Page 3 of Claimed By The Devil

I hold Jimmy back and watch her as she moves down the hall. She walks like an angel, and I have to shake myself back to reality.

“Where do we meet him?” I ask Jimmy.

“There’s an office in the back. He’s in there waiting,” he replies.

2

THE MEETING

DANNY

Bobby Vito is seated at the head of a small conference table when Jimmy and I come into the room. There are two thugs guarding the door who turn and try to stare us down, but I don’t play that game. I bow my chest and look down at the little weasels. They won’t back down in front of their boss, but tiny beads of sweat begin to form on their foreheads.

“Let them in. Come on,” Bobby bellows, and his henchmen move to the side. I give them a big grin on my way by and say, “It’s alright fellas, you can stop shitting your pants now.”

“Thank you for coming to celebrate my nuptials,” Bobby tells us.

“Thank you for having us,” I reply.

When the pleasantries are out of the way, he says, “Let’s get this business over with so we can get back to the party. It cost me enough. I ought to enjoy myself.”

“Of course, I’ve had some time to consider your offer and the percentages are fair. I’m on board with the business side of things,” I begin.

“The business side? What else is there?” Bobby asks me. His belly jiggles a bit when he laughs.

I’m about to formulate my answer, but before I can say a word we hear a crash, a woman’s scream, and the sound of glass breaking. Our instincts kick in and we all reach into our jackets but the rules were clear. No weapons are allowed at the wedding. Bobby’s men throw open the door and step out. There were no gunshots, so I’m pretty certain that Jimmy and I can handle whatever’s out there, and we slip out right behind them.

“Awe, damn it. You have to do that here when the boss is doing business inside?” one of the henchmen says.

I put my hand on his arm and move him aside so that I can see who he’s talking to. One look and fireworks go off inside my head. Heart racing, I rush past the henchmen and grab one of Bobby’s other boys by the throat. I lift him off of his feet and drag him across the hall slamming him into the wall.

“What the hell? Get off me, man,” the man chokes.

“What do you think you’re doing? Did you put your filthy hands on her?” I snarl.

“What do you care? Her own father doesn’t care if we mess with her,” he says and I see red.

I’m pounding his head into the wall when Bobby Vito comes out into the hall.

“You don’t ever touch her,” I scream.

My victim holds up his hand, but I snatch it in mine and break two of his fingers. He cries out as the bones crack one at a time.

“Calm down, Danny. That’s my guy. You gotta let him go,” Bobby says,

“He has no right to disrespect Deirdre. He needs to learn a lesson,” I growl back.

“What do you care? She’s my kid. You don’t have a claim on her,” Bobby replies.

I let go of the man’s throat, and he slides down the wall and crumbles onto the floor.

“I do now. She’s part of the deal. From now on, your crew will show her the same respect that they’re gonna show me,” I tell him.

“You’re telling me that you want this girl or no deal?” Bobby asks me.

“That’s right,” I hold firm.

Bobby shrugs his shoulders and says, “Take her.”

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