CHAPTER ONE
A Deceitful Husband
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There was nothing Orazio Cattaneo hated more than a grown-ass man who acted like a bitch. Kneeling in front of them, with tears dripping down his cheeks, was Trevor Wilks, their former consigliere.
With all his damn sobbing, Orazio couldn’t make out what the bastard was trying to say. He stared over at his brother, Caspari Cattaneo, and found Cas grinning at the kneeling man.
“Look at him, Raz,” Cas said to Orazio. “This is the third time this month he’s come into our establishment and asked me for an extension. The third! Yet, this is the first time he’s come up with a repayment plan this ridiculous.”
The man’s plan was indeed ridiculous. Who in their right mind would sell their wife off to pay their gambling debt? It was something only a bitch ass man would do. And the stench of bitch rolling off Trevor was nauseating. Trevor gripped the hem of Cas’s pants and pleaded for his life.
“Mr. Caspari, I know you said you weren’t giving me any more chances to get the money to you...”
“Since you know I said it,” Cas started, shoving the man away. “Why don’t you have my money with you?”
Trevor fell to the side but quickly righted himself. Still on his knees, he continued pleading his case. “I was robbed two days ago.”
Cas chuckled, not buying it. It was an excuse they’d heard many times before. If Raz was the one handling this, he’d put a bullet in the bastard and be done with it. But Cas was in charge. Raz remained quiet, observing how his brother handled the situation. Leaning forward, he picked up his glass of whiskey from the lounge table to take a sip as the gambling addict continued lying.
“Mr. Cas, I had the money. I really did.”
Cas cocked his head to the side. “Did you?”
“I swear I hadsomeof it,” Trevor corrected. “Not all of it. But I almost had the rest, I swear. I just... I...”
“You just what?” Caspari asked.
“I just... couldn’t do it.” Trevor lowered his head and stared down at the floor. “I couldn’t do what needed to be done to get the money. I couldn’t... kill her.”
That got Orazio’s attention. “Kill who?” Raz asked.
Lifting his head, Trevor swallowed. Though it was chilly in the room, the addict was sweating profusely. Using his shirt sleeve, the man dapped at his forehead before replying.
“See, I, uh, I have a life insurance policy on my wife.”
This fucker was planning to kill his wife! Raz glared at Cas, who shrugged, signaling he had nothing to do with the insane gambler’s plan.
“She doesn’t know how much it is. She doesn’t even know about the second plan I’ve got. I thought if I...”
“How long have you been married?” Raz interrupted him.
“Too long,” Trevor drawled. “She and I met in college and....”
“Years?” Raz questioned. He didn’t have time for a story. “How many years have you been married?”
“Twenty.”
“Damn,” Cas uttered, shocked.
Twenty was a long ass time to be with one woman.
“It’s taken you this long to finally get tired of the same pussy every day?” Cas asked.
Trevor let out a nervous chuckle. “I stayed because she depends on me. She’d be lost without me.”
“But twenty years? Damn. I’m sure you’ve got a thing on the side, right?” Cas asked.