Page 62 of Taking Care of the Target

All logical.

“I didn’t realize it’d get so rough, of course,” Vince said. “Didn’t help that I was trying to keep what I was doing there on the down-low, and one of his boys decided to threaten her. Luckily, she just thought the bouncer came over because of the dress code.”

Vince switched his weight from one foot to the other as his gaze went to the grill where his dad used to flip burgers and hot dogs almost every weekend. Slowly, he returned to the present and shifted his attention back to Carlo. “Look, I’m in, okay? On a few conditions. Because of Bobby, I don’t want to deal with the drug side. In fact, I’m hoping to get him into rehab, but I might need a loan. As for the job, I’ll collect, I’ll consult, I’ll intimidate. I’d rather work more as your consigliere than the underboss. If all of that works for you, you got me.”

An adviser who also collected and dealt with the shit he didn’t want to deal with anyway? Carlo could work with that. He extended his hand. “Welcome to the family,” he joked, and Vince laughed as they shook on it. Carlo pulled him in and gave him a hug with a hard slap on the back.

“Don’t you worry about your brother. We’ll get the best treatment money can buy, and it’s on me. Least I can do.”

“Thanks, Carlo.” Vince glanced at the gate Sal exited through. “What’s going on? I can see the worry hanging on you, and Sal looked like someone shoved a stick up his ass, so I’m guessing something’s up.”

“Pretty sure Sal’s thing was because you nearly choked him out in my office.”

“Man, what a donna.”

Carlo chuckled. With him and Vince squared away, balance was finally restored. As soon as they got the law off their backs, they’d be stronger than ever. “Dante got himself busted for drugs, and they’ve been holding him a while, which means the feds have stepped in. I’m sure they spent a lot of time trying to flip him.”

“So we lay low, we watch for tails, and we’re more careful with calls. They won’t get us; they never do.”

The use of “us” sent a warm swirl of satisfaction through Carlo. “The feds are breathing down my neck, and I don’t have the luxury of making a mistake or letting personal feelings get in the way of what I know needs done.” He tossed his cigar on the sidewalk, stomped on it, then squared off in front of his nephew so he could closely watch every tick of his face. “I’m as sorry as anyone to have to make this call, but I can’t leave any loose ends. Cassie needs to be taken care of. Now.”

“Is it worth the risk of it being traced back to you? I assure you, she doesn’t remember a thing. As your consultant, I’ll tell you I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“There’s no way around it, Vince. I understand if you’ve become attached. I won’t think any less of you, but it’s got to be taken care of. Can I count on you?”

Vince ran his fingers across his jaw. “I’m not gonna lie, I hate the thought of doing it.”

Carlo nodded. “I suspected as much. It’s hard to get that close and not feel something.”

“But like I said when I first volunteered, if it has to be done, I want to make sure it’s quick and painless. I’d still rather it be me than someone else.”

“It has to be done. I’m sorry about it, I am, but I just can’t risk it. Not with so much on the line.”

Vince swallowed hard. “Okay.”

“It needs to be tonight, before the feds get more organized and none of us can take a piss without someone breathing over our shoulder.Capisce?”

“Consider it done.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Carlo stayed out in the backyard for several minutes after Vince left. When he headed inside, he clicked on the television, but was unable to settle on anything for long. After a good hour of mindless stupidity, he flipped through the channels again…

Trying to rid himself of the doubt he didn’t want to have.

He wanted to start this new position with Vince off right, but he kept hearing Sal’s nasally voice telling him that Vince always had a thing for Cassie. He thought of Big Al relaying how angry Vince became when he threatened her.

Blind trust was just that—blind. He’d always needed to see things for himself. Surely Vince knew there’d be repercussions if he failed. Bobby was in town, most likely calling old contacts already, looking for a fix.

As long as Vince did what he was supposed to, he’d keep his word, pay for Bobby’s rehab, and ensure nothing happened to him. Hell, maybe it’d even stick. Honestly, Carlo felt like he’d failed them both. After all, the man who shot down their father did it to get back at him for killing his brother. As soon as Carlo heard about Antony, he suspected retaliation, and when he finally got hold of Enzo Paggio he’d confessed… after Carlo had taken a couple of fingers.

Carlo’s sister, Teresa, had always been a little too fragile. It was why he was glad that Antony had fallen in love with her—well, truth be told, at first he was pissed. But then he realized his best friend would take care of her.

When Antony was murdered, she fell apart. Between the drinking and the pills, she finally mixed a powerful enough cocktail to leave her two boys behind.

Vince was sixteen, Bobby fourteen. Carlo had tried to do right by them.

Hestillwanted to right by them.

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