Page 46 of One for the Money

“Vet, you know an animal doctor?” I explained.

“Hmm, I haven’t heard anything about that, but as for the car bomb, that’s crossed my radar. From what my people have gathered, they believe it’s a turf war, but they can’t seem to decide who it’s between. Some think it’s retaliation from the new mafia queen herself, but I don’t see it. That woman seems to take enjoyment in dealing with things personally, like myself,” Mamba shared with a smirk. “Another theory is that the Leoni Family used to have claim over that area, and we all know what happens when a void is left… people clamor to fill the space. Oh, there was mention of an undercover special ops agent having been kidnapped, and there might have been some small detail about an animal hospital.”

Erik tensed next to me at the mention of his specialized training, which was supposed to be sealed information.

“Can I ask who your sources are because that’s the first I’m hearing of anything to do with an undercover agent,” I said, crossing one leg over the other and relaxing into the seat.

Nothing could give away the fact that I was overly eager to gain this knowledge. If what Mamba had told me was the real story going around the circuit, it would explain why law enforcement was working so hard to find Erik.

“Wolfie, you know I like you, but to ask me something like that sounds to me like you don’t trust my sources. If you don’t trust my sources, then you don’t trust me,” Mamba pointed out. “How can we be partners if there is no trust?”

Partners? Nope, don’t get sidetracked, Von. He’s trying to get me off the subject by making a ridiculous accusation.

“You make a good point, but what if I told you I didn’t trust your source and neither should you?” I countered. “Hold on, let me explain before you get all ruffled. I don’t know if you heard, but a hit has been put out on me by a mysterious person known as The Lady. This lady has been going around spreading lies and rumors about me that aren’t true. So I had to do my own digging, and wouldn’t you know it, The Lady is Serena Accardi. This bitch is doing everything she can to get people to turn on me, but everyone who was anyone knew better than to get into a fight with me. Now she’s left with no choice but to go after the little guys who want to make a name for themselves.”

Mamba’s normally serene face turned into something a bit more frightening. “I’ve heard of The Lady. She came to me with a business proposition a few months ago. She’d heard I was trying to expand my distribution and offered her assistance, but only if I cut all ties with you. Claimed to have someone better who could supply me with weapons.”

Shocked, I leaned forward. “What the hell, Mamba, why didn’t you fucking say anything to me? You call me out for second-guessing sources, but you had some prissy bitch try to steal you out from under me and didn’t say jack shit about it. If anyone should be pissed right now, it’s me.”

“Do you really think I’m that easy to manipulate?” Mamba shot back with a scoff. “I told the cunt to leave and forget my name, or she’d find out how good you are at your job. There was no need to tell you because it wasn’t going to happen. She didn’t do her research or honestly doesn't realize the talent you have for acquiring just about anything from anywhere in the world and making a clean exchange. What this Lady had to offer was insulting to you and me.”

“Still,” I grumbled, rubbing my forehead. “You should have given me a heads-up. I didn’t know anyone was gunning for me until I was almost fucking blown up.”

“What? Are you saying the car bomb was meant for you?” Mamba demanded. I nodded as I crossed my arms, watching the reality sink in. “Does she want to create a war between all the criminal enterprises because that’s what taking you out would bring?”

“Yeah, I don’t think she gives a fuck as long as she gets to be the queen bitch of the mafia. My bestie currently holds that title for good reason. The only way she could possibly achieve that is to take me out along with any other support Astin Caprioni-Raffa has gained. Yet one major problem with her plan is having even considered doing it,” I said, flicking imaginary dirt off my sleeve. “So I’ll ask again, what source told you about the undercover agent?”

“There’s a man who owns a small hotel near the border of Nepreea and Hasnad,” Mamba shared. “I’ve helped to keep his business running by getting his hotel a contract with the government. They stay at his establishment coming and going from Hasnad. As long as he gives me information he’s gleaned from his guests, business will be booming. If what you say is true, then this Lady is manipulating the information, but why? What good would it do for her to find this vet?”

I wagged my finger at him. “Nope, that’s my business to worry about. What I need from you is to keep me in the fucking loop if you hear anything that might be connected to me. Since I didn’t know all the trouble this bitch was causing, I accidentally kicked the hornet’s nest. I’d really prefer not to do that again.”

“Ah, which is why you came up here to lay low,” Mamba mused aloud, connecting the dots. “The address you gave me, is that where you’ll be staying?”

“For what’s left of tonight,” I admitted. “I don’t plan to stay in one place long. I’ve got normal business to deal with on top of this bullshit.”

Mamba smiled widely. “Such tenacity, I find it so alluring on you, Wolfie.” The car came to a stop in front of an apartment building. “I think you and I should have dinner together since you’re in town. I’ll have a car come pick you up on Thursday. The driver will also have an outfit for you since I noticed you didn’t pack a bag.”

The door opened, and Erik jumped out first, but Bear didn’t move, his attention focused on Mamba. My grumpy Bear wasn’t going to leave that spot until I was out of Mamba’s reach.

“Feel free to do as you like,” I answered and gave the man a two-finger salute before exiting the car. A moment later, Bear emerged, and I headed into the apartment building.

“Holy shit, that man is a piece of work,” Erik muttered. “I don’t know how you didn’t stab him in the eye for talking to you like that.”

I laughed and shoved my hands into my jacket. “Silly Big Red, if I killed every man who pissed me off, there wouldn’t be any left in the world. Then who would start wars or feel the need to prove they have the bigger dick and buy my products? Nah, I’ll let a few slide when the money they put in my bank account proves I have the biggest dick of the lot.”

Having cleared that up for him, we headed down the long hall with various elevators to choose from depending on what tower you needed to access. I bypassed them all and shoved open the back exit, revealing a pretty courtyard.

“Ah, where are we going, little siren?” Erik questioned, but his confusion didn’t keep him from following right on my heels as we followed the brick path out to a narrow side alley.

Not giving him an answer, I waited to see just how long he’d last without knowing the plan and being forced to trust me. Bear, of course, knew exactly what was going on and felt no need to enlighten the man.

Like all cities, one block can be full of lavish buildings and high-end stores, then you round the corner and find yourself in an area that makes the hair on the back of your neck tingle. It was the beauty of the urban jungle—you learned to adapt, or you’d get eaten alive. Up ahead, the warm, red glow of a neon sign alerting people they were open was the only light in this section of the alley. Yet when you stopped at the solid metal door, you definitely didn’t get the impression you should be entering, open or not.

I rapped my knuckles on the door, and a concealed speaker crackled to life. “Password.”

“Open the fucking door, you little weasel,” I snapped. “You can damn well see who it is.”

A second later, the door buzzed, and I yanked it open. Bear reached up and caught the door, holding it open for me, then shoved Erik forward when he hesitated. I couldn’t tell why he’d be shying away from entering the backside of a butcher shop. These guys did hard, messy, honest work and had some of the best fucking sausages I’d ever tasted.