Page 50 of Vicious Rule

He looks over toward the other side of the room and grins. “Don’t mind if I do. Thanks.”

I wait while he pours himself a drink, all the while just wanting to hear the goddamned name of the fuck who thought he should take a shot at me. I swear if it’s anyone from that family Alaric had to deal with a few months back, I’m going to enjoy killing off the rest of them.

When he takes his seat again, he looks around and asks, “Where’s the beautiful not-your-secretary tonight?”

“Busy. Let’s get down to business. What did you find out?” I ask, eager to push aside his curiosity about Sasha.

Sal shrugs and then nods. “Fair enough. For the record, though, I think she and I could get along if she gave me a chance.”

I glare at him for a long moment, my patience quickly disappearing. “Get to the point or I’m not going to like you either.”

He smiles and takes a drink. “Okay, I get it. Enough bullshit. Get down to brass tacks. So I put out the feelers to find out who was feeling pretty snug in the pants today after taking a pot shot at you. At first I didn’t find anything. Nobody seemed to know anything at all, which I knew was complete bullshit. People always want to talk. It’s human nature.”

I’m about an inch away from blowing up on this guy. Why is it when guys like Sal have to report on what they’re up to they give you every detail but the one you want until you threaten them?

“Are you going to get to the point, or do I have to shoot you?” I ask, reaching for my gun on the desk in front of me.

He quickly puts his hands up to stop me since Sal knows I’m not someone to fuck around with when it comes to things like this. “No, no. Sorry. I was just giving some color commentary. That’s all.”

Tapping the gun gently against the desk, I snap, “Save the commentary for another day. Just give me the fucking name of who did this to me.”

Sal purses his lips for a moment, and I’m sure I’m going to have to actually point my fucking gun at him, but he finally answers with one word. “Olivettis.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “No way. You heard the Olivetti family did this to me?”

Nodding, he answers, “Yeah. One of the sons, if we’re being specific.”

My mind spins with rage. “Which one,” I bite out, barely containing my anger.

“Angelo.”

One of Nico’s older brothers. I’m going to enjoy killing that motherfucker.

“How did you find out? Is the bastard out there bragging about taking a shot at me?” I ask as the top of my head feels like it’s going to blow off.

Sal takes a gulp of his drink and nods. “Pretty much. Well, he’s talking shit, but I found out because the guy he hired didn’t get paid. That asshole Angelo Olivetti didn’t give him the money he promised once the job was done.”

I don’t bother commenting on that since I don’t give a fuck about some asshole not getting paid. All I care about is the one who ordered him to do the job.

“Now I have something else for you to do. Follow Angelo. I want to know every fucking move he makes. If he eats, I want to know where and what was on the menu. If he fucks someone, I want to know who he or she is. I want to know where he is twenty-four hours a day so when I decide to strike back all I have to do is find him. Understand me?”

“Got it.”

He downs the rest of his glass of scotch and stands up to leave. “One question, boss. If I see the chance, do you want me to take him out for you? It could save you a lot of grief.”

“No. He’s mine to finish off. Just get me the information I want. Now go!”

Sal doesn’t say another word before hurrying out of my office, leaving me alone with my hate for Angelo Olivetti. It isn’t just him, though. The whole fucking Olivetti family needs to go, just as my father ordered me to do. I hadn’t felt right about getting rid of Nico since we’re working together, but fuck him too.

Now anyone with the Olivetti name is dead to me.

My office door opens, and Sasha walks in. She stops dead in front of my desk when I don’t say a word.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” she asks as she takes Sal’s dirty glass away.

“It was one of Nico’s brothers who did this to me. Now I’m going to kill them all.”

Sasha stares at me in horror. “Your new partner? Do you think he knew about it?”

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