Page 53 of Corrupted Memories
Arthur’s lips thin. “I’m not challenging anyone. Just voicing a grievance that could only be heard once the issue was forced.”
I laugh. “A grievance? What possibly for? I don’t interfere with your business here.”
Arthur scowls, pointing his knife back at me. “That’s the fucking problem, mate. You just come and go as you please. In my city, in Manhattan with the fucking Italians, and in Jersey with the fuckingIrish. And we all sit here wondering what the fuck you’re doing.”
My father glances at me, displeased to hear this information for the first time.
I grit my teeth. “I’m loyal to the Outfit.”
“Prove it. Take the crest,” Arthur demands.
Nico sighs. “It’s better if we don’t?—”
“How convenient.” Arthur laughs, shaking his head.
It’s anything but convenient, it’s strategic. A failsafe if we were ever raided by the government. But someone who is more into grunt labor like Arthur wouldn’t understand that. He deals with the exporting of physical materials, and getting caught wouldn’t matter with or without the crest.
“Just because you don’t understand how the world above you works, doesn’t make it suspicious,” I say, the stinging sweetness singing in my voice.
He lunges at me, his knuckles brushing my jaw just as my father pulls me back. I move to get around him, beyond annoyed my father moved me out of the way. Like a disobedient child.
“Hiding behind Daddy? How pathetic,” Arthur says.
Nico punches him for me, and I snicker as Arthurstaggers a step. My father curses, grabbing Nico’s shirt and yanking him to stand next to me.
“You two are going to be the fucking death of me.” He growls under his breath.
When Arthur’s furious eyes focus back on us, my father moves to block his view.
“If I let them go, they’ll tear you apart,” my father says. The deadly intent hushes the crowd as he looks over it. “He’s my son after all.” A taunting grin ghosts his lips, and some of the surrounding men take a step back. But not enough, and I realize how the situation looks—like Arthur is getting exactly what he wants. He’s planting doubt and questioning the loyalty of the men.
I shrug off my father’s hold and he does, standing taller next to me as Nico moves to my other side. A united front.
“We’ll both take it and you can never summon or question me again. I don’t think I’m better than you Arthur, I know I am. You’re a fucking pissant that follows orders. I make my own and bow to no one other than Christian,” I say.
When he goes to speak, my father grabs him by his shirt, pulling him until their noses are touching. Arthur pales as my father stares at him.
“Bite your tongue before I cut it out. You questioned my son and he’s willing to prove hisloyalty. That’s the end of it. Now grab the inker so we can all fucking go home.”
He shoves Arthur away, who stumbles a few steps before catching himself.
My father’s jaw is set tight as he stands next to me. His fingers flex at his sides when Nico winces at the heavy hand of the tattoo artist. My chest throbs from my freshly torn skin and the ink settling underneath. I know my father is pissed that we’d been pressured into this, wishing he’d gotten us to join on our own eventually.
Arthur claps my shoulder, grinning as he glances between Nico and me. “It’s how it’s meant to be, boys. Never should have just run around—aghh.” He gargles as my father’s hand tightens around his throat and then Arthur is thrown against the wall, slumping down into a crumpled mess. We all turn to watch in shock as my father squats down so they are face to face.
“My son does not answer to you. He’s been under Christian’s orders a lot longer than you’ve even been wetting your dick. He took the tattoo out of loyaltyto me. We entertained your foolishness because” —my father taps the side of Arthur’s temple hard enough for the man to flinch— “something is fucking broken up here. And it’s easierto let you pretend to be the ringleader of the circus than make you a part of the show. But if you ever threaten my sons again, I’ll carve you into so many pieces that not even the devil will recognize your soul.”
He lets go and Arthur stumbles away with a snarl, wiping at his mouth.
My father ensures Nico’s tattoo is complete, then nods at us to follow him out to the car. He slips into the driver seat as Nico follows me into the back and pulls out a first aid kit from under the seat.
“Let me clean it. We can’t afford to get infections and I don’t trust these stupid fucks,” Nico says, and I hiss when he pours cleaning solution over my bare skin.
My father starts the car, the tires screeching as he pulls out of the parking lot. “You should have told me you met with the Daghda! Then we wouldn’t have been blindsided like this. You’re fucking lucky there are some men more loyal to Christian than Arthur.”
I grit down on my teeth as Nico slathers some ointment on the tattoo before wrapping it up. “We had it under control until Luca fucking Genovese barged his way into my office.”
“Ouroffice.” My father seethes with a glare through the rearview mirror. “Don’t forget you’re granted a spot in Manhattan because Christian permits it.”
