Page 18 of His Violent Vow

Tomas might call himself the Don of his own family, but at his very core, Tomas was simply a coward. Unlike Angelo, who was occasionally hands-on, Tomas preferred ordering others to tidy up his messes for him.

“Contact the messenger again. I’ll agree to a meeting, not on Tomas’s turf or ours. Neutral territory,” Angelo said.

“Understood, Boss, I’ll contact you soon,” Leo said.

Angelo ended the call and smiled to myself. Tomas probably wanted to strike some kind of deal, not understanding that the time for making bargains was long over. Only the bloodshed and killing was left.

Angelo glanced at his wristwatch. It had a large scratch but the watch used to belong to his predecessor so it held some sentimental value to Angelo. He had to get to work, because Angelo only had a few hours to plan Tomas’s murder.

Chapter Nine

“Boss,” Leo said as he opened the car door.

Angelo emerged and straightened his suit. Leo glanced at the pizza place across the street. His lieutenant looked worried but Leo was a soldier through and through.

He wasn’t Theo, who didn’t hesitate to tell Angelo his opinions. If Theo were here, he’d be against this meeting completely. He’d say it was a trap—but Angelo knew that as well.

“I’m not Theo, but I’ll do my best to watch your back,” Leo finally said.

“Good,” Angelo said.

He crossed the street, not bothering to look behind him. Angelo knew his men fell behind him automatically. He trusted each one of them to watch his back. Tomas posted one of his men at the entrance of the restaurant. The man let Angelo and his men through without batting an eye.

There was no security process. He didn’t even confiscate their weapons. Sloppy, Angelo thought, unless that was intentional.

At this time of the day, the restaurant would be filled to the brim with the lunchtime crowd. Tomas must’ve convinced the owner to shut it down for the afternoon.

Tomas’s underling led them to the only occupied table in the restaurant. The large circular table was meant to sit a large family. Tomas sat with his back facing the wall. Angelo came with four men. Tomas surrounded himself with six. There were probably more stationed where Angelo could not see them.

His group was outnumbered but that didn’t worry Angelo. His men were seasoned fighters, some were hardened mercenaries, and others were ex-military, but they all swore an oath of unflinching allegiance to him. Tomas, meanwhile, always replaced his men. None lasted more than a few months. Angelo knew Tomas’s men were only devoted to him as long as Tomas kept issuing them paychecks. True loyalty could not be bought with money. Tomas had yet to learn that lesson.

“My old friend, it’s nice to see you,” Tomas said, rising to his feet.

With his busy white beard and rosy cheeks, Tomas always reminded Angelo of Santa Claus in a suit. Tomas wore a perpetual jovial expression on his face, even now. Angelo wished he could rip off that fake mask. Tomas held out his arms, as if expecting Angelo to hug him back. Angelo stayed where he was. Tomas awkwardly dropped his arms by his sides. He let out a disappointed little sigh. All Angelo wanted to do was punch his lights out but he controlled himself. The last thing Angelo wanted was for Tomas to see him lose his cool.

“I can’t say the same seeing as you’ve sent assassins after me and my wife,” Angelo said curtly.“Twice.”

Tomas waved it off as if hiring killers to off a former ally didn’t matter.

“That’s what we’re here to discuss. Please sit. This has all been a misunderstanding,” Tomas said smoothly.

Leo pulled out a chair for him. Angelo sat but his men remained standing. The same went for Tomas’s hired underlings. One could cut the tension in the room with a knife.

He didn’t miss the way Tomas’s men touched the butts of their guns, ready to draw at any moment. His own men didn’t flinch or make any sudden moves but Angelo knew they would react in a timely matter if Tomas played them false.

“So you deny you had any involvement in the assassinations?” Angelo asked in a flat voice.

“Well, I was angry, you see?” Tomas didn’t even have the gall to deny his crime.

Tomas continued,“Can you imagine my shock when word came to me that you would marry Don Aldo Marino’s bitch daughter? I didn’t even know that old bastard had any children left.”

Tomas laughed. One of his men refilled his empty wineglass. Angelo remained silent and allowed this fool to keep talking.

Tomas took a sip, then asked.“Ah, please forgive my manners. Do you want anything to drink, Angelo?”

“No, thank you. I won’t be staying long,”Angelo replied.“I have another meeting to get to after this.”

“I won’t poison you, if that’s what you’re thinking. Using poison is beneath me and my familia,” Tomas said.

---