“We…won’t,” he answered with a yawn. “Sorry, it’s been a long night.”
“Are you all rotating?” They needed to be in top form should someone start some shit.
“Yeah, but we should have picked up a shittier ride. Too many eyes, and I’m not talking about the tweakers; the gangs are watching and wondering.”
“Be careful and protect my future wife.”
“Of course, Elio, of course.” I ended the call and leaned back in my leather chair, attempting to calm down when Iwas anything but calm. She lived in the fucking hood and was surrounded by filth and trouble. The risk to her life was her everyday struggle, and I planned to take that away.
I went back to my visual obsession and scrolled through her pages. Most of the photos were taken in group selfies, and thankfully, there were only a couple of men in the pictures. If even one of them put their hands on her, I’ll tear them apart. I didn’t even know this woman, but she’d accidentally made herself my obsession. Her connection to Joey drew my attention, and now she was in my path. I was on my way to claim my wife today.
Just staring at her photos, my cock throbbed in my dress pants. I didn’t need to be stroking myself in the middle of my office before fucking breakfast, so I tried to squeeze away the pressure building in my sack, but it was no use. Quickly, I unbuckled my belt and unzipped my pants, pulling my hard dick from my briefs. The thick monster was so greedy for Ana that it wouldn’t take long for me to nut. I stroked it once and then my damn phone rang, stopping my need temporarily.
“Boss, we have a problem. Joey just booked a flight from Chicago to Texas.” My brow furrowed and my lips clamped shut. After all the years of service and loyalty to my family, that motherfucker betrayed me. I’d hoped he hadn’t, but we’d thought something wasn’t adding up, and now here we were. My heart sank with the news that he’d gone past the grace I’d silently given him.
For me, money wasn’t the problem, loyalty was. I allowed a few days for my money to reappear. After all, as one of my runners, he could easily make up the money, so it wouldn’t be a big concern, but now he was doing a different kind of running.
“Bring him in. Untouched. I want a word before I take care of business.” My chest actually ached at what I’d have to do. Lessons needed to be taught no matter what our relationship would be. When one of your men breaks the honor code, forgiveness can rarely be given, especially because he’d proven his dedication last year.
I waited, poured myself a stiff glass. At twenty-five, I’d taken over for my Zio Gabriele, who moved back to the old country to handle family matters with my ailing grandparents and the family business there. Unfortunately, that left both legal and illegal affairs to me. It took me two whole years to earn the proper respect. I had to make a point.
Slowly pacing my office, my suit jacket grew uncomfortably tight. I slid it off and then tossed it over the back of my chair. My guns were visible now, which was good because I wanted him to flinch, to feel the fear, and answer my questions as honestly as a man who had everything to lose would even though in my heart, I had no intention of killing him.
The wait annoyed me, and my temper picked up. I had better things to do with my time: like prepare to retrieve my future bride. Until her, my world was full of people looking to win my favor, begging for money, and women hoping to be in my bed, which wouldn’t happen.
I prided myself on the fact that I didn’t lower myself to just fuck anything. My standards were high, and unless she wore my damn ring, she didn’t deserve the next generation of DeSalvos inside her. Some would say I was crazy and missing out, but I saw how miserable some of these assholes were and how nuts some of these women were.
There was a loud knock on the door, and then another. I opened it and it was Joey’s head that hit it.
“Please, guys, what’s all this about?” he asked with the sack over his head. Frankie and Paul shoved him onto a chair in front of my desk. “Guys, what the hell?” They yanked the cover from his head, and then he saw my face, and color bled from his face.
“Oh, so you know why you’re here, don’t you, Joey?” I smirked at him. His right leg shook violently, and then I remembered he’d been shot there last year when he took a bullet for me. Fuck, it pissed me off that he’d screw up like this.
“Don DeSalvo, I swear I’m going to pay you back.” I tilted my head with brows raised, my intent so damn clear on my face that he couldn’t mistake the rage coming at him. My fist met his gut. He sputtered and coughed.
I gripped the back of his head and stared him dead in the eyes. “Interesting way of doing so, skipping town and all.”
“It’s not like that. I swear.” I scoffed because they all said that kind of shit when they begged for their lives. “It isn’t. I was coming back, but it’s a family emergency, my niece.” Emergency? Did he know I was going to snatch her and was trying to grab her first? Did my men’s arrival frighten her, and did she call her uncle in fear? They did mention how obvious their presence was to the area. Maybe she caught wind of them and hid at her other job just a little longer, hoping they were gone.
I sent a text to Marco.Check on her and make sure she’s still there. I have a feeling she might have given you the slip.
Frankie smacked the back of his head. “You ain’t got no family.” I lifted my head and gave him a look. He stepped back and remembered his place. It was one of the things that pissedme off about him. He always had a hard time staying in line. He used to be a favorite of my Zio, but I never liked the prick.
“I do. I just don’t talk about them,” he insisted, voice cracking. I understood why, and it pissed me off because she could have been mine for several years now.
“Why not?” I questioned. He’d been with us for five years, and secrets weren’t acceptable, especially when it came to Ana Maria.
He sighed, and then finally said, “Because my brother’s a fuck-up. The kind of fuck-up that will get someone killed or in jail, but it’s not him that I’m worried about. I try to protect my niece from this life.” He dropped his head.
“Don’t give me no fucking sob story, Joey. Why the fuck did you try to run out with my money?” I asked. I saw the truth in his eyes, but it angered me because I wanted her by my side and he deprived me of that.
“Jack got into some shit. He’s hooked on some heavy drugs and got into it with some gangs back home. Now they want their money, and they’re looking for payment, and my sweet niece has been dodging them. She had to drop out of college because of him.” He shook his head, anger building on his face as he said it.
That prick of a father needed to pay for it. I had no idea about all of that. My research had been slim because I’d made up my mind two days ago what I’d do. Everything only went into motion this morning. Things don’t roll as fast as most would believe they do. I had problems here that needed handling first.
“Ana Maria has had to work odd jobs to pay their bills since he can’t keep a damn job. I had to send her the money to pay off his drug debts once. I warned him to cut ties with thosefucks because I couldn’t get mixed up in it again, but she called saying they were back, and she hasn’t heard from her father.”
“So why didn’t you come to us?” I questioned. If he’d come to me, I would have taken care of the problem instantly, and my bride would have been at my side immediately.
