Page 13 of Assassin's Obsession

Mars sniffs my hand as I talk softly to him. "That's a good boy."

Derian pops out of the driver's side and his cousin, Mario, exits from the front passenger seat.

Like me, my next in command, Derian Parisi, is from one of the old Sicilian families on his dad's side. However, his mother is a smart lady from Haiti, who keeps all the Parisi men in line, Mario included.

A couple of inches shorter than my six-foot-two, Derian is a good four inches taller than his cousin. Both men have the muscles, strength and agility that comes from the training regime all of my crew are required to follow.

Mars breaks training to move in front of me, growling.

Interesting.

You know how they say dogs pick their people? This dog just picked me, and I'm okay with that. Every family should have a pet and soon I'll have a family living with me on Long Island.

Mars will have to get some extra training though, to make sure he's socialized for children and a woman who spends a great deal of her time in a wheelchair. Cane Corsicas are extremely territorial and can be aggressive. Traits I admire and identify with.

Nonno believed they made the best family guard dogs though, once they were properly trained.

That's something Boomer can do, because it looks like we're sharing custody of a dog. He'll have to come work for me. Taking care of my dog has to be better than standing behind the cash register at a fast food joint.

I drop to my haunches and lay my hand on Mars' neck. "It's okay, boy. They're friends."

Jerking my head, I indicate to my men they should come forward. Derian comes first, giving Mars a wary glance. I grab his wrist and direct it toward Mars, letting the dog sniff while repeating the wordfriendin both English and Sicilian.Amicu.

I do the same for Mario.

Mars stops growling, but he maintains an attitude of vigilance. Just like I do.

"Bind him and toss him in the cargo hold." I indicate the unconscious Ronnie.

Neither of my men ask what's going on but immediately get to work, slapping duct tape over Ronnie's mouth when he wakesup and starts squawking. They must have pulled on his broken wrist when zip-tying him.

Oops. My bad.

But that's what I'm good at. Being bad.

The pain he's feeling right now is only a taste of what tonight holds for him.

Boomer comes out from behind the dumpster carrying a neatly rolled sleeping bag with tattered edges and wearing a backpack that has seen better days.

"Get in the back with Mars." I throw the keys to my bike to Mario and tell him where I'm parked. "Take it back to my place."

Mario nods and trots back down the alley, toward the street.

Derian tosses me the key fob for the SUV and I get in behind the wheel. My men know I don't ride in cars. I drive them. When I'm not on my bike.

Severu says I have control issues.

But the man working to take over as Godfather of the Cosa Nostra doesn't have any room to talk. At least I don't want to control the whole damnedfamigliain North America.

Chapter 5

CANDI

Mom and Cookie are watchingShe's Gotta Have Itwhen I let myself into the apartment.

"Isn't that a little old for her?" I ask mom, dropping my backpack on the floor by the door.

Mom shrugs her good should philosophically. "She's eleven going on forty."

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