Page 34 of Gianni DeLuca

“No fucking way. He has some huge balls. I’ll give him that,” he admitted grudgingly.

“He says he has my money and wants to meet us in an hour. We need as many men as possible to be there. Tell the cops not to come no matter who calls for help.”

He whistled appreciatively. “That’s the boss I know and love. Wartime, baby.”

“Wisdom wants a war. He’ll get a mothafucking bloodbath,” I promised.

Chapter Twenty

Just as I hung up thephone, Mamma came into my office, worry lines on her countenance aging her. “Why did Courage leave in a hurry? Did you say or do anything to him? He kissed my cheek and left without explaining why.”

“Sicily.”

Her eyes grew round, and she nodded. Instead of tears, she walked up to me and cupped my face with her hands. “Never forget your legacy and the blood that runs through your veins. We carry ourselves with honor and dignity. We are DeLucas. Ti Amo, son.”

I kissed her cheek. “Ti Amo, Mamma.

She smiled bravely, although it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll see you again.” Mamma straightened her shoulders and left my office without another word.

I glanced around my office, wondering if I would live to see another day. I hoped Mamma was right and that she would see me again. We’d told each other years ago that if we were to ever be in another street war, she would leave immediately for New York and finally return to her birth country. Where she would remain indefinitely. My enemies knew it was only my mother and me, and to hurt me would be to go after her. I couldn’t afford the mental energy it would take worrying about her safety when I needed to win a war. So, she agreed to leave New Orleans immediately with no questions asked. The DeLuca family would handle her home and belongings if I didn’t survive.

I pushed a button under my desk to reveal a secret panel in the wall. My safe contained several semi-automatic Glocks and rifles, a hunter’s knife, and stacks of money. I pulled out two Glocks and placed one in the small of my back and the other in my jacket pocket, along with an extra cartridge. Roberto would bring more guns and ammo. My men would have the more powerful weaponry and stand guard during the meeting. And if I gave the order or if Wisdom and the Desire Crew shot first, they would blast until none of the enemies were left standing. I silently prayed as I left the office that somehow I could bring peace between Wisdom and me. That he would remember that we once were the best of friends. That we vowed to be brothers for life.

***

ROBERTO AND SEVERALcarloads of men waited in the warehouse's parking lot. I searched the rooftop from the backseat of my bulletproof window, sure that Wisdom had men that could pick some of my men off if shooting began. Everyone would lose tonight because even one death was a loss. I had killed on more than one occasion since that fateful day when I was sixteen. It was a necessary evil in a world of fast money, greed, and power. Someone inevitably would make a move that would shake up our organization, and we would have to react. For years we hadn’t had to battle. I had become complacent, trusting that my way of being fair, reasonable, and showing grace would always give the desired outcome. Yet here I am, unsure if I would live to see another morning. I was uncertain if I would have to kill the man I loved even after all these years, like a brother. Unsure that winning this war would change anything about my life.

My driver looked back at me. “Boss, everything is clear for now. You can get out of the car.”

Roberto’s eyes were wild, feral like he’d imbibed a substance. When he neared me, I accused, “I thought you stopped that shit. Damn it, your head needs to be clear.”

He jerked his head back. “Come on, Gianni, I don’t do cocaine anymore.”

I held his gaze, and I knew different. “We can’t fuck up tonight. Let me do the talking. If he refuses to give me my money, we end him and as much of the Desire that we can. We’re on their turf, so we have to be careful they haven’t set us up with explosions.”

“No worries.” He opened his all-weather coat and pulled out a device. “This will detonate a bomb at Club Dreams. He’ll give us our money, and we still taking his life and all the mothafuckas out here.”

I gritted my teeth, knowing it wasn’t the time to argue or chastise him for not following my orders. He would be dealt with later. “Fine. We’ll do it your way if Wisdom refuses.” I reached in my pocket and quickly texted Diamond. Years ago, I learned to text unseen for moments like this after months of practice.

Don’t ask questions. Clear Club Dreams now. There is a bomb planted somewhere in the club.

Roberto grumbled, “I don’t like standing in the open like this. Where’s the bastard?”

“Our men are good soldiers. I have faith in them. And Wisdom is flexing his temporary power. He’ll be here, and he’s too arrogant and want to be heard to kill us all in one swoop.” A black Porsche drove up as I spoke, and Wisdom stepped out of the driver’s side. He appeared alone.

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