“You’re hesitant. I can understand that. You’re young, and don’t know how the world works yet.”
I clench my jaw and have to restrain myself from smashing his face into the hard maple table top. “This is a dangerous job regardless of my age.”
“How about this,” he says. “I’ll throw in the niece of our, uh, target. You can take her and train her for us. Or at least break her down some. You know the drill. I hear she’s quite a beauty.”
I’m taken aback. A woman. They’re giving us a woman. What the fuck? The familia has never made an offer like that before. That’s not an aspect of this business I’m associated with. My father is though.
He quickly speaks up before I can even process the extent of what Marco offered.
To train? My body’s stiff with the memories of my past flashing before my eyes as my father answers him. “We’d be honored, Marco,” he says. “Gio will accept the woman and turn her into the perfect model of obedience for you.” I’ve seen what they do. I know exactly what they want. I recall the sounds, the images. My father standing over a girl, a whip in his hands, a smile on his face. My heart races as I try to ignore my recollections. “You want a slave, he’ll make her fucking perfect. Isn’t that right, Gio?”
My father stares at me waiting for an answer, and I’m at a loss for words. I know what they mean by training, and I’ve seen it a million times, but I’ve never taken part. I’ve never done anything but witnessed it when I was a boy.
I’m barely able to nod my head.
“Very good,” Marco says, and my father shakes his hand. “You two will do this contract, and you,” Marco points at me, “will break the girl in. I’m sure your father has taught you a thing or two.” Marco winks at my father, who grins proudly. “Then we'll discuss your full payment.”
I blink, surprised. My father has a huge smile on his face. Before I can speak up and tell them that we won’t be taking the contract, Marco stands. My father stands with him, and the two men glance at me. I stand as well, shaken and surprised at this turn of events.
“I trust that you two will come through,” Marco says.
“Of course,” my father responds.
“Good.” Marco nods at me. “Gio, I’ll send you the details so you can pick up the bonus.”
Marco turns and leaves, followed by my cousins.
I grip onto the table as they leave us. “What the fuck just happened?” I hiss at my father.
“I accepted the job,” he says, glaring at me. “What the fuck was that?”
“Nothing,” I say, looking away. I can’t admit to any weakness, especially not now. Not to anyone.
“We’re doing this job,” he says, his tone low and menacing. “You’ll take the girl, and you’ll do what you need to do. Understood?”
“We’ll see,” I push the words out through clenched teeth.
Chapter 5
Gio
* * *
If I’m going to do this, I’m doing it the right way.
That means planning. Preparation. Research. The days are long gone where a hitman could just run into a joint, shoot his gun, and run away. I need to be prepared for absolutely every and any possibility, because it’s all happened to me in the past.
My father gives me shit over the planning, but he didn’t have to deal with what I deal with back when he was still in his prime. Drones, DNA testing - hell, a single hair could give me away. I have to be aware of all of that, every little thing that could possibly give me away and ruin the hit.
This time it’s different. This time I’m being given a new assignment, something I’ve never done before, but at the same time it's something I’m too familiar with.
I lean back in my chair and shake my head, trying not to let myself get lost in those memories again. I pull up my laptop and start researching the girl, Grace. It doesn’t take me long before I find out most of her information.
She’s beautiful, just like Marco said. She’s a mob princess, so she’s probably used to being treated like royalty. Except it’s strange, there’s not a lot of stuff about her on social media. I’d expect a mafia princess like her to have an active Instagram or something, but instead it’s mostly a wasteland.
There are only a few pictures, and her Facebook profile is pretty dormant. It gives me enough to go on, and at least I know what she looks like, but it’s very strange there isn’t more.
I can’t help but wonder about this Grace. Who is she? Who is this woman I’m going to have to break down?
