Page 158 of Forced Vows

"But I want to sneak out. You and Kara had so much fun doing it."

I get it. I really do. We did have fun. The risk of getting caught added to the excitement that night.

And Fiona wants to experience that. If it doesn't backfire, it could build back some of the confidence in her that the shooting the day of my mom's death ripped away.

"Okay, Operation Sneak Out the Birthday Girl is a go, but Zoey can't come."

"What? Why?"

"It's literally Zoey's job to tell on us. Well, me anyway."

With the increased security Miceli has in place, it's going to be hard enough for me to get out of the house without one of his assigned shadows. There is no more off time for my mafia guards. Just a bigger detail with a guard on hand even when I'm at home.

"She wouldn't tell."

"Maybe." I'm not convinced, but Fiona could be right. "Do you want to put her in the position of being punished if we're discovered though?"

"No." Fiona's lip wobbles. "It's not fair. We can't do anything fun without this stupid mob life ruining it."

Hard to argue that with someone who spent two weeks in a coma as collateral damage to this life. "We can do fun things. And we will. Listen, let me try to figure this out. If I can come up with a fool proof plan, we can invite her without worrying."

A plan like telling Miceli and letting Fiona think she's sneaking out when Zoey is actually there as a bodyguard? Yes, it's sneaky, but sometimes sneaky is the only way to get what you need out of this mob life.

Chapter 52: MICELI

The phone calls start at three in the morning and they don't stop.

The guy I planted in Lorenzo Ricci's crew has evidence of the capo skimming money from the profits of our drug trade going back decades. The rat has been stealing from la famiglia almost as long as he's been a capo.

Stronzo del cazzo.

That makes two men my father trusted fucking liars. We owe it to papà's memory to make Lorenzo's death painful and prolonged.

We can't bring him in immediately because we need to know how deep this corruption runs. Who are his accomplices? Where is the money he stole?

Torture can accomplish a lot, but it has its limits. A man who knows he is going to die has little incentive to tell the truth about where he hid his money. Especially if he has an accomplice he wants to leave that money to.

The next phone call is from my brother and I answer while I'm shaving. I use a straight razor which is silent and efficient.

"Did you get my text about Ricci?"

"Yes, but that's not why I'm calling. I agree that your guy on the inside needs more time to get all the information we want."

I grunt my approval.

"I need you to go to Boston."

The fucking Lombardi don. Salvatore was right that this land deal is good for la famiglia but dealing with the fallout from Matthew Lombard trying to steal it out from under us is a pain in my ass.

"You want reparations." It's not a guess. I know my brother.

"Yes. Matthew Lombard has to relinquish any position of authority within the Lombardi mafia and never be allowed in a position to influence Cosa Nostra business again."

It's a merciful alternative. Killing him would net the same result. Sev is good at diplomacy. Letting the don's nephew live will put the don in our debt.

He'll back Sev as the next godfather in compensation.

"I don't like Boston." And I don't want to leave town right now.

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