Page 10 of Married with Mayhem

As for Uncle Vinny, the story handed out to the civilians is that he was the victim of a carjacking while driving around Newark. The real deal is that he was on a hit job for the big boss and took a fatal shot to the chest in a dirty old warehouse.

That was three years ago and no one could have predicted the thunderous changes since then. New York’s two biggest crime families remain in disarray after they both lost their bosses.

And the struggle for the city’s mafia throne remains.

Richie Amato’s picture is on the wall too, mostly because certain people would have a fit if it wasn’t. When the alliance between the Amato and Barone families ruptured, this territory stayed loyal to the Amato factions. It’s unwise to talk shit about the big boss, even long after he’s worm food, so I keep mythoughts about Richie Amato to myself and refrain from flipping him off.

That last cannoli bite sticks in my throat and I chase it with a swallow of beer before making my way over to Nico’s table.

“Welcome home,” my brother says as I sink into the last empty chair. “How was Disney World?”

“No different than what I expected,” I reply and toss my keys on the table.

Nico’s shoulders are tense, his eyes serious. “Did you get to do everything you planned on your vacation?”

“Sure.” I lean back in my chair and get comfortable. “Don’t I always?”

Meanwhile, the two girls are completely oblivious that this whole exchange between me and my brother is taking place in code. I wasn’t even in the same fucking part of the state as Disney World. I was sent to mop up someone else’s disaster. It’s a dirty job, but it pays damn well.

Nico doesn’t blink as he holds my gaze. “I would have gone with you.”

I stare right back at him. “It was a last minute trip.”

He grunts and turns his head to stare moodily at the door. “Next time,” he promises in a dark tone.

Nope.But I say nothing.

I’ve already seen my brother get shot once. It was a flesh wound to the arm but it shook me up like nothing else.

“You went to Disney?” Livy says. She’s now petting my brother’s muscled forearm like it’s a kitten. “How fun. The Small World ride is my favorite. Or maybe the pirate ride. The one with the boats.”

“I loveallthe rides,” pipes up Rochelle. There’s a diamond glittering on the fourth finger of her left hand. Which is funny because her other hand just landed on my knee. “What was your favorite, Monte?”

“I’m not always picky when it comes to jumping on a ride,” I say. “Sometimes it’s just good enough to be in motion.”

Nico gets the double meaning and snorts with laughter.

Rochelle gets it too and her hand travels north on my thigh.

Livy understands nothing and gives me a glassy, vacant smile.

“You know what?” Rochelle says as her fingers stray closer to my dick. “I’ve always wanted to see what the basement looks like here. Can I get a tour?”

Nothing about this girl is impressive. She looks cheap and back in high school she was boring, dumb and kind of mean. But she’s wearing the ring of a guy I hate and it’s been a hell of a while since I fucked anything more exciting than my hand. I’ve been busy and didn’t want any distractions but eight months without a fuck is ridiculous. Time to break the streak.

“Sure.” I push back from the table. “One tour of the basement coming right up.”

“Oh, can I come too?” says the clueless Livy. She starts to stand up.

Nico pulls her into his lap. “I think you’d be happier staying here and keeping me company.”

Livy giggles and nuzzles his neck as I lead Rochelle down the hall, past the restroom and down the creaky staircase. All the while, Rochelle keeps one finger hooked in a belt loop of my jeans.

Down in the basement, I pull the chain on the ceiling lamp for an explosion of brash yellow light. The walls of the windowless room are still covered in wood paneling installed by my grandfather before the internet was invented. Boxes of restaurant supplies are stacked up along the far wall. An old pool table is pushed under the staircase and the green felt-covered card table sitting in the middle of the room has hosted countless mobster card games. The place probably looks kind of shabbyto most people but every time I come down here I feel like I’m visiting an old friend.

Rochelle takes a look around and her nose wrinkles with distaste. What was she expecting, a palace? It’s a freaking basement in a hundred year old city building.

Speaking of distaste, the perfume she’s wearing is powerful enough to choke a bear. At least my cock doesn’t seem to mind.

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