We are safe, at least for now.
But we won’t be truly safe here unless the rivalry between our families ends, or we put them in our rearview mirror. “None of this would have been necessary if we just made peace with them. The wedding was the perfect opportunity to have a civil conversation and iron out our differences. Maybe the Gagliardis aren’t so?—”
“Enough!” He brings his fist down on the table, staring at me with disappointment, anger, and disgust. My stomach turns at the look in his eyes, and I reflexively hunch in the chair, trying to make myself smaller.
“You know nothing about them,” he says bitterly.
I snort. “Neither do you.”
“I know enough,” he argues. “I know that they took everything from me. They’ve turned this family into a laughingstock, made us mute in the presence of fellow men.”
I stare at him in surprise. “That sick bastard Luca Cozzoli, who, if I may add,youbrought into our lives, has done more harm to us than the Gagliardis have ever done. He shot you, almost killed you! Or have you conveniently forgotten that part, the same way you tend to conveniently forget that the Echelon Syndicate took Mama and Val from us?”
“I’ve had enough of you defending that good-for-nothing family. This will be the last time you dare to speak about making peace with them in my presence.” The words hit me like a freight train. “Do you hear me, Giulia? The fucking last time! The only thing that family deserves is death and destruction, and I’ll bring it right to their doorstep.”
