Page 23 of Brutal Don

Dante stood up, studied his blood-speckled tie, and sighed. He would need to get rid of a once perfectly good tie.

“You two, I want you to deliver a message for me,” Dante told Luigi’s men. “I want all of Luigi’s lieutenants to know what exactly happened to your boss and who killed him. Anyone who raises a finger at me or a member of my organization will meet the same fate, you understand?”

“We understand, sir,” the older one answered.

“Gavin, escort these two gentleman out the door. If they try anything funny, kill them,” Dante said. Dante returned to his office. His cellphone was ringing. Seeing the name flashing across the screen, he answered the call right away.

“Tommaso,” Dante said with a heavy sigh. “There’s been a complication with our plans.”

Chapter Eleven

Ted Gambino stared at the latest text message he received. Unable to believe it, he read the message out loud:The Don is dead. Tommaso has called for an important family meeting.

Tommaso was giving orders to the family now? Ted let out a groan.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. His uncle had cut him off from the family for six months for his past vice—a prostitute he had killed accidentally while having some fun. Well, several prostitutes, actually, but who was counting?

Those women didn’t matter, just as Cara Strong didn’t matter. Ted didn’t know how that bitch had managed to wrap Dante Massimo around her little finger but he severely underestimated her.

This incident stank of Dante’s work. How could Luigi be dead? Luigi was supposed to work out a deal with Dante regarding the missing shipments and Cara.

His uncle had feared Dante’s wrath and didn’t want the Massimo Family as enemies. If Dante could kill the Don of an important crime family, then what fate awaited Ted? Probably nothing good.

A passing waitress asked him if there was anything wrong. One glare from him sent her running away. Fools. Ted hated working in this dingy little diner day in and day out, but Uncle Luigi told him to endure this humiliation a little while longer, just until he could bring Ted back into the fold.

That old man loved Ted better than his own son. Now, Ted had no supporters. It was all that blasted woman’s fault. Ted had some cash stowed away. He would leave this city, start fresh someplace else, perhaps somewhere with sandy beaches and beautiful women.

First, Ted had one nasty errand to take care of. Ted headed to his tiny office. He yanked the gun taped under his desk and tucked it in his belt. Then Ted exited the diner. Another waitress asked him if he was taking his break but Ted didn’t answer her. He was done working in this shithole. Ted took his battered old Chevy and drove toward the city center. If Ted knew Dante’s address, he would’ve gone to the bastard’s private residence.

Some people in the city might know, but Ted didn’t have access to any special resources now that Uncle Luigi was dead. Tommaso, that prick, was probably going to run the family business into the ground. Didn’t matter now. Tommaso cared little for Ted. Ted wouldn’t be surprised if Tommaso cut him off from the Gambino Family once he established himself as the new Don.

“Focus on the problem at hand, Teddy,” he told himself. “That bastard hasn’t won.”

Ted knew Dante Massimo’s offices at least. Massimo Towers might not be the tallest building in the city but it certainly was the most striking. It was shaped like a thin pyramid, and according to rumor, Dante spared no expense building it.

Ted parked his car opposite the grand-looking building. He checked his wristwatch. This might be a foolish venture. Ted didn’t have a clue what Dante’s schedule was. Hell, Dante might not even be in his office but he could wait. It wasn’t like Ted had any good prospects left.

He was desperate and Dante should fear desperate men. Ted took out his gun and checked the bullets. Five ought to be enough to take one arrogant bastard. Dante probably thought he was untouchable right now. He would never see Ted coming. It didn’t matter if Ted’s plan was reckless or if he died in the process. As long as Dante Massimo got his just desserts, that was good enough for him.

If Dante didn’t walk out of those doors today, Ted would try again tomorrow or the day after that. If there was one thing Ted was good at, it was disappearing. Laying low had always been one of his finer talents.

Ted turned the radio on to entertain himself. The hours dragged on. Ted kept his eye on the building. He checked his watch. It was almost the end of the workday. Of course, Dante seemed like the kind of man who worked overtime. Not like Ted had any place to go, not anymore.

A black sedan pulled up on the curb. That ignited Ted’s interest. He peered out the windows. A man in a suit got out from the driver’s seat, and opened the passenger door. Ted’s heart beat rapidly. It looked like someone important was coming out.

He didn’t recognize Cara at first. Ted was used to seeing her in her usual ugly waitress uniform. The woman that emerged from the sedan looked confident, beautiful, and a completely different person. Cara certainly upgraded herself after becoming Dante’s whore.

Rage curdled in Ted’s belly. That moment, Ted decided to change targets. It would be hard to pull off killing Dante anyway. Ted would gladly settle for the woman who ruined his life.

He wasn’t aware of Ted getting out of his car. Ted didn’t pull out his gun, not yet. Ted needed to look inconspicuous until he was close enough. The safety on his gun was already turned off. Ted was ready to go at any moment.

Fate must be smiling down on him, because after getting out of the car, Cara didn’t immediately enter the building. She pulled out her cellphone from her purse.

Ted was so close, he could hear her annoying giggle.

“I’m standing right outside the building,” Cara said. “Yes, I can’t wait to see you as well.”

Ted pulled out his gun just as the man who opened Cara’s door spotted him.

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