Page 54 of A Game of Secrets

“Any movement?” I ask, pursing my lips as I subconsciously run my eyes over tonight’s collection details.

“Nothing new Boss, all seems above board,” he comments, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “Anything else Jax?” I ask, not looking up from the paperwork.

“Why do you have me tailing your dad again?”

I look up to see him watching me, curiosity etched deep into his young and inexperienced face. “I just want to make sure the old man stays out of trouble,” I reply, keeping my tone level, not wanting to let on it’s actually because I don’t trust the man, not since he started sneaking around and causing trouble on a few of his recent job runs. I’ve had Jax trailing him for a couple of weeks now and other than the fact that he has a sickening need to get his cock sucked by hookers, nothing new has come to light. Not yet at least. I know there’s something though, this gut feeling I have never usually lets me down. “You can leave,” I add, focusing back on the numbers in front of me.

Jax leaves without another word, another reason to keep him on, he’s smart and learning the rules quickly. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I reach to answer it. It’s Trigger, my second in command. I’d be lost without him, I owe the man my life. We’ve been caught too many times on the battlefield but we’re yet to be snuffed. “Trig,” I smile into the mouthpiece.

“Boss, you’re going to want to see this,” he breathes down the phone. For fucksake what now? “I’m sending you a photo.” My phone buzzes as the image comes through, I zone in on the image of that piece of shit Salvatore holding onto Lucille at her front door. My anger bubbles and I can feel it sitting heavy in the pit of my stomach, a horrible volcano of acid, ready to erupt.

“When was this?” I snap, almost crushing the phone in my grasp.

“About 10 minutes ago, he left and she went in alone, Boss. Nobody else has been around since.”

I grind my teeth in frustration knowing it’s time to cut this bullshit stubbornness and go and talk to my sister. “I’ll stick around tonight Max, don't worry.” Trigger adds, and that’s why he is my second, he will look out for her with his life and do whatever necessary to keep her safe, I don’t have to ask.

“Thanks Trig, I’ll relieve you in the morning. Eyes up brother.”

“Eyes up,” he responds and I hang up, throwing my phone across the room. Too distracted to finish adding up numbers now with the intrusive thoughts of the enemy touching my sister when I have repeatedly asked her to stay the fuck away makes me see red. I call it a night and head home.

After a long and sleepless night of thinking how best to approach the situation with Lucille, I find myself outside her apartment just as dawn cracks. I’ve given Trigger the nod to leave and taken up his watch post but my patience is wearing thin and I couldn’t care how early it is or whether she’s awake or not. I tap my knuckles against the door and surprisingly hear shuffling from the other side. A moment later Lucille, still dressing in mismatched pajamas, like she used to when we were younger, opens the door and frowns when she notices it’s me. “Expecting somebody else?” I ask, stepping past her into the kitchen-living area, not bothering to wait for her to invite me in.

Lucille eyes me up and makes her way to the fridge. “I was just making a coffee, do you want one?” She asks nonchalantly.

“No thanks, I’m sure you’ll be kicking me out soon after I say what I have too anyway.” I pull up onto a bar stool and take a deep breath, here we go. “Lucille, the Salvatore brothers are bad news.” I watch as she carries on pouring her coffee with little to no emotion showing on her face. “I don’t want you getting involved, for Teddy’s sake. I love you both so much but I’d never forgive myself if Teddy got hurt over something I can prevent.”

That does it. She snaps her head up and narrows her eyes at me. “Fuck you Max, don’t you dare!” she half spits. half shouts at me. “You have no fucking right to tell me who I can and can’t get involved with and don’t you DARE bring my son into this. You didn’t seem to care when you asked me to help at that fight night, so don’t you dare change your tune now!”

“Luci, you know I wouldn’t have asked if I had anybody else. These men are dangerous, ruthless, and they will stop at nothing to get what they want.”

“What, you mean like you?” she snaps back at me flaring her nostrils as she slams the milk container onto the counter top. “I know what they are, who they are, but you dear brother I have no fucking idea who you are anymore.” Her words hurt more than they should, everything I’ve ever done I’ve always tried to keep Lucille in the dark, especially with her past and her previous life, more so now she has Teddy. I love that boy like he’s my own, maybe that’s where I went wrong and now I’m paying the price.

“These men will hurt you.” I say, trying to get her to see reason.

Lucille’s face hardens. “Then it’s a good job I know how to patch myself up isn’t it,” she spits. “I know what it’s like to be hurt Max, in case you had forgotten.”

I stand up off of the stool and hold my hands up like I’m taming a wild animal. How could I forget that? That day, almost six years ago, when Lucille turned up out of the blue on my doorstep, battered and bruised half to death because her shit of a husband had too much to drink, will go with me to the grave. “This is different, Lucille. Vinny left you barely alive, these men will finish the job,” I say through gritted teeth, my hands shaking at my sides.

Lucille watches me and I can see the anger burning behind her eyes as tears threaten their escape as she all but croaks “Thank you Max, but I am fine. You do not need to concern yourself with my safety anymore.”

“I swear to God Lucille, if they so much as hurt one hair on yours or Teddy’s head, I’ll bring hell down on their entire empire and they’ll be sorry they ever messed with a Costello.” I grab hold of Lucille by her shoulders and make her look me dead in the eyes. “Take this as a warning, little sister. If they put so much as one foot wrong, I will burn them all to the ground one by one and dance on their remains.” I growl before I leave, slamming the door behind me.

Chapter 29

Silas

"Can we go get pancakes this morning for breakfast Uncle Cole?" Alesso asks as he's making his way into the kitchen where myself and Cole are having our morning caffeine fix. Linc is behind him on the phone.

"Make sure it's sealed and sent with the shipment tonight, Father. I don't want to hear anymore about it unless you want to be put on the chopping block for Cole to play with." Linc snaps, looking pissed but pockets his phone and grabs a coffee smiling at his son.

"Sure dude, we can go to Aunty Kim's diner. She's been banging on about seeing you," Cole answers Alesso with a big smile.

"Yessss! Can we all go or do you and Uncle Silas have to work Dad?" Alessandro questions, jumping up and down with excitement.

"I'm free as a bird this morning kiddo," I tell him.

Linc takes a gulp of his coffee, "As soon as I've finished this we can get going Son," gesturing to his coffee.

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