Page 49 of Blood & Heartache

“Now you’re splitting hairs. First, you say it has to be a man and related, but yet interestingly enough, being a full sibling isn’t required,” I commented, shoving away from the wall and starting to pace. “Tell me this, since when have you ever had aspirations to lead the Family?”

“Since Colmazio became ill… so a few years ago,” he answered. “I’d already come back from working with Astin, and while we were gone, Colmazio started to stumble. In many ways, it was like Mathis and I were running things, only having Colmazio sign papers and double-check what we’d already done. Hell, I’m the one who settled on Mayor Wilson. Thankfully, I ensured having the deputy mayor my top pick as well.”

Turning on my heel, I faced him. “Interesting choice in Wilson. What made you land on him versus Bradshaw? I’d have thought he’d have been a shoo-in with how we’d helped to save his business from going under during the recession. That man owed us, and we could have cashed in at any point.”

“Yes, but what then?” he countered. “Once the debt had been paid, what leverage did we hold over him then? Wilson was someone we could mold and create the perfect ally over his term. Then we could use him as we found best.”

“Okay, then why was it that his goddamn assistant managed to control the narrative and get him to push an initiative to crack down on drugs? Nothing about that would be helpful to us,” I argued.

This question seemed to stump Athos and, in turn, enraged him to the point of grabbing one of the chairs and hurling it at the wall. “That was never supposed to happen, but Colmazio was becoming more and more incompetent in his job. It’s why he pulled in Astin far sooner than was planned. The plan had always been when we knew the right people had been put into place for her to be guarded and supported by others, then she could be brought back home. Mazi, the bastard, brought her back too soon, and the wrong people were in place.”

Nothing he was saying made sense. I’d been there when they talked about the plan for Astin and not once had Boss felt Astin needed more protection than her band of loyal lieutenants. We were brought on, trained, and mentored, knowing the person we were to give our loyalty to was the new underboss. Of course, I was the only one who knew precisely who that was, but the other men had been aware it would start to stir change in the order of things.

“Who were the wrong people?” I questioned, feeling this might give me a better clue.

“Gunner was the only one of my choices I’d been able to get into the group. Of course, there was no way you weren’t going to be chosen, but I wasn’t going to fight it, not if my other choices were picked,” Athos muttered. “They were supposed to be men who understood change needed to happen but not the way Mazi was going to do it. Astin needed to pick a husband, who would be a good leader for our people, but my people weren’t picked.”

“Gunner was your choice to lead the Family? Athos, the man can’t stomach something like that, and the Family would eat him alive,” I challenged.

Athos scoffed. “Gunner was a choice, but he wasn’t one of my ringers I knew would be just what Astin needed and take a firm grip on leading us. If I couldn’t be the one to lead, then someone who shared the same vision as I did should. Trouble is… Astin isn’t just any woman. She’s the heir to the Caprioni and the Raffa Families. If those two powers were combined, it would cause chaos in the ranks, and she’d hold more power than anyone before. The founding families can’t let that happen. If she takes her place here, they’ll send more than a jaded stepmother and a greedy mob boss to come after her.”

Fear trickled through my veins like icy water at his last comment. There had been hints here and there that they might be the real danger, but I’d hoped it was a mistake. If the founding families were truly gunning for Astin, then Athos was right.

This was just the beginning.

“They wanted to take Boss out before Astin got home, didn’t they,” I whispered. “Harrison got cold feet over killing his friend and chickened out. Then Astin arrived and started to pull the blindfold off everyone about what was going on right under their noses.”

“Damn woman is far too clever and smart for her own good,” Athos spat. “If Colmazio had just dropped the idea, none of this would have had to happen. Harvey would have vanished, and Flora would have been able to live her life as she pleased, giving us the chance to be together. If divorce was even an option, it would never have been permitted for us to marry. The rules would have stated she be cut off from the Family as well as from the marriage. Then again, Astin did it to her anyway at the funeral, for fuck’s sake.”

“All of this…” I started, then paused to rub a hand over my face. “Holy fuck, all of this was about keeping Astin from taking the throne, so to speak? Your own brother was killed in all this, and you’re still toeing the company line? What do they have on you? There must be something for you to bow down to their whims.”

“They have nothing on me, only a promise that I’ll be Boss by the end of this,” Athos announced. “My people are already in place. If Astin doesn’t let me out of here and continues withholding the oath ritual tonight… blood will be spilled.”

“Funny you should say that because as far as Astin’s concerned, your blood is already on her hands. Your death will show the Family that no one is safe and all will be held accountable for their actions. Athos, you’ve committed the greatest sin not once but twice, and I’m going to ensure you face the choices you’ve made.” Advancing on him, I pulled out the syringe from my pocket and yanked off the cap with my teeth as I grabbed the man, pinning him to the floor. “I’m gonna have you sleep for a while. Wouldn’t want to risk you trying to hurt yourself before you’ve had the chance to pay for your sins.”

Pushing the plunger down, Athos struggled a moment more before going limp. This cocktail was a mixture of a sedative and a paralytic in case the sedative wore off faster. I wasn’t going to let him have the easy way out, not after he sold his soul to the devil. He’d face the Family and on bended knee to our leader, knowing his traitorous blood would be spilled and his corpse spat upon as it’s thrown out with the trash. Erring on the side of caution, I had my men remove the table and chairs from the room as well, leaving nothing for him to use, even going as far as following prison protocol—no belt, shoelaces, or jewelry, only the shirt on his back and the pants on his legs. I also instructed that frequent checks were to be made to cover all my bases.

Leaving the room, I turned to head back upstairs, knowing I needed to tell Astin all of this, but something stopped me. Instead, I headed to where Gunner was being held. I’d listened to him over the phone, but through the whole interaction, I felt like something wasn’t quite right. The things he said didn’t seem like the man I’d gotten to know over the last few years. For my own peace of mind, I decided having a conversation was what needed to happen.

Weaving my way through the maze of halls, I came to the room where Gunner had been stashed. I’d made sure he was in an actual cell with a bed and bathroom for him since we didn’t know how long he’d be there. I even made sure someone brought him real meals when it came time to eat. He might be a prisoner, but I truly didn’t think it was his fault he ended up like this. Gunner and I might not have been the best of friends, but I felt like I’d gotten to know him enough to understand something more was going on. If he’d been hand-picked by Athos, that meant the man felt like he had a connection to Gunner and could control him in some manner. While Athos made it clear he hadn’t been the first pick, it didn’t matter now. He was in and right where the bastard wanted him to be. I knocked first before entering, giving the guy a chance to pull himself together.

Boykov had stripped him of his weapons and left them in a lockbox outside the room. Each weapon was tied to the person with blood and a serial number. Like the police, we didn’t want just anyone getting hold of Gunner’s weapons and causing trouble. Better to keep them locked away where we could keep an eye on them. I also hadn’t felt the need to put a guard at his door—these cells were far more secure than the interrogation rooms. Unlocking the heavy metal door, I slid it open just enough to allow me entry and let it automatically shut behind me.

“Man, you look like shit,” I commented, taking in Gunner’s appearance.

Gunner’s normal orderly presence was gone as everything about him looked rumpled. His shirt was half untucked, top buttons open, and sleeves haphazardly rolled up. There was no sign of his tie, but knowing Boykov, he’d have taken every precaution since I didn’t see the man’s shoes either. Lifting his head out of his hands where he sat on the bed, I was hit with just how tortured Gunner really was. The marks under his eyes from not sleeping were dark and made his dark blue eyes stand out. His dirty blond hair was sticking up in all directions adding to his crazed appearance.

“I feel like shit,” Gunner mumbled. “How long have I been down here? Never thought not having a clock to track the passing of time would be as torturous as it is.”

“About half a day, maybe a little longer,” I shared.

Walking over, I took a seat beside him and let out a sigh. “Look, no one knows I’m down here talking to you, but I had to try and understand what the hell is going on in your head. I’ve been working with you for years, and I’ve never heard you talk like you did to Astin. If you truly feel that the mafia is evil, then why the fuck are you here in the first place?”

“Well, you came at a good time because all I’ve had to do down here is think. About my life, my choices, and how the hell I ended up locked away in a cell, knowing death is the only fate I have to look forward to,” Gunner said as he wrung his hands absently. “What would my mother think of me now? She raised all three of us on her own after my dad died and always taught us to be smart and hardworking. So how the fuck did I end up here?”

“You tell me,” I countered. “I don’t really know how you got introduced to the business or who vouched for you to be brought into the fold.”

Gunner sighed before he started speaking again, “I was working for the competition when Athos and Mathis came to sign contracts with my employer for a new building project. I’d just graduated from law school and thought I knew everything, so I demanded to look over the contract once more before they signed it.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I found a clause they’d snuck in that would change the amount we got paid if we ran behind or didn’t meet the agreed-upon deadline. My boss was thrilled, of course, that I’d caught it, but Mathis was pissed. The second the contract was renegotiated, had my stamp of approval, and was signed, Athos offered me a job. He told me he’d double whatever I was making, but I had to decide right then and there if I was going to take it. In the office, everyone talked about Caprioni Enterprises and how it was the elite company to work for, but they were extremely exclusive. The fact they were asking me on the spot to take an entry-level position was like getting handed the golden ticket, or so I thought, which is why I accepted and left with them right then and there.”