Page 26 of Unbroken Promises

I stare silently, arms crossed, bloodied knuckles resting prominently for the coward to see.

“Ah, ah, ah!” Tony croons in a sing-song voice. “I’m afraid that simply isn’t how this is done. You see-” He glances in my direction before looking once more to Denny. “We don’t offer extensions. No forgiveness for screw-ups. And when you can’t pay us in cash, we take our payment in flesh.”

He nods to me and I turn, silently, on my heels to walk to the lone table in the warehouse. Glancing over the assortment of tools laid out before me, I take my time perusing as I consider the possibilities. Grabbing the pliers, I turn back and slowly make my way once more to stand before Denny. Fighting back the urge to cringe, I get to work.

My phone vibrates on the table behind me, and I pause, turning my head to glance in that direction. Ma’s face flashes across the screen and walk over to thetable, setting down the bloody pliers and wiping my hands on a rag before picking up my phone and swiping to answer.

“Hey Ma.”

I glance to the left, nodding at Jayce and Darrion, and they step up to take my place. Agonized screams pierce through the air as I walk away from the bloody scene behind me, leaving Tony to oversee things while my men handle the “messier” side of the business, since Tony “doesn’t have the stomach” for getting his hands dirty.

“Now, who are you trying to get information out of?” Another cry of pain, just barely muffled by the thin walls and closed office door fills the line. “Never mind. Don’t answer that.”

“Not information this time. Collecting dues.” I grimace, thinking about the mess I left in the other room for my men to handle.

Her sigh is heavy as it comes over the line.

“Ma, what is it?” I grow concerned. My mother has never been one to hold her tongue when something is bothering her.

“I wishthat boywould just man up and do the work himself. Honestly. You have been helping him for how long now?”

I can hear the frustration in her voice at the mention of Tony. She has never really cared for Dante’s son, though I could never figure out why.

“I dunno. I’ve been working with him for probably about six years or so.” I shrug, not really caring about the timeline, though she’s not wrong. By now, Tony really should have a better handle on things; this is supposed to be his deal, not mine.

“Six years!That boyneeds to grow up. If he is ever going to run the family business, he needs to get his act together, put on his big boy pants, and do the work himself. Honestly, if he hasn’t learned by this point, I am not sure that he ever will. I don’t know why Dante thought it would be a good idea for him to step into the role when he was the one who sentthat boyaway in the first place.”

Rolling my eyes, I bite back my retort. Dante tasked me with teaching Tony the ropes, and while he is very skilled as a business man, he just isn’t the best fit for thisbusiness. Always watching from the sidelines, and having other people do the dirty work for him. It may be fine business practice for running a restaurant, but it certainly isn’t going to do him much good if he wants to maintain his role of leadership in the family.

Dante is the only thing holding his men in check right now. If Tony were forced to step into his father’s role, I’m not sure how many people would follow him at this point. Still, Dante put his trust in me, and I’m going to do my to damnedest to not let him down. And since I refused to step in the role that was rightfully mine, it’s no longer my place to question Dante’s decision in the matter.

“Was there a reason you called, Ma? Other than to rant about your favorite nephew?” I try to bite down the sarcasm, but Ma still catches it.

“Don’t you sass me! I may be on the other side of the country, but I can still fly over there to put you in your place, son.” She huffs, but I know it’s all bluster, before she shifts gears, changing tactics. Her voice becomes velvety smooth as she continues, “Can’t I just call to say hi to my son once in a while?”

I deadpan. “You can. But generally, you don’t unless there is something on your mind. I am the one who usually calls you, remember?”

“And about that!” Her voice escalates, annoyance clearly coming over the line. “Justwhyhaven’t you called me recently?”

“Ma,” I pause as the screams suddenly stop, and the room becomes eerily silent. Damn. Guess his payment has been made in full. That went faster than usual. My guys must have taken pity on the fool. That, or the jackass was so weak he couldn’t even handle a bit of light torture. Either way, Tony isn’t going to like it. Rolling my eyes, I fight back my sigh at the thought of me having to deal with Tony after his disappointment in his latest toy dying too soon.

“I’ve been busy, between work and helping Tony, and trying to finish up the house. You know. Time just got away from me. I’m sorry.”

The line is silent as I wait for her response. After a long, drawn-out pause, she replies. “So, it hasnothingto do with the fact that you saw Danica again, then?”

Drawing in a deep breath, a sharp, stabbing pain fills my chest at the thought of seeing il mio passerotto, of being so close to her for the first time in years. Of actually speaking to her again. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh, I think you do.” I don’t have to see her face, to know the pointed stare she would be giving me over the line; eyebrow raised skeptically, with arms crossed over her chest. It is a look that I have received so many times, I could probably draw it with my eyes closed.

I blow out a breath, resigned to the fact that I cannot hide anything from this woman who raised me. She knows me too well. “How did you even hear about that?”

With a cluck of her tongue, I can just imagine the disapproving look she would be giving me as she shakes her head. “You should know by now that I have my ways. My boy, I love you, you know this. But you need to stay away from her.”

I freeze, body tense. “I-”

“Don’t even try to deny it. I know you have been watching her, keeping an eye on her to make sure she is safe. But that is completely different than inserting yourself back into her life. I am telling you right now, figlio mio, to leave her be.”

“Ma-”

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