Page 42 of Tortured Hearts
When no one fires a gun, I push the pedal to the floor. “Disrespect like this can’t go unanswered. Who better to take care of Marcello than someone with a justifiable vendetta?”
Carmine shifts his narrowed gaze to me. “How do we know this all isn’t just a ploy?”
I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, daring a truth they all see but refuse to accept. “You don’t. But are you willing to fuck around and find out?”
All four men exchange looks. They don’t have to say a word. I can read their faces like a manual. I’ve backed them into a corner, the most dangerous place to be for men like us. Despite my father’s treachery, time is their most dangerousenemy. His actions mock the foundation of the Authority’s power. If word spreads, the Five Families would implode.
Marcello has to be taken outnow. They know it, and I know it.
Toscano exhales a long, slow breath. “If we sanctioned this, it’d be without fire. We can’t have your signature on a boss’s murder and do nothing about it.”
I snort. “Because we’re so civilized that we have manners now?”
“No,” Toscano answers, his voice tight. “Because we don’t give the feds unnecessary ammunition. It’s how we avoid situations like the one you and your father put us in.”
He stares craters through me until I mutter out a reluctant, “Fine.”
“Where’s Marcello now?”
“Out buying balloons for my gravestone? How the hell should I know?”
“He’s at the club conducting business as usual,” Anton says, subtly kicking my chair as he steps forward. “I’ve made sure he has no reason to question my loyalty. That’s why Gianni and I have the freedom we do. As far as he’s concerned, no one knows he has his hands in Providence or that he’s setting his son up to take the fall.”
I stand, ignoring Anton’s heated side-eye. “I’m on somewhat of a time constraint…”
Toscano’s smile is anticipatory, like a snake circling its prey before swallowing it whole. “Your impulsiveness is your greatest weakness, Gianni. How do you think Marcello’s most trusted captains will react if their boss’s traitorous son takes him out behind a curtain? They won’t simply shrug and fall in line. You need to make a statement with the Authority there to back you up at tomorrow night’s meeting.”
I glance at Anton. “I didn’t have ‘publicexecution’ on my bingo card, did you?”
Toscano slams his glass against the table. “Play along, and keep your mouth shut. This ends tomorrow tonight.”
Play along…It’s the same thing I told Becca. Irony is a dirty bitch.
I turn toward the door with an obligatory nod, only making it four steps when Toscano calls out, “You realize this means you’ll become boss of the Marchesi family.”
No, I hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“No offense, Benny, but have you thought that through?” I ask, ignoring the low hiss of my name behind me. “I mean, I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I’m a federal celebrity.”
“You’re right… You sold your soul and gave the FBI access to our world. Right now, you’re their golden boy, but once word spreads you’re wearing the Deadpan Don’s crown, that shine’s going to tarnish.” A slow smile spreads across his face. “How unfortunate.”
Of course. They don’t want me in power. They want me useless to the FBI.
“Great,” I mutter, turning back around. “I’ll start thinking of a tabloid nickname.”
“One more thing…”
I tip my head back. “This is where you ask me to sacrifice a live chicken, isn’t it?”
A low chuckle rumbles behind me. “I just want to know what Marcello is holding over your head that’s so valuable you’d refrain from shooting him on sight.”
Fuck.
I can’t tell them about Becca. It’s too dangerous. She’s an outsider my father has made a liability. Men like Toscano don’t deal with threats; they eliminate them. However, lying will only widen the target onmyback.
Patchworktruth, it is.
“He threatened the people I love. Isn’t that enough?” I don’t like keeping my back turned, but considering I’ve been tapped to lead an underworld revolution, I’d rather not look like I’m about to have a stroke. So I stare at the door as Toscano offers a final warning.
