Luca's blow connects with my stomach, and I buckle forward, hiding a wince. I regain my composure quickly. We’re the only ones in his office at Balmere. The door is closed, as business and gambling are being conducted out in the club.
Luca rubs over his knuckles, as if I’d dirtied him in some way.
“I told you to make sure your involvement with the girl didn’t impact your work, and yet you skip out of town for a whole fucking night to a piece of shit farming town? And then you call one of the hounds to clean up your mess? Your brother might’ve been right. Perhaps you’re too messy for the job.”
I know better than to speak until he’s done, but he looks at my fists balled at my sides, my knuckles turning white. He's intentionally comparing me to my brother because he knows it's a trigger for me.
“You’re here to lead by example for the hounds, not use them as your own cleanup team for when you release a little bloodlust because you're horny over some woman.” He looks at me expectantly.
“With all due respect, Luca, Romi isn’t just any woman. She’smywoman. And I went because I thought she was in danger.”
It's a partial truth. The only danger that woman was in was from herself, which is the most dangerous of all.
Luca shakes his head. “Danger? Or is it simply because you can’t keepyour womanin check? What the fuck is it about the Morettis and losing their heads the moment they get some pussy? Itoldyou not to make it my problem, and that’s the first thing you did.”
“I respect you as my boss, but I won’t accept you speaking about her in that way. And you certainly shouldn’t be one to throw stones, considering how obsessed you are with your own wife. With all due respect.” I tack that on for extra measure, understanding that I’m playing with fire, and I might not walk out of here alive because of it, but neither will I back down from this, no matter the inconvenience it creates for my boss. He’s not in mortal danger because of it.
Luca’s eyebrows perk up. “You understand I can shoot you where you stand for speaking to me in that tone, don’t you?”
“Yes, sir.” But I'm willing to risk my life on it. I couldn’t give a flying fuck what metrics or morals Luca runs on.
“I’m not Lorenzo,” I remind him. “I will do as I’m told and take responsibility for vanishing last night.” I leave out the reminder that there was nothing that couldn’t be handled without me. “I’ve never once disappointed you in my results when it counts. Just because my brother served you silently, it doesn’t mean I’ll function the same way. Besides, it was because of my bloodlust that you wanted me at your side.”
Luca circles his desk, his finger gliding across the wood surface as if it’s dirty. “You seem to think that your brother lived a spotless life. Lorenzo is as much a savage as you are. He’s just better at cleaning up after himself than you are. I like your fresh blood. I like what you bring to the group. But my business isn’t an amusement park. If you can’t conduct yourself, then how canI expect you to run other parts of my empire? I thought you had a brain attached to that brawn.”
I smile, a dimple popping in my cheek.
“I can’t stand that fucking smile,” Luca warns, but I know it’s the contrary. Luca actually does like me.
“So, will you shoot me where I stand, or are there other matters for us to discuss?”
Luca glances at his watch. “Remember you’re on a leash. You only go on killing sprees when I give you permission going forward, do you understand?”
My teeth grind. It doesn’t exactly sound exciting; however, I know I still have to work to get back into his good graces and encourage his trust in me. I nod, reluctantly.
“Now, get out of my sight. You have work to do.”
Kage standswith his face angled toward the wall as he waits behind the Trail Blaze restaurant in the location the chef specified right before I slit his throat. Tyson is hidden on the second floor inside one of the apartment buildings opposite the meeting point. I pretend to read a book in front of the neighboring restaurant, stealing glances at newcomers and anyone who dares walk down the alleyway.
I take a sip of my espresso, trying to appear casual. It’s only a matter of time until they arrive. It’s the last day of the month.
Izak has already checked the area for any explosives or shady characters. After the mention of the chef having a bomb planted in his house, we weren’t taking any risks.
Sky waits across the street on his motorcycle, his visor closed. It’s thrilling the way they all hide their identity, and I’m the only one with a face, with a name, the leader of their group.Over the last few months, it’s all slowly pieced together, their subordination—as best as it can be—without their attitude. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Since Ara is only a few weeks out from her due date, Tony has been by her side at all times, except when Luca is in the room. Sky mentioned that Ara seemed irritable with his overprotectiveness, but I finally understand it. Now that I have Romi, even if she hasn’t yet come to the same conclusion, I wouldn’t jeopardize her safety in any way.
A hooded figure carrying a large duffel bag catches my attention, and I take another sip of my espresso, pinkie raised, my blood pumping with anticipation for everything that’s about to unfold. Once he’s halfway down the alley, I get up and follow him.
He’s out of view after turning the corner, and just as I round the corner myself, he turns to face me, then takes off. But he doesn’t get far. Kage has his hands stuffed in his pockets, his white mask bright in the dark alleyway.
“Interesting night for a stroll,” I say with a shit-eating grin. The man looks up to the second level, where he spots another hound watching from the open window, leaning over with a gun gripped in his hand.
Sky and Izak were advised to stay back just in case, if for whatever reason he escapes us.
“Want to show us what’s in the bag?” I ask, raising my eyebrow and pretending to be curious.
“Fuck you, Diavolo,” he says with a harsh Russian accent.
