Page 26

I clenched my fist on the counter. This mid-level Italian bastard was still trying to undermine me because he was a cousin twice removed from the Gambino family.

“Get Marco and Priest,” I said. “We’re going to him.”

“When?”

“Now.”

I got dressed in black jeans, a black tee, and Timbs. I tucked my 9mm in the waist of my jeans and opened my text thread with Belle. The last message was her sending me her address earlier in the week. My thumb hovered over the keyboard for a second. I shook my head, putting the phone in my pocket, and left.

Marco, Priest, and Yomi met me at the Hunts Point warehouse. Marco was already in the black Escalade. Priest and Yomi were talking quietly, glancing at me as I got out of my car.

I’d known Marco since we were kids—his father was a soldier under my pops, and Marco got pulled into the life with very little say, just like I did. We grew up learning the same rules before we understood what they’d cost us. He was one of the realest niggas I knew. When shit went sideways, he was the first one moving. I was planning on making him my consigliere once I officially took over the family.

“We know where he’s going to be?” I asked Yomi.

“His restaurant in Hoboken,” Priest said as he opened the passenger door for me. “He eats lunch there every Saturday.”

I nodded and dapped up Marco.

“He’ll have a few guys with him, but no heavy detail. Three max,” Marco said.

The drive to Jersey was quiet. My mind drifted back to last night.

Belle was fine as hell and she knew it. It wasn’t her beauty that had me stuck though. It was that slick-ass mouth of hers. I’d spent so much time around women who were so focused on impressing me, I forgot what it felt like to have someone push back. She might’ve been impressed by the helicopter, but it wasn’t necessarily enough to keep her around. We could never speak again, and she’d probably wouldn’t give a fuck. And that fucking kiss.

I shifted in my seat and forced my brain to switch gears. I couldn’t handle business with this woman on my mind. I needed to focus.

Victor’s restaurant was in the Little Italy section of Hoboken by the waterfront. It was an old school mom and pop joint with checkered tablecloths and Frank Sinatra playing. We parked across the street while Marco confirmed that Victor was inside with two guys. The block was busy enough that nobody would think twice about three Black men walking into a mob affiliated establishment.

The hostess glanced up from her phone with a smile that dropped the moment her eyes landed on us. Obviously, the only time a group of big Black dudes came through was for business.

“Hey, beautiful,” I said. “We’re looking for Mr. Castellano, he’s expecting us.”

She swallowed and licked her lips nervously. “He’s in the back.”

We walked past the lunch crowd and spotted Victor in the back booth, polishing off a cannoli and an espresso, with two guys flanking him.

Victor saw me and his hand with the cannoli stopped halfway to his mouth.

“Cardez,” he said, setting the pastry down. “We didn’t have a meeting on the books today.”

I pulled a chair from an empty table and sat across from him. “What did I say was gonna happen if I had to bring my ass to talk to you face-to-face, Victor?”

“Listen, I spoke to Orlando and⁠—”

I slammed my fist on the table. “I look like I give a fuck you spoke to my father?”

One of his guys shifted and put his hand inside his jacket.

Victor wiped his mouth with his napkin and raised a hand. “There were complications. Some supply chain issues.” He was trying to keep his voice steady, but I saw the sweat forming at his temples. “My people in⁠—”

“Victor,” I said, leaning forward. “I gave you a full week to make this thing right. And instead of delivering or doing literally anything that showed me you respected this relationship, you were playing hide and seek, dodging Yomi’s calls. And before all that, you called my father like a fucking bitch.”

His jaw tightened. “I called Orlando because⁠—”

“You called him because you thought he’d get me off your back. But like I said, I run this.” I sat back. “So, here’s what’s gonna happen.”

I nodded at Priest.