Page 72 of King Of Order

I’d seen him earlier, glancing our way, sizing me up, then ignoring me, confident in his braggadocio.

I recognized the fucker.

Gino Ricci was a small-time thug and blue-collar enforcer who acted like he was some psychotic, bloodthirsty brute.

In actuality, he peddled backstreet drugs, and I was aware Olivio had been one of his suppliers.

‘Chiara,’ he said, his inflection oozing with false warmth. ‘We need to talk.’

She stiffened, and I sensed from how her shoulders tightened that this wasn’t just some harmless greeting.

I stayed where I was, within earshot but far enough to give her space to handle it for now.

‘I’m sorry, Gino,’ Chiara said, trying to keep her voice steady. ‘Now isn’t the time.’

He ignored her, taking a step closer, his body invading her domain. ‘Your father and I had a deal—a major one. Are you planning to honor it, or will you pretend it never happened? My men require product on the streets. He told me to ask you what happens next.’

Her eyes darted to mine for a second—a flicker of fear beneath her composed facade.

I guessed what she was thinking. The lawyers had yet to make it public that she was the new Don of the Tirone famiglia.

Yet the news was spreading, perhaps from Olivio’s mouth before he died.

It didn’t need to get out at the funeral or with Claudio hovering.

By her reaction, I calculated that she didn’t want him to find out this way.

‘I can’t discuss that right now,’ she said, her voice wavering. ‘We’ll talk after—’

Ricci cut her off with a laugh loud sufficient to draw a few eyes from across the room. ‘After? I don’t think you get it, sweetheart. Your father made me a promise, and now you must honor it. If you think I’m going to wait around until you get your shit together, you’ve got another thing coming.’

I was moving before I even realized it.

My hand was on Ricci’s shoulder, gripping harder than necessary, and I pulled him away from her with a sharp tug.

‘That’s enough,’ I snarled, but there was no mistaking the threat behind my utterance.

He turned, his face twisting in anger, but whatever he saw in my expression stopped him cold. ‘Who the fuck do you think you are?’ he spat, eyes narrowing.

I leaned in close, my voice a whisper in his ear. ‘You don’t want to find out.’

‘Oh, but I do,’ he challenged.

‘I can’t. I have an oath to uphold,’ I growled, leaning forward.

I inclined in as he canted his head and chuckled in menacing disbelief.

Eyes flicking around and a twist of my hips to ensure no one caught my next move other than him, I kissed two of my fingers.

I leaned even closer with a ghost of a chilly smile on my lips. ‘Should you compel me,sei morto.’

His eyes flickered—disdain giving way to something else.

Fear.

‘Cazzo,’ he whispered.

He blanched, his bravado crumbling, and without another word, he turned and made a quick exit, pushing through the crowd as fast as his bloated body would let him.

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