Sal claps his hands together. “I’m grateful for your return, son. Now all we need is Jensen to come home too.”
He makes us sound like the damn Brady Bunch. Only, this family has machetes and machine guns.
Sal grins from ear to ear. “All my boys together again. I couldn’t be happier.”
Fan-fucking-tastic.
CHAPTER FOUR
MASSIO
“What are we doing here again?” I turn toward Miko, and the deranged look in his eyes tells me I’m about to find out the answer to my question.
“Follow me,” he says, opening his car door to step out.
I take a deep breath and follow his lead. Then I glance up at the building that looks like it needs condemned. Just what the hell are we doing here?
Miko’s gaze bounces over the building, then he tilts his head toward the alleyway at the side of it. “Miko?” I groan, and his eyebrows dance with glee.
The fucker looks deranged at the best of times, so throw in some excitement, and he appears a bona fide lunatic.
Still, I follow my brother.
I take note of the lack of cameras and security, and when he pounds on the metal door, I register the lone set of footsteps heading our way.
The door is thrown open, and a man vaguely familiar fills the space. It’s been so long since I’ve been home, and everyone has changed and aged, so I struggle to pinpoint his name.
“Crest.” He holds out his thick hand as I step inside the dank space.
Ahh, Crest Neilson. Last I knew, he was a foot soldier working his way through the ranks of La Familia. A keen sniper in the forces, if I remember right, before he was summoned home, career over and Mafia life determined. I give him a chin lift and take in the building.
A familiar cage sits in the center of the space. Not just any cage, but a fighting cage, otherwise known as a pit. One in the shape of an octagon to keep fighters from becoming trapped in the corners.
Excitement rushes through me.
“New business venture.” Miko grins, and I swear it’s enough to give nightmares.
Miko and Crest talk while I take a look around, noting the potential of the building.
There’s enough space for a bar, a dance floor, and a DJ booth; for spectators to stand and sit. I open one of the doors, a locker room, and maybe beyond that, we could install shower stalls too.
“What’s the history of the place?” I shout over my shoulder as I move on to the next room, one that could be used for meetings or as a VIP area.
“Small-time gang lost the place in a fight.” Crest chuckles.
Brow furrowed, I poke my head out the door. “To who?”
“To us.” Miko’s grin widens, reminding me of the Joker, and I shake my head.
“And who’s going to manage this place?” We’re already thin on the ground with Jensen being away, though he is coming back soon and does have experience with underground fight clubs. Along with auction houses, human trafficking… I grimace at thethought of some of my brother’s experiences and knowledge. It’s far darker than my own, and for that, I’m thankful Vinny was never as notorious for his brutality on innocents.
“You,” Miko tacks on, as if it’s nothing, and I turn to face him. He gives me a shrug. “Sal seems to think you’ll be sticking around.” He lifts an eyebrow.
How can I argue? As of yet, my only plan is to fuck up Veronica’s life. “Hmm…” I turn back toward the open space behind the cage. A bar would look perfect over there, and add some mirrored tiles above the bar and lasers to the beams, it would look impressive. We could turn this place around in a couple of months, I’m sure of it.
“We have a fight here next month,” Miko says, and I rear back, eyes wide.
What the fuck? “Next month?” Is he serious? The place needs a hell of a lot of work. There’s no way in hell it can be ready by next month. “Do we even have any fighters?”
