“You’re a fool.Alessio doesn’t have the money or power, not even with Pietro as his don, to give you the other half.”
I nod to Noah.He cuts the man’s throat and jumps away to avoid the spray.I sneer at the growing mess and stalk across the room to the sink.
After thoroughly washing my hands and face, I accept a wad of paper towels from Noah and dab dry as I move out of his way.He cleans himself of phantom filth and offers me a curt thanks when I hand him paper towels.
“Cleanup is on the way, so we don’t need to stick around.You ready, boss?”Noah asks.
I grunt my response and head up the rickety steps.After leading him through the dilapidated apartment building, I stop on the sidewalk in the early afternoon sun and check Noah’s suit for stains.When I confirm he’s spotless, he does the same for me.
We must look ridiculous, two dangerous mafia men kitted to the nines, inspecting each other on the sidewalk in the slums, but today’s a big day.
Today I destroy the man who stabbed me in the back and left me for dead in front of NYC’s most powerful socialites.Today I claim the daughter he cherishes for my own.I’ll take her body and fuck her mind until she’s my little puppet instead of his.He’ll lose everything.
I check my phone as I unlock the car and contort my body behind the wheel.
Valentina hasn’t responded to my text.I didn’t expect her to, but indignation rises in me.
My phone has been nonstop buzzing since early this morning as the people I insinuated into the Denaros lives give me updates.The housekeeper confirmed delivery of my gift and sent notice of Pietro’s unexpected visit to Valentina’s room.The bodyguard posing as a patron in the room next to hers noted sounds of violence, but her drivers reported her not in distress and on time to her hair and makeup appointment.The stylists relay her arrival and departure times.
Over and over again, my phone pings, but I’m not annoyed.Everything is progressing the way I want it to.Nothing will go wrong today.
I press the ignition button and swing the SUV into traffic.
“Hey, boss,” Noah says as he filters through the notifications on his phone.
We receive many of the same messages, but for security’s sake, we also each have separate contacts according to our expertise.
I grunt my acknowledgment so he’ll say whatever is on his mind.
“Everything is set on my end,” he declares.
His tone implies there’s a ‘but’ attached to the end of his sentence.I glance at his profile, follow his attention down to his phone screen, and recognize the text sent by the faux patron.
I sigh.
“Check the footage from Valentina’s room this morning,” I growl.
I slam on the brakes and swerve as a tweaker wanders out in front of the car.
Murder may be a necessary evil in my line of work but showing up to the wedding venue with anything less than a pristine car would be tragic.I can’t toss a stolen mafia princess into a damaged, bloody chariot, can I?
Noah curses as his phone bounces off the dash, ricochets off the windshield, hits his shoulder, and disappears under his seat.
I don’t modify my driving.The streets of New York City aren’t a playground, and I have a wedding to crash.
Noah curses again and scowls at me when he knocks his head against his window as I navigate the busy roads.
“It can wait,” I snarl.
He glares harder.I shrug.
“She’ll be at the altar, that’s all that matters,” I say.
It’s a reminder to us both.I can’t allow my emotions to ruin our efforts.It doesn’t matter what happened between Valentina and her father this morning, so long as she’s alive and fuckable.
I pull up to the curb by the cathedral’s back entrance and put the car in park before stepping out onto the street.With a nod to the traffic cops sitting at the corner, I shut my door and toss the fob over the hood.Noah catches it and waits for me to round the front of the car and take the lead before following a few steps behind me.
Three other well-paid men with loyalties to themselves and the money in their bank accounts fall into formation behind me.
