Page 13 of Mafia King: Matteo
“He followed her here,” I murmur thoughtfully. I tilt my head back and stare at the ceiling, focusing on the decorative medallion around the light. It looks so fake compared to the genuine art and sculptures in Italy.
“Yes, it took time, but he’s here. Last week she was at the zoo with Rocco, and the bodyguards had to beat the shit out of him to make him go away. He’s an abnormally strong man, and it took three of them to subdue him. Remember last year when we had to take down that heroin dealer on the street who was just released from prison? He was off his psych meds and had superhuman strength? Antonio had to put a bullet in his head. It was like putting down a rabid animal. This guy, Finn, is like that, small but strong. He’s psychotic. Antonio is going to request permission to protect his family.”
“What do we know about Finn?”
“He’s a low-level dealer in Ireland. I’m not sure about his connections yet. Nothing has been flagged other than his criminal record and nearly killing Caitlin.”
“We need to find out and evaluate the situation. He could be someone the Irish won’t miss. See if he’s connected, and if he is, who we’d piss off if we eliminate him.”
If he came near Angelica, I’d kill him myself. No man should ever hit a woman.
Gio takes a puff of his cigar, blows it out slowly, and nods.
“Damn, it’s been a long day. I’ll have Antonio conduct a thorough review of Wu. We’ll pick him up. He can’t hide forever. Not with the way Antonio can hack into the street cameras and read car plates off the bridges.”
“I’ll break every bone in Wu’s body if he doesn’t sell to me. I needed this done last week.”
“I’m sorry. Antonio thought he’d come through. Do you think someone else got to him?”
“It’s very plausible. However, we won’t know until we review the city records to confirm that he still owns the building. If he double-crosses me, I’ll kill him,” I say, sending a smoke ring toward the ceiling.
“So, what do you think of Madame M?”
“I like her. She’s an interesting character.”
“Are you going back?”
“Not if you can find out who Angelica is. She intrigues me. I feel there is more to her than meets the eye.” Her clothes weren’t cheap. “I wonder what she does for a living,” I muse.
“I don’t like this. You’re thinking too much about her. If you get involved with anyone, you are putting them in danger. Especially now,” Gio reminds me.
“Perhaps. I wonder what Angelica’s real name is.” I have to admit I’m enjoying the mystery. It beats the family curse from my father’s sins. To push a woman down the stairs is inexcusable. I wouldn’t care if someone took my father out over some old beef. He was always cantankerous, so that it wouldn’t be out of the question.
That being said, there doesn’t seem to be a war on the horizon. It’s too quiet. I don’t trust it. My father’s murder was designed to avoid detection. I’m ahead of the killer because he doesn’t know I’m operating in the shadows. Poison may be the weapon of choice for women, but my sister is unlikely to be the next Don as she has no desire to get her hands dirty. Besides, Bianca would have to take out everyone, and she is too timid to kill a spider. The psychotic gene in the family must have skipped her.
I wonder if I will turn into a man like my father. I don’t think he knew what love felt like. I may have only had crushes in my past, but I love a smooth bourbon, a flavorful cigar, and a memorable fuck. With my rock glass empty, I stub out the cigar on the cut glass ashtray and place my hands on my knees.
“This was nice. Thank you, Gio. I think I’m ready for bed.”
“It’s about time,” he chuckles.
“Don’t forget about the girl.”
“It’s always a girl who gets you in trouble. You need a woman.”
“She is. She doesn’t know what it’s like to be with a man. Goodnight, Gio,” I murmur over my shoulder as I walk under the archway. I enter the spacious living area, and it’s been so long since I’ve been here, I didn’t realize how massive it is for one person and some staff members. It’s worth millions.
Will Angelica like it? Why am I asking myself this question?
He’s right. I shouldn’t drag anyone into the family until I’ve neutralized my father’s killer. I want what I want when I want it. I will have Angelica. She may fight me, but in the end, she will submit.
After a hot shower, I slip into bed as the furnace kicks on. I don’t mind cold weather when I’m skiing in the Alps. That’s my idea of having fun in the snow. I am not thrilled about working in the bitter cold, but that’s inevitable when one lives here. Thankfully, I won’t be shoveling snow or scraping ice off a frozen windshield.
Having a soft, warm woman in my bed is another reason to pursue Angelica. She seems harmless. I’ve never tried a relationship before, but she needs one. Maybe I do, too. Mindless unattached fucking is all I’ve ever wanted until now.
I prefer to be alone. When a woman starts leaving her undies on the bedroom doorknob, it’s time to say goodbye. I’m not a big fan of change. My life is my job, and no woman would be happy with my long work weeks. She’d grow bored waiting for me to come home every night. I need a woman who can entertain herself and not complain about it.
Angelica strikes me as someone like-minded. I saw something familiar in her eyes—a frozen darkness that only another lonely soul would recognize. I’ll keep this a secret. There is no need for her to know who I am. It’s safer this way. I might have a soft spot for her, but I can’t risk losing my focus while my empire and family are under attack.
