Page 88 of Mafia King: Matteo
“Are you sure, Juan?” Gio asks.
“Sure. I know who they are. I have pictures, too. I ain’t stupid. That’s how it works, man. They’ve not been seen lately, but all the Locos know it.” He pulls a jump drive from his pocket and steps forward. Gio puts his palm up so Juan will drop it into his hand.
I nod. El Loco stands, and I shake his hand. “Thank you.”
“We’re good?”
“We’re good,” I say.
“I gotta bounce,” he says, flicking his wrist to cause his chunky gold bracelets to jingle. He reaches the door and joins two friends who are waiting for him.
“Gio, print the pictures. I’ll use them to bribe the councilman. Strange. I expected Addler to have a mistress.”
“He might. Maybe we haven’t found her yet. I can have him tailed.”
“This is good for now,” I reply, sitting behind the stately desk. The office is tucked away in a corner of the warehouse we use to keep our drywall inventory. It’s out of the public’s eye.
Nothing much happens around here that isn’t mob-related. And for those who don’t belong here, they are looking for shit to steal. The locals know that if they steal from us, we’ll hunt them down and kill them. Stealing is against our code—we enforce it by any means possible.
This is another reason Mikhail Pasnov will be taken out. Alexsei is a smart man. Mikhail stole something that should have been taken on behalf of the Don. The deal was a crime of opportunity, but if I found him in a day, others could, too. It was too easy to trace his company to the title.
Pasnov needed help to do what he did, and I’m confident questions will be asked, and they will be tortured in the process. But rest assured, Pasnov will be implicated in the matter. He never dreamed I’d be in an alliance with the Russians. I can’t knock off the Don’s advisor, but the Don can.
I want him taken out before my wedding. Alena doesn’t want him to give her away. This would also be suspicious and lead to questions. I prefer it if we’re not involved. We won’t lie for him. Besides, I’d never risk my neck for that piece of shit.
After he inferred he’s suspicious of me, he’s on my shit list, too. I can be a patient man at times. And I know this is a situation that calls for restraint.
After paying bills and checking in with our accountant, who stopped by, Gio drove me to dinner to meet with Sophia.
I text Alena.
How was your day?
Fine.
You are working late?
Yes.
I’ll see you after dinner.
Got it.
I wish I were fucking Alena on the drive back from the city at this very moment. My meeting tonight is for Alena. I have a solution to her work situation. I anticipated Sophia would go off; since I didn’t know when the news would break, my timing was off. I would have had the situation under control if I had had the details of the announcement sooner.
I’m obligated to tell Sophia in person about the office changes, and I need to do damage control. I don’t want her to become a problem.
Gio escorts Sophia to me. I stand, and we kiss each other on both cheeks as is our custom.
“Matteo, you didn’t have to pick such a nice place,” she eyes me hungrily.
“Of course I did. I know how you love to frequent the most popular places,” I reply as we sit.
I have my eye on the front door of the Oriental restaurant. Gio sits at the bar to run interference if necessary. I’m becoming increasingly nervous with each passing day that doesn’t contain a bullet meant for me. Am I overthinking the threat?
“You know me so well, Matteo. It’s why we’re perfect for each other. I can look past your affair with Alena. She’s a kid. You need a woman,” she purrs as she slips her hand through my arm, resting on the table. A waiter delivers two Manhattans. I lift mine and take a sip. I needed this before I arrived.
“We’re not an item, Sophia. It’s been this way for some time. I only have eyes for Alena. She will be my wife and the mother of my children.” My voice is firm.
