Page 4 of Wicked Tricks

Diana wanted to nurture my interest in graphic design, and we started out just creating fake IDs, passports - more basic document forgery. When Livie came along with her double degree in Computer Science and Cyber-Security, we stepped up our game.

We helped women get divorces from men who wouldn’t sign papers, we helped immigrants find a safe place to live and get a bank account so they could get a job.

Of course, shitty people bought them too, in order to rack up debt or indulge in other shady dealings - but it was my thing.

I was a dancer for the first few years, but I just didn’t fit.

“Rome,” Diana sighed, “again, really?”

“I’m sorry,” I said, “you know how he is! I was protecting Gwen.”

She rubbed her temples and crossed the room, closing the gap between us, “you know how important it is that we fly under The Family’s radar right now,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Yes, I know.”

“All this,” she gestured to the extravagance that lay in the safe, “could be gone in a second if they found out about it.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. I looked at my shoes. We had been taking business directly from the Santino’s for months, slowly building in what we took. Testing the waters, seeing what we could get away with.

“I had a close relationship with the old Don, but I haven’t even met the son yet,” Diana said, “we won’t be able to count on my connections any more to get away with your outbursts, Rome.”

“I don’t know why they need to be here any way, can’t we just-”

“No-” she cut me off, “no, Rome. This is just the way it is. I know you don’t like it, neither do I, but we need to play the game, OK?”

I sighed, my shoulders dropping.

Diana was one of the closest things I had ever had to a mother, and to hear the tone of disappointment in her voice was like a hot knife in my chest.

“You will go and meet with the Don and apologise.”

“What?” I screeched.

“No arguing, Rome. It’s done. He is young, as are you. You want to take over all this one day? You need to start realising what it really takes. This is what it takes. I will organise the meeting.”

“Diana, come on,” I scoffed, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans.

“Good night, Rome.”

She turned her back on me, back towards the safe where I saw Livie and Sierra share a look. I opened my mouth to argue, but couldn’t find words. I shook my head, and spun on my heel, leaving and slamming the door behind me.

I would go and meet this new Don, and I would tell him exactly what I thought. He might’ve been the King of our city’s underground, but I was determined to become the Queen - and I would not bend the knee to anyone.

2

Chapter 2

Antoni

My office was lit only by the yellow bulb of the desk lamp. It was dark, the heavy curtains were pulled, though the orange hue of the sun rising peaked through the cracks. I could hear the click-clack of my mother’s stiletto heel touch the tile, getting louder as she approached my office.

“I gotta take that key back,” I mumbled to myself, spinning round in my chair.

The door flung open, and I squinted into the light as it poured into the room. Mum stood with her hands on her hips, the silhouette of her menacing - bringing back memories of her dragging my ass out of bed on cold winter school mornings.

“Good morning, Mum,” I said, swinging back and forth in my chair.

“Have you truly been up all night again, Antoni?” she chastised, flicking the light switch. I flinched as the bright light assaulted me from above.

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