Page 115 of Manny

“He was an asshole.”

“He was, that’s why I read him his last rites. It was pretty poetic of me, considering I usually just behead people I don’t like.”

I gasp. “I swear on my mother’s grave I didn’t do anything.”

His playful tone vanishes. “And if you didn’t, then I need to know who did.”

“I’m not lying,” I whisper. “I may be a very good accountant, but I’m not that good that I’d get away with stealing money from the mob.”

He does that lip twitch thing again, then he starts to clap. “Well done. You finally had the guts to say it.”

I’m about to just take my chances and run when I glance up. Hustler is suddenly standing at the table, looming over us. He seems larger than life and I’ve never been so grateful to see a member of the MC. I want to cling to him and hide behind his back.

“Lace, are you okay?” His gaze flicks to mine. I don’t know what he sees there, but his jaw tightens and he reaches his hand toward me. I take it and slide out of the booth.

“We’re not done here,” Mateo growls, looking up at Hustler. The two goons are at the table behind Hustler in a second.

“Yeah, we are. Lace.” Hustler pulls me behind him and then shoves me toward the counter, away from them. He turns back to face the mafia don and his two hitmen. “If you have a problem with one of my staff, then you have a problem with me.”

Mateo stands, but I watch in alarm as Hustler shoves him back into the seat. Before I can blink, he swings at one of the henchmen and he goes down.Holy fucking shit! Go Hustler!

The man is mid-fifties, but he’s fighting like a street fighter. I had no clue that he could swing that fast and that hard. A new wave of respect washes over me.

The other man reaches into his jacket and I run toward Hustler. “No!” I cry out. “Stop! There are patrons!”

The few people in the cafe start to turn and a few begin to scurry out of the cafe. Pipes runs in with Giggs on his tail.

“Get back behind the counter!” Hustler grits his teeth when I stand in front of him.

“No, Hustler, this is my mess and I’m going to get out of it myself.”

“Like hell you are!” Hustler is so fucking mad.

“Hustler?” Pipes assesses the situation and the henchman who didn’t get hit stops when Mateo tells him to take it easy.

“These men were just seein’ themselves out,” he says.

Mateo smirks. “Brave man, but you have no clue who you’re dealing with.”

“He’s right,” I stammer. “You don’t. He’s the head of the Judice crime family in Arizona.”

Hustler’s face doesn’t change. “Did he hurt you?”

I shake my head. “I’m fine.”

“I think we can take this somewhere more private,” Mateo says. “Since I’m sure the rest of the MC are on their way, and for the record, if I wanted a war, I would’ve brought more men.”

I stare at him and I hope like hell Hustler doesn’t take a swing. That’s all we goddamn need.

24

JONAH

My heart beatsa hundred miles and hour as me and Manny speed across town to get to Muso’s.

Pipes said there was an incident with Mateo Judice and the fucking Arizona mob was after Lace. I’m so mad I could hit something. It’s my job to protect Lace. Cash made it mine.

I went to watch Eli at the school assembly and then stopped in at the club before taking over Pipe’s and Gigg’s shift. Now the fucking mob shows up? What the hell?

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