Page 77 of Capo

“Excellent,” I say. “We’ll be shooting up some people who are messing with my business.”

“Them the ones who attacked our sister?” Chad leans forward, clenching his jaw.

“The same fucking ones.”

“Count us in,” says Charlie. “We owe you one for getting us out. We should punch your fucking face for threatening our sis, though.”

Dustin shoots up, but I put a hand on his arm and have him sit again. I did a lot more to his sister than threaten her. I think it, but I doubt it’d land well if I say it. Instead I lift an eyebrow.

“Good boy. Hold onto that anger. You’re gonna have good use for it. Give me your phone.” I hold out my hand until Charlie slaps his phone in my palm, holding my gaze with his. I smirk and tap in the number where they can reach Chloe, then I drop the phone on the table. “Someone will pick you up tomorrow, ten a.m. Be ready. We’ll provide you with gear and you’ll be assigned to a team.”

I stand, and the rest shoot to their feet.

“Tomorrow then,” says Chad.

I tilt my head in acknowledgement. Putting these two to work and making sure Chloe knows I don’t hold my axe over their heads anymore will be a good thing. I feel pretty good about myself as Dustin and I leave the building.

“Take me to Ivan,” I say.

Dustin is a good man, but I miss Ivan’s grumpy presence in my life.

Chloe

A knock on my door makes me twitch awake. I scramble out of bed and pull my nightgown past my knees. I’ve been here a couple days. The night terror that was so vivid the first night has already faded a little. This quiet little village is good for my soul.

Alessandra beams at me. “Sorry to wake you. You’ve got a phone call.”

My heart makes a somersault. “Really? Where?”

She holds up a phone and I snatch it out of her hands, pushing the door closed again. “Hello?” I say, out of breath as if I’ve been running.

“Sis!”

At first, I don’t recognize the voice. Then I’m speechless when the realization hits me.

“Sis? Talk to me. You okay?”

“Yes, yes, I’m here! Charlie? Oh my God! Where are you, are you hurt?”

He laughs. “Fuck, it’s nice to hear your voice. Hurt? No, I’m not hurt. Why would I be hurt? Are you okay, though? He told us you’d been attacked but that you were safe. Are you? Safe?”

The words sputter out of him, and as always, I have a hard time trying to get a sentence in.

Am I safe? I laugh bitterly, then a sob escapes me and in the next moment the dam opens and I cry like I haven’t cried since Salvatore cradled me on the floor in his slaughterhouse of a bedroom.

“Chris? Are you all right? Fuck. Chad I—”

“Christine?” Chad’s voice comes through the speaker and I’m so relieved I could puke.

“I’m sorry I’m crying,” I wail. “It’s just so good to hear your voices.”

“We’ve been through the most fucked up shit you can imagine.”

You’ve been through, I think, but I don’t say it. I’m their big sis, and as close to a mom they will ever get. I let him talk about prison, about suddenly being released and whisked away, being told I was held captive and that Salvatore would start sending them parts of my body if they didn’t do whatever he told them.

My insides grow cold, then a red haze of rage rises in me and I explode. “He said what?” I’m gonna fucking murder him! “Look, I’ve been shipped off to fucking Sicily and—”

“Chris! He specifically said we couldn’t talk about where you are or what… what the two of you have been doing.”

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