Page 59 of Little Mouse

It takes a while, and I have to admire the man’s stamina, but he, like everyone else, gives in when he can’t take anymore pain. Though that probably has something to do with Dante cutting off each of his fingers on his right hand. I always have to admire his technique, because Dante damn well knows how to get shit done and fast. I step forward after the last digit falls to the floor and say calmly, “What do you have to tell me?”

“Family is fighting,” the man gasps out. “Marco wants control, and so does Giovanni. Both are p-planning something. Girl is key to them.”

“The sister?” I prompt.

“Yes,” he gasps out. “G-Giovanni wants to marry her off to a Sicilian family and has already promised her to the son to secure their alliance, but they found out she’s missing and are coming to get her.”

“And they think I have her so they’re coming here?”

“I don’t know,” he gasps out. “But they’re coming to talk to Giovanni.”

“Hmmm,” is all I say, but my mind is already working on what to do with this information. After all, the Sicilians are a crazy bunch, and while I have no problem going toe to toe with them, it’s going to be a bloody war, and I’ll lose men before it’s over. “And what is Marco’s plan?” Matteo’s screams increase, and the venom in his eyes speaks volumes he doesn’t want his soldier telling me anything. Thankfully, the soldier doesn’t even look his way.

“Marco wants to take over everything and get rid of Giovanni and his father. So no one has a claim to the territory but him.” He lifts his gaze to meet mine. “Like you did,” he adds bravely. I don’t react to his statement. It’s old news by this point, and one I’m proud of so if he thinks that’s going to set me off, he’s wasted a precious final breath on it. When he doesn’t get the reaction he wants, he continues, “He’s planning to overthrow all the families in the city.”

Ambitious, and stupid, but not something that surprises me. Marco and Giovanni both have a hard-on for power, and they’re going to fall because of it. “And how exactly is he going to do that?”

“I-I don’t know, but I heard him talking about it to his brothers. Something about a merger, but he needs the girl to do it.”

“The girl as in the sister, or another woman?” I press.

“I assumed he meant the sister, but he’s been seeing a woman, so it could have been her.”

“And who is the woman he’s been seeing?”

“I don’t know. He never said, and I was always on another station,” he gasps out. “He keeps things close to the vest. But I heard something about he’ll kill them all and he’s planning on having the Sicilian’s as back up.”

I glance over at Matteo, whose face is almost purple from anger. The murderous look he’s giving the soldier speaks of how truthful the man is being. I look back at the soldier. “The same Sicilian’s as Giovanni, or another?” I ask him.

“D-Different,” he gasps out. “The Caruso’s.”

Now that gives me pause. The Caruso’s are a well known family that does things as brutally as possible. They also have never aligned with anyone outside of those in Europe, thinking that those of us here in North America are soft and weak. “And how did he plan on getting them?” I demand.

“M-Marriage,” he gasps out, “I think to the sister.”

So it seems that on all sides the Sicilians have been contacted. Looks like I have to get work. Instead of replying to the man, and knowing there isn’t much more he’s going to be able to give me, I grab the gun and kill him, giving him a much more merciful death than he deserves. Then I turn to Matteo. I put the gun to his head as I say, “Seeing as I told your father I will let you go, you’re going to take back a warning to your brother and uncle. They have no idea what they’re up against, and they will keep whatever family squabbles they’re trying to settle away from me and my territory if they want to live. As for your sister, if I find her, she won’t be going back to any of the likes of you.”

“‘Uff ‘ou,” Matteo snarls behind the gag.

“As much as I would love to make you pay for that, I don’t have time considering I have some calls to make,” I tell him darkly. “But remember, I did promise your father you would be coming back less pretty, so how about we get to work on that?”

CHAPTER26

Nico

I don’t knowwhere Gia is, but I don’t feel like dealing with her questions right now. Things are about to come to a head and I need to make sure I’m ahead of them. My gradual build-up to taking over territories is now coming to a screeching halt. The Russians and Irish will have to wait.

“Get Sofia and bring her to my office,” I order Dante as soon as I step out of the shower in the gym, wrapping a towel around my waist.

“Already done,” Dante replies, handing me a pair of lounge pants and t-shirt.

Once I’m dressed, I don’t waste time in heading to my office. I resist the urge to check on Gia. She’s safe with Davide, and he’ll ensure she’s not getting herself into trouble either. “When you drop that little bastard off, make sure the guys do it as roughly as possible.”

“Told them to get some energy out on the way there. But to make sure he stays alive.”

I nod, pleased. When we get to my office, Sofia is sitting on the sofa in the corner, waiting. “You want me to contact my family,” she says knowingly before I can get out a word.

Her brothers and father all work for the Caruso’s, and it’s because of her I have as good of a relationship with them as I do. Well, assuming she hasn’t told them how often I threaten to fire her or outright kill her. Those bastards are insane, and if anyone was going to find a way to kill me, it would be them. Though, I’d give them a run for their money. “Yes. It seems Marco De Luca is planning on a merger with the Caruso’s and I want to know what the hell is going on with that.”

---