Page 15 of Tasting Sin

“Let’s cut to the chase, then.” Mickey folded his hands together, resting them on the table. “Why are you here?”

“The car fire,” I said. Mickey narrowed his eyes slightly in confusion, but Luca chuckled under his breath. “Is that supposed to be some sort of message for us to let you run laced drugs through our city? Because I’m not doing that.”

“Man, we don’t give drugs to anyone who doesn’t want them,” Luca said with a grin. Mickey elbowed him in the side.

“What about Brittney?” I asked. “Did she want them?” Luca’s grin fell from his face. I struck a nerve.

“Who?” Mickey cocked his head to the side. He waved to the bartender, flicking his wrist.

I glared. “The stripper who overdosed on your stash less than two weeks ago. Nikki told me you and your guys have been hanging out at The Full Spread.” My heart pounded angrily against my rib cage, and my hands twitched. I resisted the urge to roll them into fists, knowing it was a battle I would start and be unable to finish alone. I was outnumbered.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” Mickey said before Luca could get angry, but he seethed. His jaw clenched, and I could see him grinding his teeth, likely to prevent himself from saying something he knew would start a conflict.

“Your brother does.” I nodded to Luca curtly. The bartender walked up behind me, dropping three full glasses of beer on the table. Mickey and Luca each took one, leaving the third untouched. I braced my hands against the table, leaning forward and lowering my voice. “This neighborhood has always been ours. We let you exist here peacefully. Let’s leave it that way. No drugs. No trafficking.”

Luca scoffed, slamming his fist against the table and causing the beer glasses to rattle. “You let us? You don’t let us do anything, you self-entitled Italian fuck.” He spat while he talked, and I watched the drops of spit land on the table. I raised my brow, biting back an angry retort that would result in me looking down the barrel of whatever gun was quickest to point in my direction.

“What exactly is your plan if we don’t listen to you?” Mickey asked semi-rhetorically. He knew nothing good would come of it—for either family. “What do you think you’ll do if people keep asking for what we can give them? Maybe we have more influence here than you Morettis want to believe. I think you just don’t like that.”

I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath. “You and I both know exactly what will happen. Our families have shared this territory for years, and it hasn’t always been peacefully. Don’t create a mess we all have to clean up.” I stood, stepping back from the table. “We won’t just set your car on fire. No drugs. No trafficking. You got it?”

“Go fuck yourself,” Luca said when I turned around. From the corner of my eye, I caught the way Mickey put his arm out, as if to hold him back.

“We’ll see you later, Moretti,” Mickey promised.

I threw the door open, letting the bright afternoon light into the pub and trying not to squint. “You can guarantee it,” I said.

I grumbled when the door slammed behind me. As usual, they were difficult to deal with. I knew they would be; that’s why I didn’t bring Enzo with me when Giaco couldn’t make it. He had the shortest fuse, and it would’ve ended in an explosion—one we would’ve clearly been outnumbered in.

“Are you always late when you have a meeting these days?” Nikki asked when I walked into The Full Spread ten minutes later than planned. I scowled at her.

“Don’t start with me. It has been a hell of a week.” I eyed the bottles behind the bar, tempted to break into one in the middle of the afternoon.

Nikki’s face softened, and she leaned over the counter, resting her hand on my arm. “I heard about the car fire. Is everyone alright?” I nodded, but she didn’t look relieved. She looked scared. “Do you know who did it?”

“The Cassidys deny it was them, but I’m not sure I believe it,” I grumbled, as angry as I was when I left The Barley Stone. “I can’t prove it, though.”

“You never know who you can believe.” She clicked her tongue, and her shoulders relaxed.

“Are they still coming around here?” I asked, and she stiffened again. When she didn’t answer, I pushed. “Don’t make me ask a second time.”

She sighed, rolling her eyes and dropping her shoulders forward. “It’s a business, Ronan. I’m not going to just kick them out.”

“So that’s a yes.” The bottles behind the bar looked more tempting, and I gripped the counter instead, leaning towards her. “There’s only so much we can do to keep you and your girls safe if you continue to let the problem in and serve them drinks and lap dances all night.”

Her face flushed, and she narrowed her eyes. “You may help me keep an eye on the place, but you’re not the boss of me.”

“Something like that.” I’d let her believe she had control over her club. She didn’t, though. She owed us enough money and had enough sunk into the place that we’d take over the lease and the operations and then some. “Don’t do anything stupid. I’ve gotta get going.”

“Always so stubborn. One argument and you leave.” Her dramatic hair toss and grunt combination didn’t convince me to stay, and I stepped back from the counter.

“Be careful, Nikki,” I said, smacking my hand against the old wood before I turned to leave. “I mean it.”

“I’m always careful.”

When I pulled up the street and parked in front of Sugar & Spice, I wasn’t surprised. I had been overly drawn to the place since I realized who owned it, but I was determined to believe it was because I wanted to help her, not because I felt guilty. Sighing, I climbed out of the car, already craving the scent of sweet vanilla before it could be smelled through the front door.

The bell rang when I walked in, and it made my mouth water. I felt instantly calmer within the pink walls, surrounded by the dainty treats. “Welcome to Sugar & Spice—” Nellie stopped when she saw me. “Seriously?” She sounded exasperated.

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