Page 125 of The Killer Cupcake
"PROTECT?” His control shattered, the roar made Caesar flinch despite his injuries. "YOU CONSPIRED TO BREAK ME AND CALLED IT PROTECTION?"
"Is he dead?" Her voice came out small, childlike. "Did you kill him?"
The rage in Carmelo's eyes banked to something colder. "Not yet. That decision belongs to you."
He approached. She stepped back. "If he lives, you both become mine. And I'm not talking about what's between your legs, darling. That currency's worthless now. Your debt runs deeper."
"Last night you said?—"
"I lied. You lied. We lie to each other. I treated you like the whore you've always been."
"How?" Tears carved tracks through her makeup. "How can you turn this way. We build a life together. Is it perfect? no. Butwe did. Our… my kids love you, Melo. You’re the only father they know. I love you. I have done everything to be worthy of you, but you never gave me any hope. How can you be this? After everything? All for her?” Maria wiped her tears. “She’s gone, Melo. She’s never coming back.”
"Choose,” he said. “Caesar made his choice an hour ago, but I decided to have some fun with him. Now choose. His life is bound to mine, or his death is on your conscience. Decide." His tone turned almost businesslike. "If you choose life, I'll let you take him. Hospital, home, your bed—I don't give a shit. Just ensure you're both ready when I call."
She searched the room for sympathy, finding only stone faces. Slim cleaned the hammer with methodical care.
"What do you want from me?"
Carmelo's smile promised horrors. "You'll know when I collect."
He walked out, leaving silence. Slim pocketed the cleaned hammer, moving to follow.
"Slim! Please! Help us! You and Caesar are friends. You’re like a father to Melo! Help him, please!” Maria begged.
Slim paused at the door. His shoulders did sag a bit. “Get him to Bellevue. Car accident—that's your story. The boys will help load him." His gaze shifted to Caesar's broken form. "Don't deviate from that story. I know Caesar won’t.”
"Is he going to kill me?" Maria asked.
"No." Slim's expression held grim certainty. "He needs you to help him kill his father. And you will, Maria. We all will."
She shook her head in horror. She watched as the men freed Caesar's limp body. Jimmie spoke only a few words to reassure her he’d get them to the hospital.
Outside, Slim slid into the passenger seat of the idling car. Neither he nor Carmelo spoke during the long drive back to New Jersey, the silence heavy with promises of what was to come.
CHAPTER 47
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE - MATTEO & JOSÉ
Present.Matteo surveyed his kingdom from the edge of the tent, tasting victory and defeat in equal measure. Through endless nights in prison, he'd built this moment in his mind—returning triumphant, crowning Debbie and their children with the respect they deserved. Reality had exceeded even his grandest visions, yet something felt hollow at its core.
Under the tent's soft lights, Daphne and Christopher spun across the dance floor with their mother, her joy infectious enough to draw other wives and children into their orbit. The men maintained their typical distance—clustered around card tables and ashtrays, conducting business through cigar smoke and measured words.
His gaze tracked across the assembled faces. Capos who'd prospered financially under Carmelo. Street soldiers who'd bled for the Wolf. Dealers who still whispered his brother's name in reverence. They wore loyalty like armor. All except Caesar, whose dedication had cost him more than anyone knew through the decades of Matteo's absence. He was broken, conditioned to be nothing but loyal. Him and his wife Maria.
The crowd skewed heavily male—enforcers, earners, and associates outnumbering family three to one. Not a single face reflected the mixed heritage Matteo had tried to protect. No wonder Junior had vanished into the night. The boy understood what Matteo was only beginning to grasp: this was still the Wolf's pack, merely tolerating new leadership.
Caesar's hand landed on his shoulder from behind.
"Where is he?" Matteo asked without turning. “I searched and couldn’t find him.”
"Found him. He's in his mother's car smoking weed. We've got eyes on him."
"So he didn't leave?" Genuine surprise colored Matteo's voice.
"Nope. Still here."
Matteo located Debbie in the dancing crowd, watching her coax Christopher through how to do dance steps called the Robot, and she was wrong. The other younger children got in on the fun and mimicked the dance as well. "Keep them happy. Nobody ruins their night. Especially for my baby-boy. Clear?"
