Page 34 of Owned By the Mafia

I hear the click of a gun in the background of the call as she says, “Yes, we do.”

The phone line goes dead, and I take off.

Chapter 18 - Dinara

I hang up, drop the phone onto the bed beside me, and turn to look at the end of the gun Callum is pointing at me. The sheet is pulled over my naked body and tucked under my arms. He snuck into the apartment while I was asleep, and this is what I woke up to.

He let me answer that call from Robbie because it was a power move. He is toying with Robbie and me.

“I knew he’d fuck you,” Callum laughs a little manically. “I knew he was obsessed with you. You’re going to be the downfall of the Irish, and I won’t let that happen. God, Robbie is so predictable. I can guess his every move.”

“This isn’t what you think, Callum.” I keep my voice calm so as not to startle him. “I’m not here to betray the Quinn family.”

“The Quinn family has already betrayed us by siding with our sworn enemies. Our families are meant to be at war. It’s the natural order of things. This getting along and existing peacefully should never have happened, and families outside New York have noticed. It’s only a matter of time before New York belongs to my new partners. Then, we will move on to the territories outside New York and own the states. From east to west, north to south. We will be unstoppable.”

I shake my head. “It’s the natural order of things, but you’re siding with Italians anyway. Isn’t that a bit hypocritical?”

Callum glares at me, his rage rolling over me like six-foot waves. His face goes red as he speaks again, “You can’t win a fight without an arm. We’re not fucking each other. We’re just business partners. When this is over, the men will be loyal to me, and I will overthrow these little assholes just as easily as I’m going to overthrow Ronan Quinn and his pussy brothers.”

Painstakingly slowly, my hand slides inch by inch toward Robbie’s pillow as I hold Callum’s attention. “His brothers are much more formidable than you make them out to be. You may want to reconsider your position.”

“Never! Ronan sold us out. My partners and I are going to make quick work of him and any man who stands beside him no matter how long I’ve known them or how we’re related.”

My hand is almost to the pillow when Callum looks around. “The family we’ve temporarily partnered with will make quick work of the Sorvino, Volkov, and Quinn coalition. When the dust settles, there will be a new head of family.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Callum. When the heads of the families find out about this, you’ll be tortured and killed along with the Baldocchi family members who have dared to defy them. You seem to think they’re weak, but they’re not. They’re stronger than ever.” My hand slowly slides under the pillow. I’m praying his gun is still there where he keeps it, and he didn’t take it with him.

Callum laughs and shakes his head. “This isn’t a game to me, Russian. This means everything. I have given up everything to see this happen.”

Callum tilts his head to the side and sighs, and at the same time, my fingers find Robbie’s handgun. I feel the safety is off and wrap my hand in position as Callum speaks again. “I’m going to enjoy watching Robbie grieve for you. I do love watching him suffer.”

“I would say the same, but once he learns you’re a traitor, I don’t think he’ll care you’re dead.”

Callum knits his eyebrows together, confused, and I whip the gun out and shoot him in the chest. Reflexively, he pulls his trigger, catching me in the arm.

I yelp as he falls to the floor. I look at him, a trickle of blood coming out of his mouth as he gasps. I keep the sheet tightly wrapped around me and get up, kicking his gun away. I pick up my phone and text Robbie.

Stay where you are. I’m good.

Problem sorted.

Chat later.

D

I throw my phone back onto the bed and kneel by Callum’s head. I lift his head and put it in my lap. “Callum, is anyone else working with you?”

He looks up at me. I can see the life ebbing from his eyes. He smirks, and I reach over and press my finger into the hole in his chest. He coughs and splutters, trying to cry out in pain. I look down at him coolly. “Is there anyone else working with you?”

“He’ll betray you, just like he betrayed us.” I can barely hear him before he lets out a last breath. His dead eyes stare at the ceiling, and I drop his head unceremoniously to the floor.

The pain in my arm intensifies, and I check the wound in the mirror. That bullet is firmly in my arm, and I will have to go to the hospital to have it checked out.

With some difficulty, I find some clothes that will fit, and I get dressed. Hopefully, nobody recognizes Robbie’s clothes. We need to be more careful about keeping our secret, now more than ever.

I take my phone, order an Uber, and go outside to wait for them. I don’t want to draw too much attention to myself, so I have Robbie’s hoody on, just without my arm in the sleeve. I get in the cab and order him to take me to the hospital as fast as possible; I’ve already tipped him a thousand dollars.

The guy checks his phone for a second and then takes off. I’m pleased he isn’t an idiot.

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