Page 82 of Forgotten Deeds

“Thanks for saving me.” Luca chuckles.

“And Kat, does she need saving?” I ask.

“Enzo’s delivering her to AC,” Romeo answers my question.

“In good condition?”

“For now,” he tells me, and I suppress my sigh of relief. “Kat’s been instructed to secure another invitation to deal. You’ve taken out Russel, but I suspect John will continue with business as usual.”

“Some of that ‘business as usual’ is being conducted in Newark.” I report what I’ve learned from Big Benny, pulling the file from my gym bag and handing it over.

Flipping through it, Romeo passes the file to Sammy. “Put Fabio and his crew on watch in AC. Darius, I want you to hang tight in case you need to visit the motel again,” Romeo instructs me.

“Will do.” Works out perfectly for me, because I didn’t want to be away from Lily and Iris for that long.

“Darius, come with me,” Romeo commands.

“Glad to see you up and at it,” I tell Luca, fist bumping him.

“Don’t tell Nicky that.” Luca shakes his head.

“Sammy,” I nod before following the boss to his office. He slides behind his desk, and I take a seat across from him.

He pins me to my chair with his hard gaze. “What if Kat knows more than she’s letting on? She passed the polygraph, but that test isn’t one hundred percent accurate. Are you with blood, or are you with the family?”

“I’m not really with the family, now am I?” I challenge.

“You’re family as far as I’m concerned,” Romeo tells me, leaning back in his chair.

“But I’ll never be made.” It might be petty, but I air the grievance I’ve been carrying around for years; my insecurity Sergio tried to capitalize on.

“Don’t I treat you like you’re made?” Romeo counters.

“Not the same,” I tell him.

He waves his hand. “What do you need? More money? Name your price.”

“It’s not about the money; it’s about the respect.”

“Matteo was made. Did I fucking respect him?” he demands.

“No,” I admit.

“There are some old ways even I can’t change,” Romeo tells me. “Greek blood runs through your veins and Italian through mine, but we’re family as far as I’m concerned.” Retrieving his knife, he pricks the palm of his hand.

Turning the knife handle-side out, he hands it to me. I likewise prick my palm, returning the weapon.

“You have my imprimatur as boss of this family.” He rises behind his desk, extending his hand. I stand, and we shake on a blood oath. He narrows his eyes at me as he takes a seat. “Now, if you’re wanting a fucking hug, go find Sam.”

I chuckle, taking a seat. “Only if I’m wearing spiked armor.”

“Everything settled with your family situation?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“I don’t want any problems,” he warns.

“Me neither, boss.”

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