Page 157 of Tease Me (Dark Odyssey 1)

Fucking hell.

Fuck…

I feel like shit just got real.

So here is the answer to which Fontaine was involved.

“Nick Giordano,” Joey booms.

We’ve never spoken before. We’ve never met. Someone of his level would not come and speak to me. He’s a boss like his three brothers. Of the three, Joey is the youngest. Badass, and in thick on the drug scene.

It’s him.

He hired the hit on Tommy.

Why the fuck is he here?

“Joey Fontaine, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask in a nonchalant manner.

He laughs and raises his brows. “You think it’s a pleasure seeing me?”

His eyes crinkle in the corners revealing crows feet. He’s twenty years older than me but carries himself like he’s the same age as me. He’s one of those tough guys who don’t age.

I can take him down easy though. I know I can but even in my angered grief stricken state I know not to be hot headed and stupid.

“What can I do for you?” That is the right question.

He smiles a cool lazy smile and runs a hand through his silver streaked hair. “I think you’ll appreciate me cutting to the chase out of the interest of time.”

“Yes I would.”

“Great. I love getting to the point. You and your little family been busy,” he taunts.

Motherfucker… listen to him belittling us. Little family.

“No more than usual,” I answer in the same casual manner. It’s so different to the war raging inside me.

He laughs crude and cold. “You know what people say… don’t underestimate the little guys. They’re right. I made that mistake and it created one big mess. Your fucktard friend Tommy had one simple job. One. Simple. Job. He couldn’t even do that. His stupidity cost me big time and let’s just say I’m mad as fuck. His slip up with the feds was shit. But…” he holds my gaze and stands. “Snade… you and your brothers made a big mistake killing my link to one of the biggest investors I’ve ever had. Delays cost money. Delays mean certain people get alerted. Delays mean loss. The shit that you and yours have put me in means loss for me and I haven’t been able to fix the mess. All these long weeks, months and I haven’t been able to fix the mess. Nothing panning out the way I want. Know why?”

“Why?” I ask, humoring him.

“The little guys have what I want. The little guys have always had what I want. Simple. Oh so damn simple. You have the fucking means to smuggle anything you want with your little shipping company. You can smuggle anything from shit to bodies. Simples. The little guys have the means to what I want and at the price I want. So I’m right back at square one.”

“That’s a real shame.” I grit my teeth and glare at him.

“Boy, don’t fuck with me,” he shouts. “Don’t fucking do it. Here is what you’re going to do. You’re going to pay up.”

“Pay up?” If he was someone else he’d be very dead by now. Very dead telling me to pay up for shit.

“Pay up. You will arrange my shipment to China. You’re going to do this today.” The power in his tone infuriates me. “You’re going to arrange it today.”

I don’t know how the fuck I manage to remain so calm.

This is because the Giordanos have been playing nice for far too long.

We only think we’re badass. Guys like this motherfucker sees straight through the shit and think we’ll take orders from him. He thinks I’ll roll over like a little bitch and do as he says.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing ordering me around?” I lose it and I’m ready to pop a bullet between his eyes.

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