Page 14 of Mafia Mistress

No, she hadn’t told me. Between the drugs, the flight and the stabbing, there hadn’t been much time for conversation. But then she’d somehow found time to tell my son.

I cleared my throat. “Good. You’re excused.” I motioned toward the door.

After he left, I leaned back in my chair. “He took that well, considering.”

“He is loyal,” Marco said. “A dutiful son.”

Yes, he was. I stroked my jaw. “It’s better that she likes him.”

“It sounds as if you are convincing yourself. Are you feeling guilty?”

I was, but I would never admit it. “You are my oldest and closest friend, my family, but even that has its limits.”

“No, it doesn’t. I’m the only one who will put up with your moods. By the way, Mancini has apologized for letting her escape. Said he’s dealt with the security on that part of his wall.”

I grunted and flexed my injured hand. Mancini had underestimated Francesca, something I would never do again, now that I knew what she was capable of. “Good. Maybe he’ll keep better watch over the other two daughters.”

“He also demanded to attend the wedding, whenever it takes place.”

Che palle. Mancini was not the one who made demands in our relationship. “I’ll consider it.”

“He is the girl’s father, Rav. No father would like to be kept from his daughter’s wedding.”

I glared at my cousin. “You have work to do, no?” We had hundreds of operations to oversee, stretching from Siderno to Milan, Sao Paulo to Montreal. We supplied more cocaine and heroin to Europe and the United States than just about anyone else. Marco was instrumental in much of it.

“Not tonight,” he said, rising. “I am staying in to watch a film with Maria.”

Marco’s marriage had been happier than mine, as he’d actually fallen in love with his wife. Their three sons were already powerful members of the Ravazzani ’ndrina. I tried to tell myself I wasn’t envious, but that was a lie. “I keep telling you to find a mantenuta. Less work than a wife.”

“Not necessary. I’ll leave the mistresses to you, cugino.”

“It’s not healthy for a Calabrian man to stay faithful to his wife for so many years. Your balls will shrivel up and fall off.”

He laughed on his way to the door. “Maria would cut them off herself if I ever kept a mantenuta. Good night, Rav.”

I shook my head and looked at my empty glass as I considered the rest of my evening. Anger and guilt roiled in my gut, my body tired but pulled taut, like a wire. Sleep would not come anytime soon.

There was only one thing to do. I picked up my phone and scrolled through my contacts. When I found the name I wanted, I started typing.

Fifteen minutes. Be ready to get fucked hard.

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