Page 59 of Cavaliere

“Got it, boss,” Alessio calls after me.

“He always takes away my fun.” I hear Gio whine.

I shake my head. Fucking Gio.

The front office is on the ground floor, right by the building entrance. If it wasn’t for the office sign hanging on for dear life on the door, I would have thought it was a supply closet.

I don’t bother knocking. Pleasantries are for people who have earned my respect, not a lowlife landlord who preys on his tenants because he knows they don’t have an option to go anywhere else or the means to stand up to him.

“Do I need to fine every single person in this building again? What part of “my office is off limits” do you fuckers not understand?” The fat, greasy piece of shit that I’m assuming is the owner grunts from behind a desk, focused on the papers in front of him.

“I’m not one of your “fuckers”, Dennis,” I say, keeping my tone even. There’s a reason my family runs most of this city. With the exception of Gio, who is a loose cannon, the Adduci men are masters at never letting emotion show.

Dennis’ head shoots up, his face looking ready for a fight. “Who the fuck—” he starts before his face blanches as he really takes me in, recognition flaring in his bloodshot eyes. Yeah, motherfucker. It’s me. “Oh, shit.”

I say nothing as my eyebrow arches.

“Look, man. I don’t⁠—”

“I’m not your man either, Dennis,” I cut him off, stepping closer to the desk.

Dennis takes out a dirty handkerchief from his back pocket to dab the sweat that is beading on his forehead. No wonder why this place fucking stinks.

“I don’t know why you’re here, but I didn’t do it,” he rushes out.

Interesting. Do we have a guilty conscience?

“You know who I am.” It’s not a question.

“Y-yes. Mr. Adduci. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard nothing but great things.” My lip curls up in disgust at the change in his demeanor. There’s nothing I hate more than a sleazy kiss-ass. It’s insulting, really. They’re all too cocky for their own good. That’s why they all eventually end up burned to a fucking crisp from a car fire. A fire they caused, of course. “What can I help you with?”

“Wren Barlowe.”

“Wren Barlowe…” Dennis’ voice trails off like he’s trying to think of who she is when we both know he knows exactly who I’m fucking talking about. This man is severely testing my patience. Gio might just get his way today.

“You know exactly who Wren Barlowe is.” It takes everything in me to not grab him by the back of the head and bash his face into the desk until there's a pool of blood on the floor.

“Oh, yeah.” He tries to laugh it off as he leans back in his chair, his hand fidgeting on his desk. “Long black hair, bright blue eyes. A man doesn’t forget a face like hers. She’s a pretty thing.”

Wrong thing to say.

I move quickly, flicking my switchblade open and stabbing it right through the center of his hand. Dennis screams loudly, reaching for the blade and trying to pull it out.

“No, no, no,” I scold. “You don’t strike me as a stupid man, Dennis.” You look like a fucking idiot to me.

“I’m—I’m not,” he cries. “Please! Just take it out!”

“Then you should know it’s very stupid to talk about my woman like that,” I continue to scold, twisting the knife ever so slightly, making him scream again. “Especially to my fucking face.”

“I didn’t know she was yours!”

“Now you do.” I shrug.

“Did you seriously start without me?” Gio whines as he steps into the office with Alessio in tow.

Dennis’ eyes widen as he takes in all three of us crowding his office. “Please don’t kill me,” he barely whispers.

“Kill you?” Gio laughs. “But we haven’t had the pleasure of having fun yet. We’re just getting started, man. You’ll like my version of fun better, I promise. My knife is bigger.” Gio has a glint in his eye as he smiles down at Dennis.