Tesoro: Mayhem Makers

Chapter 2

Chapter

Two

DANTE

“We have a problem.”

Keeping my focus on the naked girl spinning on the pole in front of me, I half listen to Frank as I drain my glass, allowing the burn of the alcohol to trail down my throat.

“What kind of problem?” Angelo, my brother questioned beside me, adjusting in his chair as one of the dancers silently crawled under the table between his parted knees.

“Manny’s payment was half of last weeks. I tried to speak with him, but all my calls have gone ignored.”

Manny was a liaison of sorts, he had connections deep within the cartel, a cousin or some shit. We hired him to oversee our Dallas interests and collect payment from the business the cartel does for us.

“You still have contact with that cop?”

Snapping my attention to Angelo, his deep soulful eyes survey mine. Once we struck an agreement with the cartel, I’d taken a day to myself, toured around Dallas and found several properties I purchased, including an apartment building and a hotel. When I was about to leave, I met with a property manager who mentioned her brother was a police officer and did private security on the side. We struck a deal for him to live rent free in one of the units in exchange for keeping an eye on things.

“I’ll give him a call,” I offer, pulling my phone from my pocket, needing to check in with him anyway. If shit was headed in the direction I thought, I’d need to let him know I would be dropping in.

“Tell him to drive by our warehouse, see if there is any activity.”

I didn’t need anyone to drive by anything. Angelo knew damned well I have security cameras on everything I own, including the Dallas properties. Tapping on the screen of my phone, I locate the icon and log into the system.

“Empty as a fucking church on Monday.” Moving to show Angelo my screen, his elbow collides with my arm, knocking the phone from my hand and crashing to the floor.

“Who taught you how to suck dick?” Angelo shouts as he pushes the girl from between his knees. “If I wanted to have my balls chewed on I’d find a fucking wife.”

Snatching my phone from the floor, I hold back a snicker as Angelo tucks himself into his pants.

“Hey, it ain't her fault your nuts hang lower than your dick.” I tease, dodging to the left when he throws a quick back-handed slap.

“Screw calling your cop friend, we’re going to Dallas.” Sliding into his seat, I mimic him as new drinks appear on the table. “Find out if those Texas girls know how to suck cock any better than these bitches.”

Snapping my gaze toward Frankie, I find him typing away on his phone, no doubt arranging the trip to the last detail. Where Angelo is a born leader, Frankie is the king of logistics. There isn’t anything the bastard can’t find and, for the right price, lay in your lap. Frankie has been the street boss for this Family as long as I’ve known him. If it hadn’t been for him, no telling where Angelo and I would be today.

“There is a convention at the hotel, some book signing bullshit,” Frankie announces, keeping his attention on his screen. “Presidential suite is available though.”

My heart clenches at Frankie’s mention of books, another slash of pain to remind me of what I’ve lost. Reaching for my glass, I drain the contents, silently hoping the burn of alcohol can scorch away the anguish inside my chest.

“Hey, baby.” A soft voice purrs in my ear as a set of blood red nails slide down my chest. “You look like you could use some stress relief.”

Standing to my full height, I toss several bills to the table as I grab the arm of the owner of the voice. Not bothering to look her in the eye, these girls are all the same, using whatever they have in an attempt to claim a place in my world. Little do they know, the part of me they hope to claim is damaged beyond repair.

“Let me know when to be at the airport,” I call over my shoulder.

Lightning flashes in the distance, the deep rumble of clouds colliding competing with the obnoxious snores of the naked girl beside me. She’d been a decent fuck, enough of a distraction to tamp down the emotions Frankie stirred with his mention of books.

Throwing my feet over the side of the bed, I make my way to the window which overlooks Boston. Glancing to the right, spying the edge of the city, I can almost see what is left of the smokestacks to the foundry where my father worked until the accident that killed him. I turned thirteen that year. Angelo and I are Irish twins with eleven months separating us. We went from average teens to breadwinners in the blink of an eye.

“What time is it, Dante?”

A raspy voice questions from behind me. The deepness which not an hour ago helped to send me over the edge, now gives me a headache.

“Time for you to leave,” I say, keeping my focus on the blinking light of an airplane as it crosses the sky. I hadn’t bothered to ask her name, hell, I hadn’t bothered to make sure she got off before I did.

“I have a better idea,” she counters, and I can hear the rustle of the sheets as she climbs from the bed. I know what she has in mind, one final attempt at trying to become a permanent fixture. However, just like the sheets she slept on, she will be discarded for something new.

“There is money on the dresser. Make sure you grab all of your shit, the door locks automatically.”

Not bothering to wait for a rebuttal, I make my way to the ensuite. “Make sure you take only what you brought. I have cameras all over this motherfucker,” I warn before closing the door. It’s a dick move, yet not the worst way I’ve chased off a bitch when I’m tired of her.

Twisting the handle of the shower, I feel the guilt blanket me. Not waiting for the temperature to rise, I step under the spray, needing to wash off the stench of what I’ve done.

“I’m so sorry, Tesoro.” I confess, the most truthful thing I’ve said all day. I hate what I’ve become, the shell of a man she left behind. She would be disgusted with me if she knew the way I live my life.

“I’ll make you proud tomorrow,” I lie, mostly to myself. Tipping my head back, allowing the water to wash away the remnants of my sins and the stench of the nameless girl who failed to rid me of my nightmare. I’ll light a candle at church next time I’m there, not that it will matter much, God gave up on me a long time ago.