Page 8 of Doll Face

“I gave Roberto until Friday to get our payment ready,” Matteo replied. “After that, I have a buyer in New York willing to pay top dollar.”

“You think he’ll come through?”

“Yes. I threatened his wife and kids.”

“Good,” Pietro said, satisfaction shining in his gaze. “Now I need you to visit Allegra. She missed her last payment, as well.”

“Why are we suddenly having this rush of people thinking they don’t need to pay us back?”

“Maybe we’ve been a little too lax recently. Time to remind people who we are. That they can’t fuck with us without the consequences. I want you to make an example of Allegra.”

Fuck, he thought. He hated hurting women, but his father’s command was law. “All right.”

“Last thing,” Pietro said, drumming his fingers on the top of his desk. “I don’t like how close the Iannuzzi Famiglia is touching our southern border. I want someone stationed down there to keep watch. The moment that fucking clan steps foot in my city, I want them crippled.”

“It will be done.”

Pietro waved his hand. “Dismissed.”

Matteo straightened his suit coat, gave his father a salute with his coffee cup, and headed out. Rocco met him in the lobby and Matteo gave a nod with his head indicating for his lieutenant to follow. They headed to where his car was parked.

“You feeling the need for speed?”

“What?” Matteo asked, throwing him a confused look.

“You’re driving the Aston Martin today,” Rocco said as he slid into the passenger seat. “That usually means you’re feeling stifled.”

Matteo frowned. “Are you psychoanalyzing me?”

“Maybe,” Rocco said. “At least just the psycho part.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

He carefully put his still full coffee cup in the cup holder and then started up the engine. The car vibrated with its power and Matteo carefully guided the expensive car from the parking garage before stepping on the gas to head to the sex club owned by the Romanelli family.

“I see you stopped by the coffee shop again,” Rocco observed.

“So?” Matteo said defensively. “It’s good coffee.”

Rocco held up his hands. “No need to bite my head off.”

He let out a forced breath. “Yeah. Sorry. This whole fucking problem over the Iannuzzi is driving me crazy because it’s driving my father crazy.”

“Emphasis on the crazy,” Rocco muttered.

“Watch it.”

Rocco stared out the window for a moment. “What about the girl?”

Matteo tensed. “What about her?”

He didn’t even bother denying who Rocco meant.

“Did you give her the necklace?”

“Dude, I just met her.”

“Don’t even pretend you didn’t grab it for her.”

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