Page 71 of Shackled By the Mafia Boss

I’ve never felt anything like this before—never cared to feel anything like this before.

“How many men do we have to spare?”

“Fifty,” he answers. “We have several watching the warehouses and guarding each of the businesses.”

“Put a crew together. I want to know everything she does. Who she meets and who meets her.” I smooth my suit jacket and stand. “This must be done discreetly.”

“Yes, Chief.”

My phone rings and I slide it out from my pocket. An unknown number flashes on my screen and I recognize Vincent’s voice when he speaks. “Marcus Romano, it’s been while.”

“Has it? It still feels like it was yesterday when I gave you that warning not to mess with me or my family.”

“You did?” He pretends like he’s thinking. “I don’t remember.”

“I’m sure a few punches and a gun to your temple will refresh your memory.”

His evil laugh makes my nostrils flare. “Maybe not.”

Bile climbs up my throat. Talking to this old fucker is so much more disgusting than swimming in a pool of fetid water would be. “What do you want?”

“I received your message, but you shouldn’t have gone for my nephew.”

“You set your nephew up, used him and killed him. I can’t see how any of that is my fault,” I retort angrily. “You’re a pig who kills his own blood, it’s disgusting.”

“Ah, I see.” He chuckles darkly. “How about we put this conflict between us to an end once and for all?”

“What do you propose?” I don’t trust Victor to keep an agreement, and he wouldn’t propose an alliance if he has nothing to lose or gain. And right now, he has neither of those. The old fart is full of tricks.

“How about a meeting tomorrow?”

“Why would I meet with you?”

There’s silence for a moment, then he clears his throat. “Because I’ll have something with me you’ll need. Maybe we can broker peace between our families for the first time.”

“First time?” This old geezer must think I’m stupid. My father brokered peace between our families when he let them regain their power and territory in New York. That didn’t stop Victor from attacking and stabbing us in the back. “What is the guarantee anything will be different this time?”

“Trust me, it will.”

“Trust is not the word you want to use.” I would rather trust a snake than him.

“I’ll text you the address. Make sure to meet me there,” he says. “You don’t want to miss the surprise I have in stall for you.”

He hangs up before I can answer.

I drop my phone from my ear and my fingers tighten around it. Antonio watches me closely. “You’re not planning on accepting his invitation, are you?” he says when I don’t answer, “That geezer cannot be trusted, you don’t know what he has in stall for you.”

I agree with Antonio. Even if I were a fool, I wouldn’t agree to a meeting in Victor on his terms in a location of his choosing. The old dog has tricks up his sleeves and I will not fall for that. “Have some of our men keep a close eye on Victor. He’s planning something and we need to know what it is.”

Antonio nods. “Will do, Chief. Shouldn’t the Capo know about this?”

“I’ll meet with my brother tomorrow, just do the things I asked for now.”

“You got it, Boss.” He starts for the door, his feet thumping loudly on the marble floor as he leaves.

“Where are you going?”

He opens the door and pauses. “To the club. I have a bad feeling about tomorrow and who knows? This could be the lastpussy I get before I die.” He leans on the door frame. “You sure you don’t want one from the club? Given your situation with the detective, I don’t think she’ll be willing to offer hers up for you to eat.”

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