Page 25 of Unsettled
If it wasn’t so important for Emilio and Benjamin to get on the same page, I would have insisted he join us, but in their position, my Boss would be my priority as well.
There will always be someone who needs to be taught a lesson, so I’m not worried about Benjamin missing out on important training. The one on one time will be good for both of my mentees as well.
“Have any ideas, Agnellino?” I ask.
Jude studies the dumbass for a moment, as he considers my question. Finally, he says, “String him up. I want more of a canvas.”
I grin. “Oh, Agnellino, I am so happy to hear that.”
The dumbass glares at me as I cross the space between us and begin undoing the restraints around him. “You can’t do this to me.”
“I am, aren’t I? So that’s not quite true.”
“I haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve been loyal to your Family since the beginning. If I wasn’t, I would have joined the Manasseros’ rebellion.”
I tsk. “Yes, because stealing from us is very loyal.”
Dragging him across the room, I dump him on the floor and reach up for the chains that are hanging from the ceiling.
“Like you would have even missed the money!” the dumbass spits.
I won’t admit it, but if it wasn’t for Antonio being a sneaky little shit, we wouldn’t have. Not until the problem became worse, at least. Because we had no reason to look at that section so closely. Jude would have found it sooner than later. He’squite proficient at organizing and analyzing the information he’s given, but too many things are happening at once, so even that would have gone on for longer than any of us are comfortable with.
The Bosses need to be foundnow. Partly to cut down the workload, and partly to prevent any more of De Luca’s people from getting greedy. Cristian and I can work on replacing them once he’s back. If Roman doesn’t beat us to it, but that’s not something I can help him with, since Roman and I don’t work together well—not on this type of stuff at least.
“I would like to see you get a regular job, steal from them, and then when they called the police, I’d want to see you tell them the same bullshit you just told me.”
Connecting the chains to the cuffs around his wrists, I walk over to the crank and turn it on, raising him enough so his feet barely brush the ground. Making my way to stand in front of him, I enjoy watching him struggle for a few minutes.
“You can’t do this,” he pleads.
Jude and I both laugh. “Since weare,” I say joyfully, “it pretty much means we can.” Taking a step back, I sweep my arm out towards the dumbass. “All yours, Agnellino.”
Jude moves to stand directly in front of the dumbass, careful to stay out of range of his legs, so he doesn’t get kicked. “Why’d you do it?” he asks.
The dumbass stops struggling for a moment to stare at my lover. “What?”
Jude huffs. “I didn’t stutter. Tell me: Why’d you think it was okay to fudge the numbers and keep more than your cut?”
Dumbass looks over Jude’s shoulder at me, but I stay silent, and offer up nothing in return. This is Jude’s show, and I’m content to let him run it as he sees fit; it’ll give me a lot of insight into what we need to work on in the future.
“It’s a simple question,” Jude says. “Why’d you do it?”
Dumbass looks back to my lover, his lip curling. “Why should I tell you shit? I don’t answer toyou.”
I can’t see the smile on Jude’s face, but I hear it in his voice as he says, “Oh, I forgot to introduce myself? My mistake. Jude Manassero, Roman Amato’s Second in Command, at your service.”
I never understood the phrase “white as a sheet” until now, as I watch the blood drain from dumbass’s face while he stares at my lover.
“So, you, in fact,doanswer to me.”
Stepping back, I move to the perimeter of the room, trusting Jude has this under control. I'm content to watch as he takes matters into his own hands.
Dumbass seems to weigh his options, but since he’s already been caught red-handed, and—literally—hanged for his crimes, he seems to understand there’s no other choice but to confess.
“I was told to,” he says in a low voice.
“Speak up,” Jude snaps. “I want to hear, in agonizing detail, how and why you screwed the hand that feeds you.”
