Page 159 of Tease Me (Dark Odyssey 1)

They were meeting together. Deep in discussion when I walked into the hall.

I know not to disturb them when they’re talking like this, but this is an emergency.

Pa takes one look at me and knows the shit has hit the fucking fan.

I just hope he’ll do more than he has over the last two months.

I have their attention now.

They’re all looking at me. The three of them.

The clock behind them is big and bold, showing it’s five p.m., and like an hour glass it holds the time I have left.

Joey is not stupid. He knows I’ll do one of two things, or both.

He must know I’ll do this. I can make the arrangements with the shipping company to do what needs to be done for him with or without Pa’s consent. He knows the ropes. But we’re enemies and you don’t go to a Giordano and make a threat like the one he just gave and not expect the boss to find out.

So he expects me to go to Pa. He also knows what Mia means to me, which means I’ve been watched a lot more than I think I have. Most likely at the club.

It’s why he came to me.

“It’s Joey Fontaine,” I declare. My voice sounds hoarse with emotion. “It’s him. He’s the guy you want. He has my girl and Tommy is dead. I can’t do anything about Tommy. But I can’t let him kill my girl.”

A fucking tear runs down my cheek. “He wants me to arrange the shipment for him, or she dies but not before they fuck her up first. That is the situation.”

Ma’s face hardens, Vincent looks pale, Pa is the only one who looks the same as he did when I first entered.

I continue to fill them in on all Joey said. All his threats because he threatened all of us.

The words flow from me fueled with rage.

I hope they realize this is happening because of the fucked up slow as shit way that we do things.

Pa stands and he approaches me. His face hardens before he gets to me and darkness flashes in his eyes.

“What time?” he asks gritting his teeth. I’m looking at him and it’s like I’m staring at the mirror with an older version of myself. I just hope the older version of myself knows when to change things up.

“Eight o’clock, Sir,” I answer.

“Where?”

“The old factory.”

He bears his teeth and a low rumble stirs from him. He glances over to Vincent.

“Vincent, contact Claudius and tell him we need back up,” Pa calls over his shoulder. I actually feel heat flush through my body at the mention of Claudius’ name. Pa’s serious as fuck. We’ve never called on Claudius Morientz before. Not like this. I know what it means.

“Doing it now.” Vincent grabs his phone.

“War has begun,” Pa declares. “The fucking Fontaines think they can piss all over us and make demands like we work for them. Fuck them, all of them. Time to show them who we are.”

For the first time in weeks I feel invigorated.

I just hope I’m not too late.

They have my girl.

My angel.

I should have kept her with me.

They have my girl.

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