Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
I looked at Don Russo again. “I know the tariffs have been a bitch, but this is not the way.”
Don Russo continued to stare at me, his thoughts impossible to gauge in that hard face.
“Trafficking women and lining our pockets from their labor is inhumane,” I said. “I’d rather take a pay cut than resort to that.”
“Wolfe.” Uncle Marco raised his voice. “Shut your goddamn mouth—”
“Leave us,” Don Russo said calmly.
Uncle Marco stared me down again, like there was so much he wanted to say but couldn’t. It was silent as everyone in the room paused, letting Don Russo’s orders fill every corner before they were obeyed.
They all filed out, their footsteps distinct against the tile floor. They shuffled out, and then the double doors closed.
Don Russo continued to lean against the desk, standing in his grand office with a desk he seemed to never use. His private patio had a sea view. Only the people closest to him got to enjoy it over a round of cigars—and I was one of those people. I busted my ass for Cosa Nostra because I was born in a life of crime, and I was bred for it.
Don Russo pushed off the desk then slowly walked up to me, his arms still crossed, his beard thick along his jawline. His dark eyes landed on my face and stayed there for a long time, giving that stare like he could see right through me. “Wolfe, I understand your reservations. But as I said just a few moments ago, it will be a separate crew. You’ll be excused from any responsibility.”
“And that makes it better?” I asked incredulously. “You expect me to just look the other way and pretend it’s not happening? That my paycheck doesn’t come at the price of a woman who just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time? Call me old-fashioned, but I like to pay for a woman who wants to fuck me with cash—not because she’s being forced to.”
“I’ll make sure you don’t receive any compensation from that side of the business—”
“We’re better than this, Don Russo,” I said. “You want to bring that shit to Sicily? That’s not organized prostitution—that’s rape. You think our business partners and acquaintances or even our enemies will respect us for that? I’d rather sell my house and drive a cheap car than lose the respect of everyone around me.”
“They don’t need to know.”
I released a frustrated laugh. “When have you ever buried a secret that didn’t pop up with the winter weeds?”
The man didn’t need to blink as he stared at me. “Wolfe, when you take over, you can do whatever you please.”
“What makes you think I’d want to take over an organization I don’t respect?”
His eyes hardened slightly at the insult, though the rest of his face remained neutral. But there was a stretch of silence so heavy it was almost suffocating. “I see that you’re angry right now.”
“No shit—”
“My empathy has its limits, Wolfe.” He raised his voice but only slightly, a quiet warning. “When you’re in charge, you have to think about the entire pack, not just a few wolves. I haven’t shared with you the full extent of our economic woes, but the tariffs aren’t the only issue we face.”
“Then share them with me, and we can forge a plan.”
He turned around and slowly walked back to the desk, leaning up against it once more. “The Romanos are making moves in Catania. My sources tell me they’re forging an alliance with the Skull King. Doesn’t make sense to do that, so they must be getting something out of it. On top of that, they’re replacing the customs officers with their own police operatives, intimidating our partnerships to secure their exclusivity, and so many other things.”
I wasn’t reactive—only proactive. Don Russo had a different philosophy, and that was exactly why we were in this mess. He chose to observe from a distance until the problem came to fruition. Whereas I liked to kill an insidious hatchling before it opened its wings for the first time. “Abandon this pursuit, or I’m gone.”
“You know that’s not how this works. You made a vow—”
“I vowed to serve Cosa Nostra with my blood, sweat, and tears.” My hand made a fist, and I placed it over my chest. “To remain loyal under pain of torture, to bury our secrets in graves no one will ever find, to serve my men like brothers and cousins distantly related in a family tree. I’ve done those things. But now you’ve changed the rules.”
He continued his hard stare.
“If you do this, I walk. And I know how fucking valuable I am. I know I’m the guy you can’t afford to lose.” I got into his face, just inches away from him. “So you better think about this really long and really fucking hard.”