Page 28 of Desperately Delicate Viper

“Don’t show him any fear, it only makes him worse,” Alessio, one of the other capos, says from inside the room with a laugh.

“I’m not scared of him,” I lie, taking Alessio’s advice by stepping past him the same way Sal did.

If you didn’t know any better, it would be easy to mistake the scene inside the conference room for any boring corporate meeting. Lorenzo is sitting at the head of the long table wearing a black Armani suit with a bland, unreadable expression on his face. On his right is his younger brother and underboss, Elio, also wearing a suit and looking somewhat disinterested. But he does offer me a friendly smile when our eyes meet. On Lorenzo’s left is a large, intimidating looking man I know moreby reputation than anything. Xaviaro. Also known as the Ice Man, Lorenzo’s Trigger, or simply, The Grim Reaper. Sparrow slips into the chair on Xaviaro’s other side and puts his feet up on the table like a rebellious teenager trying to get a rise out of their uptight parents. Lorenzo’s cheek twitches, but he doesn’t say anything. With Alessio right across the table from Sparrow, that leaves a few open seats left. Salvatore claims the one next to Alessio and I linger next to the table, unsure where I should sit, or if I’m even allowed to.

“Luca,” Lorenzo says with a nod of greeting. “How’s your mother? I haven’t seen Gina since Christmas.”

“She’s fine,” I answer, relaxing a little at the reminder that Lorenzoisfamily. “Just kicked husband number three to the curb, so she’s in one of her ‘I don’t need a man’ phases again.”

He chuckles. “Good, I didn’t like that one. He was a cocky shit.”

“Agreed.” We share a smile for a few seconds before he waves at the open chairs.

I pull out the one farthest down the table and take a seat.

“Salvatore tells me you need to discuss some personal business,” he prompts.

“It’s Moretti business,” I correct him, my voice dipping into a low growl, remembering the haunted look in Anders’s eyes this morning when he told me about his dad. “I met someone, and it’s a bit complicated. I know you’re a busy man, so I’m going to get right to the point. His father has been pimping him out for years. He went along with it to protect his brother, but it ends now.” I sit forward in my seat and stare straight at Lorenzo with fire in my gut. “I know you won’t stand for that shit in Wildcliff, so I’m here asking for your blessing. But I want to be clear, I’m going to end this motherfucker with or without it.”

Lorenzo’s expression darkens while Elio gasps and Xaviaro makes a low, unsettling sound in his throat. A ripple of angergoes through everyone at the table, settling some of the rage inside of me. Knowing they’re as pissed off about this situation as I am helps.

“You’re right, I won’t stand for shit like that in my city,” he says after several seconds.

“Does that mean I have your blessing?” I’m on the edge of my seat now, seconds away from jumping up and flying out of the room to do what needs to be done.

He holds my gaze for several beats, then looks over at Sparrow without a word. The playfully mischievous glint that was in Sparrow’s eyes before is gone, replaced with something even deadlier than the shadows dancing in Lorenzo’s and Xaviaro’s. His feet aren’t on the table anymore—now he’s all business.

“I’m sure he’s the kind of stupid motherfucker with a list of transgressions longer than my dick. If you give me a couple of days to poke around, I might be able to find something to put him behind bars the legal way,” Sparrow says. “But you know I’m all for bloodshed, and it doesn’t sound like this dickhead deserves an ounce of mercy.”

Lorenzo grunts again then returns his attention to me.

“Can you give it a couple of days? I’m assuming he’s safe with you for now. What about his brother?”

“He’s safe at my place,” I confirm. “And as long as he keeps sending his dad the money he expects, I don’t think his brother has anything to worry about.”

“Good. Let’s see what Sparrow can dig up first then.”

“And if he can’t find anything?” I ask through clenched teeth.

“Then we’ll talk,” Lorenzo says firmly. I want to push it, but from the hard set of his expression, I can tell that’s the only answer I’m going to get for now.

I huff, then push back from the table, getting to my feet again.

“Thanks,” I say gruffly, before pivoting on my heel.

“Luca,” Lorenzo calls out just before I reach the door. “We’re going to take care of it.”

I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders to loosen them. “Thank you.”

Chapter 12

LUCA

AftermymeetingwithLorenzo, I spend a few hours making my usual rounds and taking care of the things Uncle Sal has trusted me with, but my head is everywhere else. It’s back at the apartment with Anders, it’s dreaming up two dozen different ways to make his father pay for everything he’s done, it’s stuck on fantasies of spoiling my sweet, venomous little viper until he can’t even remember what it feels like to be mistreated.

It’s late afternoon by the time I finish up, and I decide to stop at my favorite deli on my way home. Standing in line, it occurs to me that I have no clue what his favorite sandwich is, so I order my usual, a Reuben, and a few different options for Anders to choose from. I whistle to myself on my way up the stairs to the apartment, juggling the two full paper bags into one arm so I can slide the key into the lock.

It’s eerily quiet when I step inside, and the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. Did Anders leave after all? Did he go running back to his dad? Did something happen to his brother?

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