Page 16 of The Casella King

Absolutely not.

I cannot let that happen. I need to handle this ASAP.

Grabbing my keys, I head to my mother’s house. The large four-story home comes into view as I step out of my car, handing the keys to the young boy out front. As soon as I walk in, I’m met with my mother showering me with kisses, shoving food in my face, telling me I look skinny and to eat. Which is not true,I am the furthest thing from skinny. I work out twice a day, sometimes three times when I can fit it in, partly because I like to stay fit for my role as the king, and partly because that’s the way I like to fight my demons, unlike Nico who drowns them in a bottle or recreational drugs.

“When’s the last time you’ve eaten?” She hands me a plate of pasta and forces me to sit at the table.

“I won’t say no to your homemade pasta, Mama.” I spoon some pasta and instantly watch my childhood flash before my eyes at the taste of her bolognese. “Where’s Nico?” I ask, because he hasn’t been answering my calls since he left the office.

“He will be here shortly. He said he needed to take care of a couple of things first,” she explains.

“Well, I’m sure you’re aware of what’s happened with the Brayfords.” I wipe my mouth and stare up at her. “Mama, I need you to know that Nico and I will need to do the next bit together. I know you hesitate whenever this is necessary, but it needs to be done, to show our power, our place at the top of the food chain, and it most likely won’t be the last.”

The Brayford family have been our enemy since I can remember. It’s always been blood for blood between our families, and generations later, it remains unchanged. What’s ironic is our ancestors were once allies. Working together to rule London. Each taking a cut of the pie, but something changed.

Someone got greedy.

The Brayfords blame us, and we blame them.

The age-old blood feud.

She pauses a moment before nodding. “Be careful,per favore.” The door to the dining room opens and in walks Nico, striding through the room and dropping into the seat next to me.

“Brother.” He nods.

“Are you drunk?” I ask, looking at him dead in the eyes.

“No.”

“Are you high?”

“No.”

“Great, get your shit. We have work to do.” I take out my handguns, placing them on the table, then checking one by one, bullet by bullet, counting who I’m going to murder.

Nico stays there next to me, watching as I place the guns back into my holster.

“If you’re not serious about this, don’t fucking come.” My voice is harsher than I mean it to be, but I can’t fuck this up.

This is on me now.

“No, I want to.” He stands, straightening himself up.

“Good, because I need you, brother,” I say as he looks to me, pausing, then nods, gritting his teeth.

The engine roars as we fly through the streets, without a moment to lose, the boys following us from behind in black vans.

I kick the doors open to the bar and walk in, aiming my two gold handguns in the direction of two men on opposite sides of the room, Nico standing beside me.

“Send him out boys, no one has to get hurt here!” I yell, making sure everyone heard me.

A dark figure emerges from the back of the bar, walking around it, clapping his hands slowly. “Well done, Ezra. I didn’t think you’d actually show up.” His two gold front teeth come into view first, then the rest of his distorted, ugly face. “I thought you’d send your men to do your bidding, you know, like with the two other clubs. Too much of a fucking pussy to do it yourself.”

I grit my teeth at his words, promising myself that I will make him eat each and every one of them. “Send out the boys, and I won’t put a bullet in your skull.”

“Such a generous offer from such a novice player.” He chuckles, his scar stretching with his smile.

“Come now, Charlie, we both know you’re outgunned and outmanned. Put your guns down, or there will be blood.” My heart thumps faster at the promise of a fight, a bloodbath.

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