Page 2 of Little Mouse

And that will be the day I lose all my freedoms.

I pour their drinks and bring it to them, carefully moving to the window as they sit and talk. They don’t mince their words or watch what they say around me. Frankly, they don’t care what I hear because to them, I’m not smart enough to understand. Or they figure the fear of what will happen if I open my mouth is enough to keep it shut.

They are right, but still, I file everything away, careful to keep my head down and pretend I am not listening.

Finally, they stand to leave. I don’t let my relief show. Instead, I kiss their cheeks as is the custom and walk them out. Lorenzo smirks at me as he walks out the door, but my uncle stops and turns to look at me. “Your days here are numbered, Giulia,” he tells me calmly, his tone, however, hard as steel. “I suggest you enjoy your last moments of freedom, because soon enough, you’ll be some else’s problem.”

“Yes, Uncle,” I say softly, holding his gaze.

I see the violence swirling in their depths, before he gives me a curt nod and strides out. I softly shut the door behind him, locking it and blowing out a breath as I press my head to the door, trembling.

Tonight went smoother than I thought but still, I know I will need to see to the bruises that will line my stomach and ribs. And I will have to check my hair and make sure I find the patches that were ripped out. It wouldn’t do to be seen with hair missing, after all.

My father will probably be here in the morning, especially after hearing my uncle was here. He’ll want to know what was said, to know what my uncle is planning. It’s no secret that my father and uncle are at odds. My uncle wants the power and position my father has as the firstborn, but he’s too spineless to take it. For all his power and bravado, he won’t try to overthrow my father because he knows he won’t have the support of the other mafia bosses around the country, or the popularity. I’m not foolish enough to think he won’t still try at some point. His ego will only allow this to continue for so long.

Lorenzo wants my brother’s position as our father’s right hand man, but he won’t want to serve my father. He’s far too power hungry, and he doesn’t get along with my brothers or have the same ideals. So, he’ll wait until his father tries to take the position for himself. My father expects it to happen eventually, and I have a feeling that he’s going to try and use me to make sure it doesn’t.

I turn and walk back to the window and look out at the city below. And as I stare at the people walking along, I wonder what it would be like to have the freedom of not having a care in the world. And maybe one day I’ll know. Until then, I’ll watch from my window and wonder if this is what prison feels like.

CHAPTER2

Nico

I liftmy gun and fire a bullet into the middle of the man’s forehead across from me, watching dispassionately as he falls to the floor. No one else in the room moves, watching with blank expressions on their faces. They know better than to show a hint of remorse, guilt, or anger toward the fucker on the floor. He was a traitor, and I don’t put up with traitors. Let it be a lesson to them of what happens should they cross me.

I set the gun down on my desk, still within reach, and sit back in my seat before turning my eyes to my right hand man, Dante. Dante’s only acknowledgment is to order the other men in the room to get the body out of here and to summon one of the staff to come and clean up the blood from the carpet.

Once the room is cleared and Dante does an obligatory sweep for any bugs, he sits in the chair across from me, and regards me with cool blue eyes. Dante is the exact opposite of me in looks. He gets his dark skin from his African mother, and his blue eyes from some long lost European ancestor on her side. His father, my uncle on my mother’s side, is full blooded Italian. Though he is unrecognized as a member of the Armani family due to his father raping his mother when she was on vacation with her family. Still, the man is family, and has proven himself time again. Including helping me kill my father. He didn’t bat an eye when I told him I wanted him to work with me and be my right hand; he just came in and got to work.

It is customary in my family for the children to overthrow their fathers, and in my case, I managed that at the age of twenty-seven, with the full backing of my father’s men. After all, he stupidly cut their wages and let most of them rot in prison for shit he made them do. Such things never build loyalty. Of course, none knew the whole thing was my idea, and it ensured their loyalty to me when I promised to bring them back to their former levels with some extra perks. Until now, I’ve had no problem, but it seems some are getting greedy, and I won’t allow that to continue.

“Sofia is going to have your head for staining the carpet again,” Dante remarks, a small smile kicking up the side of his mouth. He rarely let his true emotions show unless it is the two of us alone. He also has a thing for my housekeeper, a stubborn woman of thirty-two who makes sure my home is kept in pristine condition. He thinks I’m unaware of their little relationship, but there is nothing in my world I don’t know. I make sure to keep on top of everything, including the affairs of my staff. Still, Dante never thinks with his cock, so far be it from me to step into that shit.

Though the moment things go south, I will have to step in and get rid of her. Housekeepers are a dime a dozen, so she can find another place of employment quick enough. Though, if Dante told her something he shouldn’t have, I’ll have to kill her. I never enjoy killing women, especially ones that don’t really have a reason to be six feet under, but a man of my station doesn’t flinch at killing anyone.

“And I should care?” I ask smoothly, wondering if this will be the moment he admits to their little tryst. “It’s her job to see to it.”

Dante shrugs. “The last time you killed someone in here, she cursed you to your face and told you to stop behaving like an animal in your own home.”

That vaguely rings a bell. I found it amusing since she is still living. My housekeepers before her were terrified of me and tried to keep out of my way as much as possible. A few were brave enough to question or contradict me, but they learned the error of their ways. They were soon out of a job or in the case of one man, ended up in the ocean as shark food. Sofia Cattaneo has not yet gotten to that point, but I will only allow so much insolence before I remind her just who runs things.

Still, she is the best housekeeper I’ve ever had, and to train a new one will be a pain in the ass.

“Knowing Sofia, she was in place to clean from the moment I called him here. Anyway, I don’t care to talk about things that don’t matter. Are we all set for our meeting this afternoon?”

This meeting will set the stage for big changes here in New York. Especially, with regards to the other bosses. The De Luca family in particular. Rumor has it there is growing tension between the two brothers, and the younger brother is displeased at how his elder brother is running things. My men haven’t been able to get anything concrete, but what I know of Giovanni De Luca, he won’t be waiting much longer. Unlike his brother, he lets anger cloud his judgment. A bloody battle is coming, and I for one, will not be allowing myself to be pulled into it.

I have grander plans that involve them both being out of my way. They may start the war, but I will finish it.

“Everything is set,” Dante assures me.

“Good. You can go.” With my dismissal, I turned my attention back to the reports in front of me. If there is one thing I do better than my father, it’s keeping my empire running seamlessly. My men report to me, and I know exactly how much product we’re moving, and how much money I’m making. Which is why the others in this God forsaken city are far below me.

My reports are also how I spot those who dare to steal from me. And these reports are secret from my men. As far as they are concerned, Dante is the one who keeps me abreast, and I’m happy to keep things that way because it allows me the freedom to keep information to myself. And it keeps my men on their toes.

Dante leaves the room as Sofia enters, and they share a quick glance before she focuses her attention on me. I hold her stare as she puts her hands on her hips and narrows her dark eyes at me. She’s an exotic beauty from Sicily with long, curly black hair that she keeps pinned up in some kind of messy looking style. She’s wearing her standard uniform of black pants that hug her legs and rounded hips, and a white top she currently has covered with some kind of apron. On her feet are a pair of sturdy black shoes. She’s really a gorgeous woman with the kind of spirit some men find attractive, but to me, she’s nothing more than a housekeeper and a pain in my ass.

“You couldn’t have at least killed him in the hallway?” she demands, scowling at the stain in the rug. “Do you know how hard it is to get blood out of this rug? Or do you just like making me work for hours on end?”

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