Page 46 of Guarding her Gangster Girl

His suit is torn and stained, his hair matted with blood. One eye is swollen shut, but the other fixes on me with defiance.

“Well, well,” Vince rasps, his voice hoarse. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Mrs. Colombo?”

I turn to Frank and Larry. “Leave us.”

Larry gives a dark laugh, and Frank’s eyebrows shoot up. “Now, Breezy, I don’t think?—”

“I didn’t ask for your thoughts, Frank. I saidleave us. That goes for the guards too.”

For a moment, I think he might protest further, but then he nods, ushering the others out. As the door closes behind them, I’m acutely aware that I’m alone with a man who, despite his current state, is still one of the most dangerous individuals in Las Vegas.

I pull up a chair, positioning myself just out of Vince’s reach, even though he’s tied down. His good eye follows my every move. I can feel him searching for weakness, for any sign that I’m out of my depth, any chance to grab hold of me.

“I have to say, I’m surprised to see you here,” Vince says, a hint of his usual charm peeking through the bruises. “Didn’t think Larry would let his new puppet out of his sight.”

I lean back, crossing my legs, letting the slit in my designer dress reveal just a hint of thigh. It’s a move I’ve used countless times to disarm men who underestimate me. “Is that what you think I am, Vince? A puppet? Is that why you tried to kill me when I turned down your ridiculous offer of marriage?”

“Look, I woulda got down on one knee if that’s what you preferred,” he chuckles, then winces at the pain it causes. “No offense, Breezy, but we both know you’re in over your head. Terry kept you out of the Family business for a reason.”

For years, I’ve played the role of the beautiful, slightly air-headed wife. It was safer that way, easier. Terry knew the real me under the act, even asked my advice from time to time But with Terry gone and my life on the line, I can’t afford to be that woman anymore.

“No offense toyou, Vince, but right now I’m your only chance. So be smarter than you’re being.”

Vince’s one good eye squints at me. “Let me guess, Larry’s been filling your head with bullshit about how I’m the one who offed Terry?” I don’t respond, but my silence seems to be answer enough. “Christ,” Vince mutters. “Listen, Brie, Ilovedthe old man. It wasn’t me who took him out. But you want to know who’s willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top, even if it means eliminating the competition?” He leans forward as much as his restraints allow. “Larry fucking Caruso. The man’s a psychopath.”

“And why should I believe you?”

“Look at me, sweetheart. You think I did this to myself? Larry’s been itching for a reason to take me out, ’cuz I’m the only one who might challenge him for Don. And let me tell you, he’s not planning on letting a widow stand in his way, neither. It’s him. He’s the guy. He offed the boss and he tried to hit you, too.”

“But why should he care about me enough to want me dead?”

“He don’t like the influence you got in the Family. Thinks you’ll side against him and turn some of the other guys, too.”

That’s news to me. “Where was he the night of Terry’s murder?”

For the first time, Vince seems a little less certain of his accusation. “Well…he was in Phoenix. With me.”

“You were both in Phoenix together?”

With a sigh, Vince shifts in the chair. “The old man sent us away to do a deal together. Said we needed to spend time with each other. Make friends.”

I almost smile. I can just about hear Terry saying it to them, and I can certainly imagine their reactions.

“But that don’t mean nothing,” he goes on. “He could’ve hired someone, or got one of his crew to do it.”

Maybe. But whoever did it—if they were unknown to the Family or to casino security—wouldn’t have gotten far. Even one of Larry’s crew members would have been noticed bysomeone. Terry tried to have as little contact as possible with the lower levels, to make sure there was plausible deniability for legal purposes.

“Youcould have hired someone, too,” I point out, but then go on over his protests. “But let’s say I believe you. What then?”

He studies me for a long moment, judging whether he actually has a chance here. “You let me go,” he says slowly. “Reinstate me as Capo. I won’t even ask for a chance at Larry—you can take care of him. And I know you will, eh?” He grins. “In return, I’ll swear loyalty to you until a new Don is chosen. You pick whoever you like, and I’ll fall in line.”

I raise an eyebrow. “How do I know you won’t just turn on Larry the moment you’re free?”

“Because unlikesomepeople, I know the value of loyalty,” he spits. “Terry was a good boss. He treated me fair. I respected that.” His voice softens slightly. “And I respect you, too. You’ve got more grit in you than most of these fuckers realize. So I’ll lay off Larry, until I’m ordered otherwise.”

His words catch me off guard. It’s not often that any man sees beyond the facade I put up. And every instinct I’ve honed over years of surviving in this world is screaming at me to be cautious.

But there’s another part of me, the part that’s been pushed aside and underestimated for too long, that sees an opportunity. I think of where I came from, the trailer park that feels like a lifetime ago.

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