Page 7 of Corrupted Empire

“They’re near the park,” Silvano informs me, shoving the phone back in his pocket and pulling out his gun. “If we head down Fourth, we should be able to cut them off, but…”

He trails off, lips clamping together, as though unsure of himself.

I shoot him a look. “But what? Spit it out.”

“But Gio and Dom should make it there around the same time,” he replies. “I think we should leave it to them.”

I gear down quickly as we approach a red light, taking a screeching turn down a back alley instead.

I frown. “What do you mean ‘leave it to them’?”

“Gabriel, you are under investigation for murder,” he says in a tone a little too sharp for my liking. “Do you really want to be caught speeding through the streets of New York to intercept a truck filled with guns and ammunition?”

We reach the end of the alley, and I take a sharp turn onto the street. Silvano slams into the door and swears under his breath. Serves him right.

“This is my empire we’re talking about, Silvano,” I bite out. “Instead of telling me to take a back seat, you should be figuring out a way to keep me out of jail. I want you to look into the cops who are investigating me. Find out their strengths, their weaknesses, whether you think it’s possible for us to grease their palms a little.”

We’re near the park now, and I keep an eye out for the stolen truck. Two Irish idiots carjacked it as it left the docks, apparently not realizing that we GPS track all of our shipments. They have been sloppy since Kevin Lynch took over, sloppier than they were under his predecessor, Patrick Walsh. The streets have been flooded with guns, drugs, and violence. I seem to spend all my time putting out one fire or another.

I spot the truck approaching in the distance and watch as Dom’s car flies out of a connecting street and fishtails in front of it.

“Focus on the lead detective, Ruby Flint,” I continue, pulling the emergency brake and sending us flying into the next lane of traffic so that we stop just behind Dom.

Silvano’s eyes widen as the truck continues to barrel toward us. I grab my gun and check that it’s loaded.

“If we get her on our side, the rest should fall like dominos,” I continue, resting my hand on the door handle and looking over at Silvano. “Yes?”

He nods hurriedly. “Yes. Of course.”

“Good.”

I hop out of the car and meet Dom and Gio, who are both shooting at the approaching vehicle. The truck’s brakes squeal, and it lurches toward us, stopping a scant few feet ahead. We storm the cab, and Dom and Gio pull the two men to the pavement and rip the weapons from their hands while I point my gun between them.

“Dom, take the truck to the warehouse,” I order.

Gio zip ties the wrists of one of the Irish thugs then moves to the other. He already knows to take them back to the mansion for questioning.

I address the two would-be thieves, who are spitting and cursing at Gio as he secures them. “You’re both going to be questioned, but only one of you will get to live,” I say. “If I were you, I’d be thinking of the most useful testimony I could provide.”

I doubt we’ll get much out of either of them, but it’s worth trying.

Silvano doesn’t say anything as I get back in the car. I start back for the mansion, considering his advice as I drive. I have always operated as much of the business as I can personally, and the thought of taking a step back doesn’t sit right with me.

Then again, he is right. I’m on the knife’s edge at the moment. People have always tried to keep tabs on Gabriel Bellucci, the enigmatic billionaire. Now I’m a suspected murderer as well. More people than ever before will be watching me. The longer the murder investigation and my war with the Cartel drag out, the more my businesses and the people who rely on me will suffer.

All I know for certain is I need to get this city back under my thumb soon. And to achieve that, I’ll do whatever it takes.

* * *

The mansion feels quiet without Alexis and Harry in it. I thought I would get used to the sensation, but it has lingered. Even here in my office, where I would normally never be able to overhear them, I can somehow still sense their absence. The house feels hollow. Vacant.

I minimize the document on my screen and open up the security footage from inside Alexis’ apartment. I know I shouldn’t. I tell myself that I am simply looking in on my son, but if that’s the case, then why do my eyes leave the crib, where Harry is wiggling around in his pajamas, to follow Alexis around the nursery?

I cannot see the features of her face clearly, but they are forever imprinted in my mind—her cupid’s bow lips, the graceful line of her nose, the round cheeks full of laughter, those sparkling blue eyes. The camera picks up the sensual flare of her hips, and her high, round tits. I’ve never seen a creature more perfect. She is built for seduction, and I have fallen victim to that honey pot time and time again.

I watch as she grabs a book from the shelf in the corner and brings it over to the crib.

“What about this one?” she asks.

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