Chapter 37
Chapter
Thirty-Seven
MATTEO
I didn’t lie when I told Wren I had things to take care of this morning. Technically, I did. I just didn’t tell her that the thing I’m doing today is packing up her apartment to move everything into my place.
Our place.
“You want to take the furniture too?” Alessio asks with his nose scrunched up as he examines the puke-green sofa.
That infestation of a couch belongs on the curb, but that’s not what I find myself saying. “Just the couch. It has meaning.”
“A couch that looks like a rat would pop out and bite you in the ass while you're sitting on it has meaning?” Alessio asks in disbelief.
“The first time I remember seeing her, I was sitting on this couch after I broke in.”
“Ah, every love story should start with a good break-in,” Gio adds as he carries another box out of the apartment.
My top lip curls in disgust as I look around the dingy apartment. It’s a fucking shithole. The longer I stay here, the more pissed off I get. A girl like Wren shouldn’t be in a place like this. She tried to make it her home by putting her spin on it with little pops of Wren here and there. Wren deserves the world and not this thrifted shit. I tap my foot against the dining room chair leg, watching it move from the light hit. “This can definitely fucking go.”
“I swear to god, if I have to listen to that sick fuck below this place get off one more time, I’m going to bust his door down and cut it off,” Gio bitches as he comes back in.
“He’s been going at it since we got here. I don’t know how his dick is even still attached.” Alessio looks just as grossed out as Gio.
“Let’s finish this up and get the fuck out of here. I’m sick of listening to it, too. There isn’t much left. I want to talk to the owner on our way out.” I meant what I said a while ago about expanding. These people in this area seem like they need a little help. Plus, it’s the perfect opportunity for Enzo to prove that he’s ready to take on more responsibility.
“You ready to give Enzo his own crew?” Alessio asks as he goes to one end of the couch. “Grab the other end, Gio.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “It’s time he’s made capo.”
“Goddamn, give your meat a break, man!” Gio yells as he stomps his foot on the floor several times. “I need to get out of here before he ruins jacking off for me. I already know I’m not going to be able to do it for at least a week without hearing his weird ass noises.”
I can’t help but snort at Gio.
He’s not wrong. It’s fucking disgusting listening to that all day. Another reason why Wren should have never even been living here. “The couch is the last of it, so load that up and meet me back in the front office.” I pause in the doorway as I turn back to see Gio and Alessio struggling to get a good grip on the couch. “Don’t bust the pervs door down yet. We’ll deal with it once we run this place.”
“Got it, boss,” Alessio calls after me.
“He always takes away my fun.” I hear Gio whine.
I shake my head. Fucking Gio.
The front office is on the ground floor, right by the building entrance. If it wasn’t for the office sign hanging on for dear life on the door, I would have thought it was a supply closet.
I don’t bother knocking. Pleasantries are for people who have earned my respect, not a lowlife landlord who preys on his tenants because he knows they don’t have an option to go anywhere else or the means to stand up to him.
“Do I need to fine every single person in this building again? What part of “my office is off limits” do you fuckers not understand?” The fat, greasy piece of shit that I’m assuming is the owner grunts from behind a desk, focused on the papers in front of him.
“I’m not one of your “fuckers” , Dennis,” I say, keeping my tone even. There’s a reason my family runs most of this city. With the exception of Gio, who is a loose cannon, the Adduci men are masters at never letting emotion show.
Dennis’ head shoots up, his face looking ready for a fight. “Who the fuck—” he starts before his face blanches as he really takes me in, recognition flaring in his bloodshot eyes. Yeah, motherfucker. It’s me. “Oh, shit.”
I say nothing as my eyebrow arches.
“Look, man. I don’t?—”
“I’m not your man either, Dennis,” I cut him off, stepping closer to the desk.
Dennis takes out a dirty handkerchief from his back pocket to dab the sweat that is beading on his forehead. No wonder why this place fucking stinks.
“I don’t know why you’re here, but I didn’t do it,” he rushes out.
Interesting. Do we have a guilty conscience?
“You know who I am.” It’s not a question.
“Y-yes. Mr. Adduci. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard nothing but great things.” My lip curls up in disgust at the change in his demeanor. There’s nothing I hate more than a sleazy kiss-ass. It’s insulting, really. They’re all too cocky for their own good. That’s why they all eventually end up burned to a fucking crisp from a car fire. A fire they caused, of course. “What can I help you with?”
“Wren Barlowe.”
“Wren Barlowe…” Dennis’ voice trails off like he’s trying to think of who she is when we both know he knows exactly who I’m fucking talking about. This man is severely testing my patience. Gio might just get his way today.
“You know exactly who Wren Barlowe is.” It takes everything in me to not grab him by the back of the head and bash his face into the desk until there's a pool of blood on the floor.
“Oh, yeah.” He tries to laugh it off as he leans back in his chair, his hand fidgeting on his desk. “Long black hair, bright blue eyes. A man doesn’t forget a face like hers. She’s a pretty thing.”
Wrong thing to say.
I move quickly, flicking my switchblade open and stabbing it right through the center of his hand. Dennis screams loudly, reaching for the blade and trying to pull it out.
“No, no, no,” I scold. “You don’t strike me as a stupid man, Dennis.” You look like a fucking idiot to me.
“I’m—I’m not,” he cries. “Please! Just take it out!”
“Then you should know it’s very stupid to talk about my woman like that,” I continue to scold, twisting the knife ever so slightly, making him scream again. “Especially to my fucking face.”
“I didn’t know she was yours!”
“Now you do.” I shrug.
“Did you seriously start without me?” Gio whines as he steps into the office with Alessio in tow.
Dennis’ eyes widen as he takes in all three of us crowding his office. “Please don’t kill me,” he barely whispers.
“Kill you?” Gio laughs. “But we haven’t had the pleasure of having fun yet. We’re just getting started, man. You’ll like my version of fun better, I promise. My knife is bigger.” Gio has a glint in his eye as he smiles down at Dennis.
Dennis doesn’t say another word as his eyes dance frantically between us.
“Here’s what’s going to happen, Dennis,” I say calmly, as if I didn’t just stab this piece of shit to the desk. “You’re going to sign over this building to me, and then you’re going to leave this city as if it never existed for you.”
“What?” He jerks back, making the knife slip more. “Holy fuck.” He pants through clenched teeth. Sweat is pouring down his face. “I can’t just give this to you. I need the fucking money.”
Alessio snorts. “I think you’ve made enough from stealing the rent payments you collect. Do your tenants know you’re two months away from being foreclosed on?”
“I was going to give it back! I was just short this month.”
“You’ve been short for the last five years, Dennis. This is the last time I’ll ask nicely,” I say. There’s only so many times a guy can ask before he just cuts off the whole fucking hand.
Dennis doesn’t say anything as he stares at the blood trickling off the desk. I wait another beat before I snap my fingers. “ Gio.”
“Finally,” Gio exclaims in delight, wasting no time stepping forward.
“Wait! Just wait!” Dennis frantically yells.
I arch an eyebrow impatiently. “You don’t deserve that.”
Gio takes his knife out of his pocket and stabs the desk. “Did you see how easily that just went in? Imagine that slicing through your ear. You won’t feel a thing. I promise.”
“Alright!” Dennis says. “I’ll do it. Just keep that away from me.” Dennis’ wild eyes are on a bloodthirsty-looking Gio. “The place is yours.”
“Excellent,” I say, a smile creeping on my face as I turn to leave. “Gio- don’t make a mess.”
I’ll sleep easy tonight, knowing Wren is officially out of this shithole.