Page 114 of Dirty Mafia Torment
I’m all about pussy, in the moment.
She laughs. “Just as I thought.”
With that, she leaves me to my own devices.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
RENZO
Dante looks up,surprised to see me.
I drop into the chair across from his desk and watch him while he finishes his call. His suit jacket slung over another chair. Shirt wrinkled. Tie hanging loose.
What the hell have I missed?
“Is anything salvageable?” He listens for a beat, then curses under his breath and drags a hand through his hair.
That’d be a no.
“Keep me updated,” he finishes, before hanging up and tossing his phone aside.
I tilt my head. “Let me guess. You haven’t spoken with Massimo?”
He shoots me a glare.
“Why not?”
“I was told the window of opportunity has closed.” He tosses his phone on his desk. “That motherfucker is costing me a small fortunein losses.”
Well, shit. Massimo’s too proud. We waited too long.
Because of me.
Frustration coils in my gut. A simple conversation might’ve changed everything. Now we’re headed straight for war.
“Here’s what I propose,” I say, drumming my fingers on my thigh. “Surveillance every-fucking-where. On his holdings and ours, his place in Sicily, wherever else you want drones overhead. Let’s see if we can catch whoever is responsible.”
I’ll swing by my apartment, see if my phone is there and not in a club or dark alleyway. Reconnect with my guys. Reignite the Sicilian team. Then it’s back to the farm, where I’ll slip the shackles back on and wait for Fina to get home, and for the video feed to start filtering in.
“About Rhode Island …”
Jesus. My father’s a demanding prick.
“I’m good.”
“Are you?” I read the concern in his eyes, and shame hits deep.
“Just peachy.” The lie tastes refreshing. Doesn’t mean it’s true. I understand how fragile sobriety is; one asshole doctor and I’m back at the bottom. One little taste and I’m zero to nothing once more.
She’s seen me at my worst but has yet to witness me at my best.
Do I really want to drag her, everyone—even myself—through my shit again?
I stand.
“How about an early lunch?” Dante asks. “Somewhere else than Zia Teresa?”
I shake my head. “I’ve got to get my men and equipment in place, then get back to the farm before Fina returns home.”
