Page 37 of The Last Ones Standing, Part Two

“No,” Vito mumbles like a spoiled brat.

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I step into the Italian bakery a few blocks away from Vito’s shop. Then take a look around and head for the empty table toward the back.

I grab a newspaper that’s been left behind off another table as I pass by. Opening my suit jacket and taking a seat, I then pull my gun, covering it with the newspaper on the table. I’m never one to get caught slipping.

I sit back and pull my phone to check my messages and emails, still very aware of my surroundings. Seeing the time, I text my assistant to have her place an order for roses so I can pick them up when I’m done here.

I feel him approach a moment before the sound of a chair being dragged across the floor causes me to lift my gaze. Jackie takes a seat and looks around. Looks like Vito is having a problem in-house.

“I’m guessing you know Vito is a rat,” he starts.

“I know nothing, I just didn’t like the conversation.”

“He’s been moving strangely. I get the feeling the bastard is going to get us all knocked.”

“So how can I help you?”

“I’m here to help you. We all know Vito is a fuckup. His own father would have had him killed if he wasn’t his son, believe me. The crew and I see something coming and I’m trying to get ahead of it. Let me know how I can help you. All I ask is to run the crew when he’s gone.”

“How would I be able to do that for you?”

“You’re the guy. Everyone comes to you. I’m counting on you to figure that out.”

I nod. My plan already lining up in my mind. Remember, loyalty is everything to me, but a useful pawn is a useful pawn.

“Okay, I’ve got you, but remember, my favors have a cost. Call me,” I say and stand to leave.

Chapter 16

Where Is She?

Gio

I walk into the apartment and it’s too still. I place the bouquet of flowers down and release a heavy breath. It’s been a long day and all I wanted was to come in and find Ny here.

I look at my watch and growl. It’s after two in the morning. The elevator dings behind me and I spin to see who’s coming up. Jace steps off the elevator with an annoyed expression on his face.

“Where is she?”

He frowns and tosses a phone at me. I catch the phone against my chest with one hand. Looking down at it, I find a picture of a dead Vega sitting on the shitter. I snort.

“Thanks, but that’s not what I asked you about,” I say.

“I wouldn’t know where she is, I was handling that”—he points to the phone in my hand—“and seeing to the list of shit you gave me to handle. I thought you were going to meet her,” he says dryly.

“I couldn’t get away. You’re not the only one working on cleaning up this mess. I had to call Ming for a favor. She met her. Why don’t you call her again and find out what happened?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “I called her to let her know I was dropping my bike off for Ny. I knew you weren’t going to make it, and she was going to be pissed.”

“So you give her a way to get away from us?”

“I gave her a way to get out of her emotions. You know her. We’d be fighting with her right now instead of each other.”

“Fuck, at least I’d get makeup sex,” I snarl. My phone rings, cutting into our argument.

I take it out and answer. “How you doing, Dario? What do you need this time of night?”

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