Page 11 of Mob Queen

Those fuckers think they can get away with touching my girls without consent...they’d better watch their backs.

Chapter 4

Frankie

My world has stopped.

Dad’s casket is surrounded by hundreds of our men who are spilling over outside the crypt. Rome and I are closest to Dad’s casket while the priest finishes the service.

There’s a sea of people dressed in black as far as the eye can see. Most are my men, but some are other families who’ve come to pay their respects, or to ensure Dad is finally dead.

Time seems to move slowly as I stare at the casket. My brother slips his fingers through mine and gives them a gentle squeeze. I can’t drag my eyes away from the casket though. My father was a man who was bigger than life. He was tall, over six-foot-four and this coffin makes him look like a mere man. A human. Not a god or a leader or a pillar amongst his men.

“Frank,” Rome whispers and gestures toward the door of the crypt.

I wish I could cry, to let the emotions flood through me. But, I can’t. I can’t be seen as weak or frail. If I collapse now, the men won’t take me seriously. I’ll hold onto the tears until I’m alone.

I pull my shoulders back and lift my chin as I head out of the crypt.

G is behind me and Rome is by my side. I head for the car, but I’m stopped by Ruben Sacco and his nephew Dominic. “Don DeLuca,” Ruben says.

“Don Sacco,” I acknowledge.

“Your father was a great man, and I know he trained you well.” He reaches out to shake my hand. I extend my hand to shake his, then Dominic’s. “I look forward to working with you.”

“I do too,” I say.

“Don DeLuca,” Dominic acknowledges as he tips his head and steps to the side.

Rome and I continue to the car, where Dario already has the back door open for us. We slide into the back, and G sits in the front passenger seat. Once Dario is in, we slowly head out of the cemetery and I take a breath of relief. “What was all that about?” Rome jerks his head to the side.

“That was Ruben Sacco and his underboss, who’s also his nephew.”

“They were the only ones to stop you.”

“Because they don’t believe in pissing competitions,” G adds.

Rome brows furrow. “The others who didn’t come were disrespecting you?”

“When there’s a change of management, there will always be the people who are resistant to it. But the other Dons don’t worry me, not today.”

“Why?” Rome asks, seeming genuinely intrigued.

“Because today there is no war with any other family,” G says. “Think of it as parley.”

“A ceasefire?”

“Of sorts. But once the clock strikes midnight, then it’s back to business,” I say.

Rome scoffs. “So glad I left this shit behind. I’m not envious of you, Frank.”

“She’s in good hands,” G snaps defensively.

“G.” I lean forward and place my hand on his shoulder. “He was never part of this life. He’s only asking questions.”

G looks back to my brother with a serious glare. I pull my hand back and recline in the seat. “We’re on skeleton staff down at the docks because they all wanted to come to the house and show their respect to you.”

“Good,” I say and stare out the window. So they should, although I’m not fond of being so exposed.

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