Page 11 of The Tallest Tower (Underbelly Enchanted)

“Even if we set my limited morality aside, and the fact Arch is a cop, you know Minka won’t have it. She flat-out told us. And I don’t know what you see when you look at that woman, Micah, but I don’t see a wallflower. She’s no damsel, standing by and letting us hurt the innocent. It’s not happening. So get the fuck over it and move on.”

“Income streams have dried up by half!” he booms, his voice echoing from tile to ceiling. “Half, Lix! Morals are fun, but starving men are known to set them aside for a meal.”

“Good thing we’re not starving, then.” I push up to stand and groan when my phone trills again.

I want to ignore it. I want to ignore every fucking thing and sit in silence. But of course I can’t.

I take out the device and spy a name that has the power to make me dance on a stage if that’s what the man wants, but I look to my brother and reiterate, “We are not starving. We have plenty of savings stored away. So calm the fuck down and get on board with the new order.”

I swipe my phone to answer and start toward the back door. “Mr.Cordoza.” The boss of all bosses, New York City’s kingpin himself. “How are you doing today?”

“There’s a girl on the television, Malone.”

Estefan Cordoza is old enough to be someone’s grandpa, but so powerful, he could snuff me and my brothers out in an instant. Even the brothers who live across the country.

His reach goes far, and keeps me and everyone else I know in line.

“Cannon,” he clarifies. “She causing trouble for you?”

“No.” I push through the back door and emerge onto the patio outside, taking in the late afternoon sunlight glistening off the pool’s surface, and the spring flowers blooming in every pocket of the yard. “She’s got nothing, Mr. Cordoza. Anyone who has something either wants to sell it back to us, or will break it the second they have it. She’s just noise.”

“She’s loud. Loud is only good when you command it. Do you have control of this, Felix, or are you asking me to step in?”

Ha!

For me to ask him to step in would be to owe a favor to the most powerful mob boss in the country.

Not a fucking chance.

One thing Timothy the Second taught me was to be weak for no one. No favors owed, no mercies given.

“I have it under control.” I stop at the edge of the pool and drop my free hand into my pocket as I watch my men walk the grounds of my property.

Large guns, larger muscle, and all of them counting on me to keep them employed. It might not be work that the IRS or FBI approve of, but these men have families. Mortgages. Wives who probably suck someone else’s dick. Divorces to fund, and child support payments to make.

“I’ll shut her down, Mr. Cordoza. You have my word.”

“Good.” He puffs on something on his end of the line—a cigar, I bet—which makes my stomach tug with want, then he exhales and smiles so I can hear it in his voice. “See that you do. I’ll have you over to the house for dinner this week.”

It’s not an invitation, but an order.

“I’d love to come.” I reach into the breast pocket of my jacket and take out a crumpled pack of cigarettes with garish pictures printed on the side. Something about cancer. Death.Don’t smoke, it’s bad for you. Selecting one and settling it between my lips, I put the packet away and replace it with a lighter. “Name the day,” I tell him. “My schedule is always open for you.”

“Feel free to bring your sister-in-law,” he chuckles, his tone entirely too friendly. “She makes me curious, that one.”

“Minka?” I light my cigarette and inhale until I feel the nicotine deep in my lungs. “She’s a bit odd. In the best way,” I amend quickly, because god forbid I offend the old guy. “But still, odd.”

“She’s a medical examiner?” he questions, though I know he knows. “Married to a cop.”

That cop is Archer fucking Malone. My brother. And the fact he’s married to the chief M.E. who Cordoza has a soft spot for is theonlyreason the kingpin didn’t run me over the second Tim died two months ago.

“I’ll let her know you’ve asked after her.”

“Do that.” Friendliness over, his voice hardens. “Take care of Ms. Cannon, Malone. Or bear the consequences of her big mouth. I won’t make this call a second time.”

“I’ll have her dealt with. Good day, Mr. Cordoza.”

He grunts in the back of his throat, part acknowledgement, part doubt. “Goodbye, Felix.”

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