Page 45 of Boardwalk Queen

My father had put distance between himself and the men years ago. After my mother’s death, he became more of a recluse. Paulie Amato was hisconsigliereand served as his middle man, while Nico handled the legal side of the business.

So instead of calling my dad, I dialed Paulie. He answered after several rings, his voice deep and groggy.

“Did I wake you?”

“No, it’s okay, boss,” Paulie muttered. “I’m awake now. What can I do for you?”

“Giancarlo Vianello is working with the Vitales. Do you know anything about this?”

“No,” he admitted. “This is the first I’m hearing. Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” I heard rustling in the background and then footsteps. “I’ll get some guys on him. What do you want to do about his daughter?”

“I will handle the girl.”

“You should speak to your dad about Ava. Salvatore won’t take too kindly to you whacking the girl without his permission.”

“I won’t hurt her. Not yet, anyway.”

“Talk to your dad. I’ll handle Giancarlo and the business with the Vitales.”

I called Paulie first because I wanted someone to tell me Ava was a loose end. Just another person who fucked us over.

Why did everyone like her?

She was so annoying and clingy, desperate for attention and affection. I fucking hated it. And yet, I didn’t completely hate her, which pissed me off even more.

“Wait until morning to tell your dad the news,” Paulie suggested. “He hasn’t been sleeping well and has been taking medicine.”

“Is he okay?”

“Yeah, sure. He’s just more stressed than normal. That’s all. Not a big deal.”

I thought it was odd Paulie didn’t want me to call my dad. And then I wondered if he was hiding something. He had been with my family for a long time. But ever since he suggested the engagement to Vittoria Vitale to my father, I doubted his judgment as the family advisor.

He went behind my father’s back to arrange a sit-down with Vincenzo Vitale. And he’d been taking unauthorized meetings outside the scope of his position. Nicodemus gave me daily updates on Paulie and his movements. The bastard brother was also suspicious and had voiced his concern to our father, who assured us we were paranoid.

Dad was too trusting of the people closest to him. Giancarlo had been his friend from childhood, and look at what that fucker did.

So we couldn’t trust anyone.

Not even Paulie.

“Let me know when you find Giancarlo,” I told Paulie. “I speak to him first. Understood?”

“Sure thing, boss.”

After we hung up, I sat in the kitchen for another hour, thinking about what to do with Ava Vianello. My brothers were going to give me fucking shit over her. All of them were obsessed with her golden pussy.

That only left one option.

ChapterFifteen

AVA

On my last day as Dante's slave, he stood in the entryway to my office and cleared his throat. I stopped typing and looked up from the computer screen. All-day, he ignored me, like I was a fixture on the wall. It wasn't as much fun being his slave as I had hoped.

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