Page 2 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“He doesn’t mean that literally.” Santino exchanges a meaningful look with Rex before he meets my gaze. “Head on platters are easy. You don’t need us for that.”

“Easy, Tristan.” Gardenia chews loudly in my ear. “Don’t let their stupid-handsome faces fool you. You’re playing your entire hand. Now they know you’re desperate. You might have more money than God, but these guys can make you disappear if they don’t like how you talk to them.”

“I know.” I put up my hand to get Gardenia to stop interrupting me, while meeting Rex and Santino’s gazes. I’m starting to regret letting her run point tonight. Though mostly I agreed to let her come with me because her father, my mentor, is worse than her when he’s on comms. I continue, “I want him destroyed, powerless, penniless, exposed. And then I want him to live a long life, rotting in jail.” I stop to look at the bartender coming our way.

“Your bottle, Mr. Archer.” He shows us the bottle I brought in, as if the hotel procured it for us.

After he makes a show of opening the bottle and serving the whiskey, he returns to his station behind the bar.

When he’s out of earshot, Rex says, “Santino tells me you brought your own team.” He brings the crystal tumbler to his nose and inhales deeply.

“I did.” I sip from my glass, then raise my eyebrows in approval.

“Did you think I wouldn’t get you the good stuff?” Gardenia scoffs. “That bottle was a hundred-and-sixty grand. It’s literally the ambrosia of the gods.”

“But if you know of any good hackers, let me know.” I drink again.

“What do you have in mind?” Santino asks before taking a long swig. He pauses to take in the whiskey then nods in approval. “You know your whiskey. Question is, do you know what you’re doing, old friend?”

“We start by draining his coffers. It’s election year; it won’t be hard to infiltrate his circle of trust. This is where I need your help. I don’t want him to get a single penny of my money. I want him to lose it all. He’s greedy. I need to find more opportunities for him to burn his empire to the ground chasing what he already has.”

“He’s already a member at my club.” Rex braces his arms on his thighs. “He rarely gambles with his own money though. Senators are good friends to have.”

“I know.” I swallow against the bitter taste in my mouth. The last time I was face to face with Senator Davis, I was eleven years old, and I had no idea the kind of monster he was. “But again, it’s election year, he’ll do anything to keep his seat.”

“But you want him to lose that too.” Santino cocks his eyebrow.

“I came here because I was promised a powerful senator in my back pocket.” Rex sips from his glass. “I need him backed into a corner, not useless.”

“And there it is.” Gardenia throws something heavy on her desk. “On the surface, it might look like you all want the same thing. But you don’t. They’re mobsters, Tristan. I don’t like the way they’re looking at you. Like they wantyouin their back pocket.”

“A single misstep is all we need.” I meet Rex’s murderous gaze. “I’ll be there to give him the rope to hang himself. Then he’s all yours.”

“You’re playing with fire,” Gardenia whispers.

Maybe she’s right. I played my hand too soon. Yes, I want Senator Davis stripped of all the riches and power he gained from my father’s murder. But I’m also willing to wait. The Italian mob would get their senator, but not for very long. That asshole deserves to rot in jail.

Rex doesn’t trust me, which is understandable. He’s here as a favor to his friend, Santino. That’s not to say that Santino trusts me. But he’s a romantic when it comes to revenge. He thrives in the depravity of it. More than anything, he understands what it means to lose a parent at a young age. The darkness that settled deep in my chest since my father died is something Santino understands well.

“I’ll tell you what.” Rex fishes a black card from the inside pocket of his suit jacket and hands it to me. “I’ll put some feelers out and see what shakes up.”

“I appreciate that.” I glare at the gold letters embossed on the card.

Fac Fortia et Patere.Do Brave Deeds and Endure.

An interesting moto for someone in the mobster business. I don’t care about their moto. All I care about is the fact that Rex is offering me a lifeline. I have one mobster favor, one shot to bring the Senator down. Aligning myself with powerful men is the only way to beat my father’s killer at his own game. For now, I have the element of surprise. I have to come at him with everything, because once the Senator finds out who I am, why I’m here—once our masks come off—he will focus all his resources on finishing what he started twenty years ago. He will come for me and Mom, the only family I have left.

I stand to walk them out as if I’m hosting them in my own home. “It was good to see you, brother,” I say to Santino.

“Welcome back.” Santino hugs me.

At six feet, five inches, I’m barely a hair taller than him. Rex embraces me as well. But as I make to walk with them, he puts up his hand then tilts his head slightly toward the bar and my mystery woman. “Stay. We know the way.”

“I’ll be in touch.” I nod.

I wait until they leave the bar, then watch them through the large window as their retreating forms cross the street, and then they disappear into the night. For a moment, I consider going upstairs to my room to get ready for the next step in my plan. But then I steal a glance in her direction, and I’m enchanted all over again.

“You cannot be serious right now,” Gardenia whines in my ear.

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