Page 104 of Scarred Hearts

“That was my former assistant. I still have her do some things for me sometimes.” He slid his phone back into his pocket, then folded his arms. “We’ve got a big problem, Ian.”

“What?” he gritted his teeth.

Tyler turned to Luca. “Apparently, the Mussolini family didn’t do that to you or T-Bone you.”

“Who did?” Luca and Ian asked at the same time.

“The Russians copycat crimed it and hired some Italians to join the Aggio men so we’d turn on the Mussolini’s since they knew we had problems with them.” He spun to Ian. “A few of the Mussolini’s want to meet with us tonight.”

My eyes widened.

“No,” Ian replied. “It’s a trap.”

Tyler lifted a hand. “You can do what you want, but I’m meeting with them.”

25

PLEDGE TO ME

TYLER

Ian’s scowl deepened as I informed him of my plans to meet with the Mussolini’s. I had a strategy in place, one that required secrecy and caution. Normally, I wouldn’t keep important information from him, but it was crucial for our safety and future.

After giving Giovanna one last kiss and sending her back to the safety of Ian and Jenna’s house with an escort, I gathered Ian and Sean to discuss my plan to invite the Mussolini’s to the bar. It was a bold move, asserting our dominance on our own turf, but I also wanted to avoid our warehouses for now. Though they weren’t thrilled about it, they agreed.

My former assistant provided me with the current acting boss’s contact number, and I sent him a text.

I’m waiting at The Green Knight with my two families. You and your men have an hour to get here before I leave. I won’t agree to another meeting.

While we waited for their arrival, I paced around the spacious bar area, my mind racing with thoughts. What did they want? Was I setting my family up for an ambush, and would I fail before I’d even been boss for a full twenty-four hours?

I did my best to push those intrusive thoughts out of my mind, focusing instead on checking my watch and noting the time. Ian and Luke lurked in a corner, flanked by Nico and Ice Man, who were glaring at me with lethal eyes. Across the room, Giovanna’s three brothers slouched at a table, their body language exuding boredom and indifference.

Luca spun a flashy cigarette lighter absently on the surface while Enzo took in the bar’s décor. Carmine’s jaw clenched tightly as he crossed his arms over his chest. Angelo and Frankie stood nearby, watching my every move, while the capos remained posted by the doors and windows in case of a set up.

Thirty-seven minutes later, Bruno’s heavy footsteps echoed through the bar as he pulled open the door with a loud creak. The dimly lit area was suddenly filled with the presence of three sharply dressed men, their tailored suits and polished shoes catching the light. Bruno quickly shut and locked the door behind them, while several other men in the bar approached to pat them down.

“We’re not armed,” the one I knew as Gino Jr., said.

He was the estranged son of the man my father had killed during surgery. Up until recently, I hadn’t even known of his existence. His curly black hair and dark eyes gave him an intimidating appearance, despite being slightly shorter than me. As he stood before me, I could see that his eyes were actually a deep brown, reflecting the dull lighting of the bar. He wasn’t particularly muscular, but there was a sense of danger in the way he carried himself.

The two men flanking him were shorter and stockier, their lighter hair adding contrast to their dark suits. My two families tensed up, ready for any sign of trouble. Once the pat-down was complete, the three men came to a stop in front of me. I brought my hands out of my pockets and crossed my arms over my chest as I glared at them.

With a raised eyebrow, I noted, “You arrived earlier than expected.”

Gino’s voice carried the faintest hint of humor as he replied, “We were in the neighborhood.”

I remained stoic, my expression giving nothing away. Ian came to stand by my side, mirroring my stance and demeanor. “Who are your friends?” I asked.

Glancing over his shoulder, Gino gestured with his thumb. “This is Tommy.” Then he pointed over his other shoulder. “And this is his fraternal twin, Tony.” He let his arms fall to his sides, a slight twitch in his eye belying any composure he may have been trying to maintain. “We had someone reach out to you since you used to assist my family with legal matters. You’re the only one we knew we could trust.”

“Get to the point,” Ian growled impatiently.

Gino took a deep breath and continued, “Well, you’ve taken out almost my entire bloodline, and not many of us remain, to be honest. And now we don’t know who’s in charge of the Aggio Crime Family anymore.” He glanced behind me nervously, asking, “Angelo? Frankie? Who’s taken over the family?” Then, he brought his gaze back to mine.

“I have,” I replied stoically, keeping my emotions and intentions hidden from Gino’s curious eyes.

All three of them turned their heads sharply toward me, their piercing gazes locking onto mine. Gino’s eyes widened in surprise as he took in my words.

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