Page 59 of Taking Care of the Target

He drew her closer for another kiss. She put a hand on his chest, stopping his lips just before they met hers, and he thought he was going to get in trouble for not doing as she asked. But then she said, “I love you, too.”

And the world he thought he knew completely crumbled around him as she sealed the words with a mind-blowing kiss.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

No one knew where Dante was, and he wasn’t answering his fucking phone. Carlo paced from the dining room to the kitchen as he tried him again, clenching his teeth to keep from yelling out in frustration when he didn’t answer. Healwaysanswered.

Dante was one of his best, most-trusted men. The younger generation was getting soft, and it wasn’t easy to find guys who’d take care of the goodandthe bad without complaining. Everyone wanted to be number one and make a ton of money their first day, respect their last priority.

But Dante knew his place. His dad had served as one of Carlo’s capos until an unfortunate heart attack last year, and Carlo promoted Dante to take his position. While he tended to get himself in trouble with the ladies, he was solid.

In fact, if Vince refused the underboss position after this push, Dante was his next choice. Carlo could use a filter between him and everyone who came crying with all their problems. Vince would do a better job of being fair, taking time to think it over instead of always resorting to violence, but at this point, maybe some of them needed smacking around, a reminder of who was in charge.

Of course, before he could deal with that, he needed to figure out what the hell was going on. He’d pumped every source he had for information, including his police contacts who worked both sides of the line, and so far, no one had anything useful.

Guess I’ll use this temporary lull to check up on my prodigal nephews.He’d been busy, but he’d also been delaying, not sure he was ready to hear the truth. Because that meant he’d have to figure out what to do about it.

Big Al answered after the third ring.

“You get your money?” Carlo asked.

“I got it,” he said with an inordinate amount of spite for someone who’d gotten paid. “Then Vince choked me with my own tie, jabbed a gun under my ribs, and told me Bobby was done.”

Ah, that explained the anger. Big Al told him Vince and Bobby took his and his men’s guns, and while he sounded pissed as a cat in a dunk tank, pride radiated through Carlo.This is exactly why Vince belongs at my side.

He toned down his smugness so it wouldn’t transfer to his words and asked the question he didn’t want to ask but had to. “And the girl? How’d he react when you mentioned her?”

“He nearly pulled the trigger, so thanks for that. Last time I do you a fucking favor.”

Trepidation replaced the pride. Carlo wanted to come up withifsandmaybes, but lately he was coming up with far too many of those for Vince’s behavior. “I owe you one.”No need to get your panties in a twist. I’m the one with the problem.

He hung up and dialed his nephew.

“You didn’t call me back yesterday,” Carlo said as soon as Vince answered.

“I was busy getting Bobby out of trouble in New York. I’m sure that doesn’t come as a big surprise considering you withdrew your protection.”

“You forced my hand.” No more beating around the bush. Time to clear the air and see where they stood. “We need to meet.”

“I’ll be at Rossi’s in about an hour.”

“At the house. Noon. Don’t be late.” With that, he ended the call and scrubbed a hand over his face. He’d hoped this would go smoother. Instead everything was coming undone at once.

The door leading to the garage opened and Allegra strolled in, grocery bags hanging from her arms. A low-cut black top showed off her new glittery jewelry. She set down the bags on the kitchen counter, and Carlo started toward her, thinking he’d be able to get lost in her for a while. Help take the edge off all this stress.

“Did you know that Dante’s in jail?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips and splaying freshly painted red fingernails. “I just ran into Mrs. Costa at the grocery store, and she asked me what my husband was going to do to get her boy out. She made a scene, tugging on my sleeve and begging for me to talk to you.”

No one got fired up like Italian mothers. Which was why he hadn’t called her to ask after Dante yet. “That explains why he’s not answering my calls.”

Carlo’s phone rang again, and he sighed as he pulled it out of his pocket; it’d practically been glued to his ear all day.

“We’re not done talking,” Allegra said, stepping in front of him. “Is something going on? Should I be worried?”

Carlo waved off her questions. “Just the usual. Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.” Turning away from her, he answered his phone. Any second Allegra would probably start flinging plates at his head. Maybe he should start taking away a luxury at a time like he did with Angelo so she knew who was boss. Everyone seemed to need reminding of that lately.

“I made some calls, and it turns out Dante got himself busted for possession and intent to sell,” Sal said. “For some reason he hasn’t lawyered up yet. It seems odd… We all know the drill.”

“Let’s get him out of there. Put in a call to Uffizi and tell him to get down to the station.”

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