Page 28 of Mob Queen

The tension in the room eases once Elena is gone and we start the meeting. But while the men seem to have relaxed, I can’t stop thinking about the poor girl and what she’s suffering at the hands of her father.

There’s a lot of bullshit going around, but I’m done with this. “Cut the shit, Don Augusta, why did you call this meeting?”

The Saccos snort with a chortle. Petro flicks them a murderous stare. Dominic takes a cigarette out and lights it.

Petro stops himself from snarling at me, because he knows that whatever the reason for this meeting, he needs me more than I need him. Regardless of the fact that we need to pass through his territory. “Sit.” He pointedly looks toward the couches, before he walks over and sits in the single armchair. I take a deep breath, glance toward G before heading over and sitting on the edge of one sofa. Ruben mimics me and plonks on the other side, and Vitale sits on his own on the second sofa. The rest of our boys each stand behind their Don. “I have a problem that’s not going away.”

“That seems like a problem you should take care of,” Alessandro says.

“The Scalas are breathing down my neck.”

Good, let them take him out.

“The Scalas?” Don Sacco asks. I catch a brief glance between him and Dominic. It was so quick that I’m positive no one else saw it, but I did. They’re worried.

“What do you need?” I ask the question I’m sure is burning on everyone’s lips.

“I need them gone.”

“I’m not backing a war with the Scalas,” I say straight out. Petro’s jaw jumps as he glances toward me then to the Saccos and Venanzis. “What have you done to warrant the Scalas coming for you?”

“Nothing!” Petro replies with haste. It’s easy to see that he’s lying about something.

“I stand with Don DeLuca,” Ruben Sacco says.

“This isn’t my war,” Vitale adds. “I’m out.”

“If we don’t band together, then Scalas will wipe me out, and when they take over they won’t allow you access through my territory.” Petro is spooked by them, but something is telling me that there’s so much more to this than he’s letting on.

I stand and take a step away from the sofa. “This is your problem.” I pointedly look to the other Dons and acknowledge them all with a slight nod. “Good evening, gentlemen.” G is already ahead of me, opening the door so we can leave.

By the time we’re out in front of the club, Dario is pulling up with the car. The club door opens and I turn to see Ruben and his nephew walking out. “Frank,” he calls. I stop walking toward the car and wait for Ruben. “Something’s going on with Petro.”

“I thought the same.”

“I don’t like the way he treats his daughter.” I arch a brow and wait for him to say more. “I know you don’t like it either.” I slowly lift my shoulder, as if to say, it is what it is. Ruben looks around and smirks. “I think we need to take care of business.”

I see, Don Sacco wants us to team up with him and get rid of Petro. “Venanzi?”

“He’s a man who doesn’t like the way Petro treats his daughter either.”

“She’s not our responsibility.”

“No, she’s not. But if he treats her like that, how does he treat the merchandise in his whorehouses?”

Something I’ve thought about too. I wipe my thumb across my lower lip and nod. “The possibilities are endless, aren’t they?” I say to Don Sacco with a small smile on my lips. I clap a hand to his shoulder before turning to leave. “We should meet.” And with those words, I slide into the back of the car and G closes the door. The moment he’s in the car, Dario drives away from the club.

“You can’t start a war with the Scalas.” G turns in his seat to face me. “They’re a powerful family.”

“I have no intentions of doing anything with the Scalas. I’m not overly keen on the way they run their operation.” I click my tongue to the roof of my mouth. “But I also don’t like the way Augusta treats his daughter.”

G’s brows rise. “None of us did,” he says. “I saw the way Ruben’s nephew sneered when they were manhandling the girl.” G snickers under his breath. “Now, if you want to take Augusta, I’m sure the other two wouldn’t mind.”

“I’m not starting a war with anyone, G.”

“You said to Sacco that you should meet.”

“I did,” I confirm.

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