Page 89 of Flawed

Tully's green eyes blaze with a vengeance. He glances at Biagio and me then turns back to Jacopo. "I don't make threats without following through. You know this."

Jacopo stays silent.

Tully adds, "Do you really want a war? Because I'll give you one."

Jacopo stands taller. He glances at me and replies, "Like I said, this wasn't planned. I'll take care of the mistakes on my side. Think it's best if we keep the peace."

Tully continues to study him before motioning for his sons to get in the SUV. He states, "I'm warning you. Another incident like this, and I won't show you mercy."

Jacopo's SUV pulls behind Tully's.

Brody scowls at me and states, "We aren't done here, Luca."

"Looking forward to it," I mutter.

The O'Connors get into their vehicle and take off.

Jacopo turns on me. "What the fuck were you thinking?"

Anger flares through my cells. I point at Biagio. "Talk to your idiot son."

"Excuse me," Jacopo snarls.

I clench my jaw, trying to calm myself.

"You know what the rule is about touching the O'Connor boys without my go-ahead," he asserts.

My mouth doesn't help me. I blurt out, "Are you serious right now? I just defended your son."

Jacopo steps closer. The smell of scotch and cigars makes my stomach churn. He lowers his voice to the one he uses to intimidate men. "Are you arguing with me?"

I don't answer.

"Are you disrespecting me?"

I continue to remain quiet.

"Do I have to remind you who the boss is?" he interrogates.

It takes everything in my power not to say another word. He shouldn't be here right now. He should be dead. Yet here he is, once again, defying the odds.

He adds, "No pay for a month, and you're on cleanup duty."

My gut drops. Cleanup duty is the worst. It's the person who has to dispose of the dead bodies. I had to do it when I first started working for the Abruzzos. I've been here for over two decades, and now I'm back where I started.

Jacopo pats my cheek. He gets in his SUV and rolls the window down. He demands, "Report at five a.m. at the docks."

It's already three in the morning. My gut sinks. He'll have me doing shitty work for days with no sleep.

I say nothing, and they take off.

I call my driver, and he pulls up within seconds. My phone rings. I groan and answer, "I don't want to hear it."

Angelo orders, "Get your ass over to Tully's. Now."

"I'm not going to Tully's," I protest.

"I said get over there now," Angelo snarls and hangs up.

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