Page 112 of Maddest Temptation

“Grigori needed to solidify our alliance, he has a son and I have a daughter, you refused to come willingly, so I took you.”

My nostrils flared. “Why?” my voice came out weak. He understood what I asked.

“Because Cassio Moretti has no idea what’s he’s doing. He’s a boy playing at being Boss. The Outfit needs a man, someone who knows how to rule.”

“And that’s you,” I said with distaste. He smiled, put his cigar in his mouth and left me there. “You already have me,” I shouted. “Leave Cassio alone.”

Donato paused, turned around, took his cigar from his mouth, and shook his head. “And where’s all the fun in that?” His face morphed into anger. “Send the picture, we don’t have all day. It’s about time Cassio Moretti paid for his sins.”

34

CASSIO

Isat at the table with some of my underbosses, some whom I knew I could trust and who had been loyal to me and my father. Those I knew hated Donato just as I did. As much as I wanted to head to his house and shoot the man, I couldn’t. I needed to do it through the right channels.

The Outfit was a well-oiled machine, and even if I ruled it, there were still processes, laws, and codes I had to follow. Donato was one of the highest-ranking members, and I needed the vote of at least half of my underbosses to sanction his death. Betrayal was a crime that no Made Man would stand to accept.

Which didn’t surprise me when everyone in the room voted in favor of his death. “My men will stand with you, Cassio,” Fabrizio said.

“We should attack his house while he’s still there,” Eduardo Rocha, another one of my underbosses, pointed out. “If he’s working with the Russians, who knows what else he’s been doing?”

I agreed, but I couldn’t rush this. As much as I wanted Donato, I needed Grigori as well. Killing Donato would satisfy me immensely, but it was the Russian Pakhan who held the strings. Donato was just a puppet in his game.

“We are,” I answered. “But we need to make sure Grigori steps out of his fort. We are going to kill two birds with the same bullet.”

My phone rang and I checked the caller, Vitelli was at one of our warehouses, checking on our weapons and what we might need for this operation. I excused myself from the table and answered on the last rings.

“Cassio,” he sounded breathless. “I need to talk to you.”

“Can’t this wait, Vitelli, I’m in the middle?—”

“I’m in your office.” He ended the call.

I swear to God, sometimes he drove me to the brink of exasperation. Since Vitelli knew how important this meeting was, and had called anyway, I left the room and headed towards my office.

“You might want to sit down.”

“Vitelli,” I opened my mouth to scold him, but when I saw the look on his face, I knew… I just knew something had gone terribly wrong.

I didn’t sit though, I remained standing, head held high and ready to solve whatever was coming my way.

“Francesca has gone missing.”

My knees almost gave out. The floor opened beneath my feet. I reacted so fast I didn’t have time to think. I grabbed Vitelli’s collar and pushed him against the wall.

“What the fuck did you just say?”

“Cassio.” He tried to sound calm. “Let go.” I did once I realized what I was doing.

My hands shook.

“Marie called saying she arrived at the lake house, but Francesca hasn’t.”

“That doesn’t mean?—”

Vitelli raised his hand stopping me. “It’s been three hours since she arrived and when she called Francesca, her phone was dead and so was Vince’s.”

I picked up my phone and called Francesca. She didn’t answer, and when I called Vince, he didn’t answer either. Vince always answered my calls. “There is more, Cassio,” Vitelli said solemnly.

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