Page 5 of Wicked Rivals

I couldn’t help but smirk.

“Ah, and here I thought weddings were supposed to be celebrations. You know, families bonding with families.”

Mark shook his head with the last bit of his energy.

“Makes you too strong, Vignali. Threatens the balance.”

I froze.

Balance? The Commission didn’t want balance between the families. No, those fuckers wanted control of everything, control of the families. And that was something I didn’t want to happen.

I flexed my fist and tightened it around the brass knuckles.

Tony banged through the door then, panting heavily.

“Hey boss, there’s a large envelope upstairs that requires your immediate attention.”

“Not now,” I snapped, noting Mark’s desperate expression. “I'm in the middle of something here with Mark.”

“Yeah, boss, I know, but you'll want to see this right away.”

A bitter laugh came from Mark as he stupidly taunted me.

“Better go find out who else dug up your secrets…capo.”

Narrowing my eyes, I moved my gaze from the living sack of meat chained to the wall to get a good look at Tony. My second’s lips had set in a grim line, eyes darkened, and he dipped his head toward me. That look hadn’t been on his face since the last raid hit my organization.

I nodded at him and slipped off the brass, clunking it down on the wood table. Within seconds, I had the smooth grip of the forty-five in my hand. I raised the gun, sighted it on Mark, and fired two clean shots into the lying bastard’s head.

He had given me what I needed. Probably not everything he had, but enough for me to honor my word and end his pain. Enough to earn his death. And while I wouldn’t protect his family from the others he might have betrayed, I wouldn't target them either.

I put the Colt on the table with the other neatly placed tools. One of my soldiers would clean it. Then I looked at Tony.

“What's so fucking important about this envelope?”

“It came by courier, and you’re going to want to see this before you do anything else.”

I nodded. “Bring it to my office in five.”

Before he could acknowledge my command, I’d already hit the staircase.

“Be right there,” he called out.

I took the stairs two at a time.

Tony was a decent man and a better soldier, but there were things even a don’s second-in-command didn’t get to see. My confusion, for one, which I wouldn’t be able to hide unless I had a minute alone in my office.

What kind of package would make Tony look at me like we were on the verge of a battle with one of our enemies?

Packages and envelopes came often enough, especially with the wedding so close. The families enjoyed outshining each other with the flashiest gifts and stacks of cash, all in a show of respect.

Not enough to warrant interrupting me in the cellar.

If the cops had been sniffing around one of my properties, Tony would have just said so.

No, this had to be something truly unexpected.

First thing, after stepping into my office, I stripped off my white Ralph Lauren shirt and dropped it into the trash can behind my desk. The crimson stains remained hidden from plain sight as long as no one rifled through my trash.

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