Page 16 of Demanding Mob Boss

He turns green, but he leaves the room before he vomits. Almost everybody throws up the first time. Some never stop. As long as they don't show weakness in front of the enemy, I don't care how fucking fragile their stomachs are.

It's not Connor's fault, but the guy he's questioning with his fists doesn't know who else deals in the city. Just like all the others, he's only ever been assigned to one spot. They all get product and instructions from the same guy. I got his name from the first dealer I strung up.

They all say the same thing. None of them think he's very high up in the gang hierarchy though. Another thing that pisses me off is that these dealers don't know jack about their gang's plans or even the leadership structure. How the hell do the dealers not know who they're working for?

They're members of Kicks Bandidos and all wear the same high end brand running shoes to prove it, but their only point of contact after induction is their supplier.

I did learn that the head of the gang goes by the nameEl Fantasma. I'm Irish and my Spanish is basic, but I know that meansghost. Is the guy trying to be clever, or does he have a reason for keeping his real identity a secret?

The FEDs might not know for sure that I'm the Doyle & Byrne mob boss, but my men sure as hell do. And the FEDs suspect. They'd have a file on me an inch thick, if I didn't have someone on the inside of the FBI that makes sure reports get deleted and paper trails disappear.

My people are good at covering our tracks, especially mine, in the criminal underworld, but the Doyle & Byrne mob has been in Chicago for more than a century. They know someone is the boss, just not who.

We'll knowEl Fantasma's real name soon enough. No matter how good his people are, mine are better.

I send Lachlan and his team out after the supplier. If we don't take him tonight, Quinn's people might get to him first. I want the information before anyone else gets it.

I'm competitive that way. Information is power.

ANNA

Ini and I are having dinner with Mrs. Hart.

I made spaghetti. It's an easy meal to stretch and the leftovers are good. I know Mrs. Hart will have enough for the next day. I made extra garlic bread too and the family size can of green beans. They only cost a little more than a single can and there's enough for all of us and leftovers. Because I’m making more money than I ever have, I even splurged on real bacon bits to flavor the green beans.

"You two are too good to me." Mrs. Hart pats Ini's cheek and smiles at me, knowing I don't like to be touched.

We're all eating at the tiny table in our friend's apartment. It's hard to believe she made room for me and Ini to live here. Even with two of us trading nights on the sofa and the floor, three women was a lot of people for such a tiny space.

"You should see all the eye candy Anna gets to enjoy everyday, Mrs. Hart." Ini grins around a bite of garlic toast. "Her boss even bought us lunch."

"Where did you say you're working now, dear?" Mrs. Hart asks me. "You do seem much more settled than you have been with your previous places of employment."

When I told her I got the job, she didn't ask much about it. I think she figured I'd be leaving it soon enough, no reason to learn about a place I wasn't staying. But I've been there a few weeks now. Even I think I'll be staying.

"I thought I was applying for a receptionist job at Doyle Construction, but it turns out I ended up working for Doyle & Byrne, the parent company."

Mrs. Hart's wrinkled face turns worried. "Did you say Doyle & Byrne?"

"Yes. I work in the president's office for his assistant, Connor Doyle."

"You're working for one of the Doyle's?" Mrs. Hart asks faintly.

Ini is starting to look concerned too, but I just nod.

"Thepresidentof the company? Cian Doyle?"

"You know who he is?" That makes sense. He's kind of a big deal in the business world, especially in Chicago.

"Oh, yes, but I don't think you do."

"What do you mean?" Ini asks, putting her fork down and staring at Mrs. Hart intently.

"He's the boss for one of the biggest factions of the Irish mob in Chicago. The only mob near the same size are the Murphys."

"How do you know that?" Ini asks.

"Young lady, when you have lived in Chicago for as many decades as I have, you learn a thing or two. When I was young, one of my friends cleaned house for the Doyles. Cian's father was in charge then. When he died two years ago, Cian took over, even though he was only in his mid-twenties."

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