Page 41 of Lordes

“Yes, Jamal did lure him there and he did kill him.”

“But you ordered it. You ordered the hit on a fucking ten-year-old boy.”

“You don’t know how this organization works. Dom orders the hit. I’m second in command. The mafia is like the military. You take orders. I took an order from the boss. Cenzo takes orders from me. There is a chain of commands. You don’t have to agree w with the commands. You only have to carry them out. Do you think I wanted to kill a ten-year-old boy? I didn’t. But in order for this to work you cannot question the boss. You can advise only if asked. Uncle Gianni is the Consigliere. Maybe I will run things differently when I’m in charge. But I’m not and until that time comes, I will take orders I will do as instructed I will kill those I want to save. The Bregoli Mafioso Family works this way for a reason.” Nicco guzzled down his scotch. “What other judgments do you have against me?”

“I’m not judging you. I only asked a question.”

“It seems like judgment. You have a lot of growing up to do.”

What he said maybe true but I was happy I didn’t grow up in the Bregoli Mafioso Family. The freedom to make your own decisions was lost in that organization. A sane person wouldn’t want to be a part of murder and mayhem. But I didn’t want to make him feel bad for his life choices. He was the eldest son and he didn’t have the choice he was groomed to be a mob boss and I was quite sure one day he would be.

Chapter Thirteen

LORDES

Ithought I was dreaming when I heard someone calling my name. I cracked one eye open and Bria was sound asleep next to me. I listen

ed, and I heard nothing. I concluded it was a dream.

All of yesterday’s alcohol was yearning to flow out of me. I got out of bed and went to the adjoining bathroom to piss, scotch, wine and all he liquids of the previous night. I didn’t bother to close the bathroom door. I stood there holding my water hose of a cock and then I hard a noise, one I couldn’t decipher. I stopped peeing midstream to listen in.

That fancy Glock19 Nicco gave me for my upcoming birthday wasn’t handy at the moment. It was in the bedroom, sitting in a drawer and not in this bathroom.

My building was secure, and breaking in here was not an easy task. It never happened before but there was a first time for everything. Something told me to stop my urine and arm myself. I rushed back into the bedroom and removed the loaded gun from the nightstand drawer.

“Lord, Lord.” I heard a male voice before I saw him. I could only take two steps toward the door when Christian appeared in the doorway. “Boss, I’ve been calling you. Why haven’t you been answering your phone?” Christian paused in the doorway visibly frustrated for some reason. He looked at me first and then past me to my sleeping Bria.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry.” He said in a hushed tone.

I stood there only wearing boxer briefs. I grabbed my gray sweats off the chair and slipped them on while he moved out of the doorway and disappeared into the hall. I followed him until we were downstairs in my living room.

I waved him into the kitchen, and he followed me. I didn’t want Bria to hear the conversation. I didn’t have anything to hide but when I thought about it. I had everything to hide. If she knew the truth, she wouldn’t be with me.

I sat the gun on the kitchen table and turned to Christian. What was so urgent, and why was he here?

“You didn’t show up at work.” He spoke first. His excitement had died down.

“Yeah, I was busy.”

“Busy?”

“I had a long night. Why are you here?” And why did he just use the code to let himself in? Christian has a tracking device on my cellphone, so he knew I wasn’t missing. I was at home.

“Okay, I am here because some CPD detective called the office. They want to interview you about Lillian Shelby.”

“When?”

“Today. In a few hours, I told them you would be in at two.”

“Where?”

“They are coming to the office. I checked your calendar, and you had some free time on your calendar. I made the appointment thinking you were coming into work like you do every day. It’s makes you look guilty if you don’t show up to the talk to the police.”

“I can’t look guilty if I haven’t done anything.” I stressed. Why was he so concerned? He knew better than anyone I didn’t have any contact with these women after I cut the check.

“You need to be back at the office in less than two hours. Take a cold shower. Get dressed. You can’t be late.”

“Fine. You’ve gone above and beyond. I will be there on time.”

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