Chapter Five
I stretch every muscle as I peel myself out of bed and head downstairs.
Stepping into the kitchen, I’m greeted with a head nod and a steaming cup of hot, sweet, black coffee from Marianne.
The smell permeates the kitchen, and I suck in a deep breath.
Wrapping my hands around the cup, I savour the warmth and the anticipation of the caffeine rush.
“Did you sleep?” she whispers.
I nod, sip my coffee, and sigh, enjoying the limited silence. The back door clicks open, and the guys file in, looking rather broody and deadly. They’re dressed more casually today in combats and tight black tees.
“Miss Bianchi.” Matteo gives me a professional head bob. I acknowledge him with a nod of my own, lingering a little longer than appropriate for a woman who’s still in her PJs. And his boss.
“Morning, gentlemen. We leave in an hour. I’ll need you to be ready. I have meetings today.”
Matteo and Luca nod respectfully and head out of the kitchen.
I turn my gaze to watch them retreat, and the small cough from Marianne makes me turn to glare at her.
She doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t have to.
But the smirk she gives me says it all. I flip her off and take another sip of my coffee.
I’m assuming they will ready the car and fill up with ammo, but I will be taking my own mini arsenal.
This morning I’m heading into the lion’s den.
I called a meeting with the main loan shark, the one the others look up to.
The one who keeps the others in line. The businessmen we extort and the businesses we run protection for—they’ll all be receiving a message from me and my organisation through this meeting, rather than having to meet with them all individually.
How I control this meeting will tell them all they need to know about me and how I run things.
While my father’s business ran solely on scare tactics and the brute force of his men, I will be a bit more literal, with a more hands-on approach.
I want them all to know I am more than capable of taking them out myself.
I will be killing anyone who refuses to take on the new regime.
For those who do, I want an iron-clad contract so they know what I expect at all times and where I’ve drawn lines that I will refuse to have crossed.
The police commissioner was extremely cooperative once he received my instructions. He’s agreed to look the other way, as if he actually had a choice. Bodies will be dropping while I clear out the deadwood and pave my way through these next three months.
I slide into the back seat of the truck.
Luca is driving, his gaze assessing as he watches me through the rear-view mirror.
Matteo is with me in the back, stoic, his gaze flicking from window to window, assessing any external threat, but his gaze never strays to me.
We pull into a small set of dingy offices.
I take a second to assess the building. Overgrown weeds line the cracked pavement, the window grimy and opaque, the sign, tattered and unkempt.
I climb out. My Louboutins click on the pavement, my long rhythmic strides thump out like a heartbeat, strong and measured, as I make my way towards the row of shops.
A loan shark who goes by the name of Larry is my first call, and if I play this right, it might end up being the only stop I have to make.
As I push into the office, a bell rings.
The stale smoke and BO stench fills the air.
I screw my nose up before schooling my features then slide my sunglasses up onto the top of my head as I look around the dingy place.
My black sleek trousers accentuate my long legs, and my blouse hides the gun at my back.
My hunting knife is sheathed at my thigh, clearly noticeable.
Matteo and Luca step just to the side, but slightly behind me.
“Can I help you?” The older woman at the front desk asks without looking up. A cigarette hangs from her hand as she types on the computer.
“I’m here to see Larry.”
She spares me a quick glance before gazing back at the keyboard. “Do you have an appointment?”
“I think you’ll find I don’t need one. Let Larry know he needs to get his ass out here. Now!” I add with extra bite. She really does not want to fuck around and find out today.
Her eyes widen at my rudeness. My gaze flicks to the muscle in the corner, who is watching the exchange but holding his position, clearly not seeing me as a threat. This is most definitely a mistake on his part, but I don’t have time to deal with asshole receptionists.
She scowls at me, but I hear the door click open from the office at the back, and Larry steps out, glaring at me. I stalk towards him. He holds his hand up to the guy in the corner, gesturing that he can deal with me and to stay put, but he crosses his arms and glares at me.
“If you don’t have an appointment, you can fuck right off, back out that motherfucking door,” he barks at me, puffing up his chest and filling the doorframe.
“I think you’ll find this is a meeting you’ll want to make time for, Larry.” I spit his name like it personally offends the air I breathe, but in reality, the BO that permeates from him does.
“Don’t come in here thinking you call the shots, honey.”
I step closer. Matteo and Luca hang back, filling the gap between me and his muscle but giving me room to breathe.
“Honey!” I bark a laugh. “Let me save you from the embarrassment you’ll feel if you carry on.
I’m Arianna Bianchi.” I take another step towards him.
“Donna, Arianna Bianchi, I’ll let that sink in a second.
” I stand and rest my hands on my hips more to keep my gun within reach while I assess his every move.
“Bianchi?” He scratches at his chin.
I nod curtly, but a devious grin spreads over his face.
“So where’s ya daddy, honey?” He takes a step closer, trying to intimidate me, but his gaze keeps flicking to Matteo and Luca, clearly seeing them as the threat in this situation.
“Dead!”
His smile spreads across his face, his eyes creasing as he starts to chuckle. “And you thought you’d play at being in charge? Ahh, honey, that’s cute. But in the real world, you’re more likely to just get fucked.” He shrugs. “I mean, you’re pretty. I bet you have a tight cunt.”
He leans in and takes a sniff, smelling me as his eyes flutter closed. “You smell ripe for the taking. Why don’t you step into my office, and we can… work something out?” He licks his lips, his neck flushes at his dirty thoughts.
I nod to Matteo and Luca to stay there, and I step towards the lech.
He side-steps to let me inside and clicks the door closed behind him.
I walk straight to the back of the room and spin around, glaring at him.
He backs against the door, and I hear the telltale click of the door locking as he grins a predatory grin.
“Well, well, well,” he singsongs, “looks like you’ve got yourself a little out of your depth.” He winks at me. His gaze flicks over every feature of my face, every curve of my body.
I chuckle. “Are you simple? You don’t seem to realise how dire a situation you’re in, honey.” I spit at him.
He takes a step forward and licks his lips again. “Why don’t you walk that tight ass over here? Let me break you in. Show you what a real man is like. I can’t promise I’ll be gentle,” he sneers at me.
I smile and slide my hand up over my breast. “Is this what you want?” I undo a button so he can see my bra, and his eyes flash with need.
I slip my other hand into the back of my trousers while he’s distracted, wrapping my hand around my gun.
I keep stroking over the mounds of my cleavage, as he loses control, he lunges for me.
I shoot him in the kneecap. He screams out as he crumples to the floor, and I climb up over his writhing body, reaching for the syringe in my pocket.
I plunge it into his neck. He gasps and tries to struggle.
It’s not long until his body stops moving.
His eyes widen a fraction, and I smile down at him.
His body goes limp beneath mine. I slip the gun back into my waistband.
I reach down and remove my knife from the holster on my thigh.
I sit back, straddling him on the skanky floor.
I press the tip of the knife against my finger, twisting it around. I lean down and grin at him.
“You will show me the respect I deserve.” I press the knife into the corner of his mouth and drag it up over his cheek. He tries to scream out—but nothing. He’s numb, limp and paralysed. For now, anyway.
Failing miserably, he tries to buck me off.
I can see it in his eyes, but nothing, and I laugh as I pull the blade in line with his eye.
“Go on, move if you can,” I chuckle. I dig the tip of his knife into his eyebrow and drag it down to his cheek, but he stays still, his eyes telling me inside he’s thrashing.
Externally, he’s just a pile of limp meat.
I dig in again, dragging in the opposite direction over the same eye.
“Don’t mistake me for weak. I am not my father.
You will bow down or die. Consider this your performance review.
For your information, you have failed. I rescind your position within my organisation.
Choose your next move wisely.” I climb off him.
There’s a dribble of drool leaking down his cheek and tears running from his eyes. I shoot him in the thigh.
“I’ll see myself out. Make sure you let everyone know there’s a new boss, and I mean business; either you all play by my rules, or their fate will be more severe than what you’ve received today. Do I make myself clear? I’ll take your silence as a yes.”
I step over him and unlock the door. I step out. I turn and glare down at him. “That’s your one mistake. Disrespect me again, and you’ll pay with your life.”
As I stalk through the office, I can see that Matteo and Luca have the muscle, and the receptionist at gunpoint.
I pay them no mind. I stroll out into the fresh air and reach up for my sunglasses.
“Motherfucker,” I spit out, realising they must have fallen off my head.
I sigh, not being arsed to fetch them. I’ll just have to get a new pair.
Luca passes me and opens the door. I climb up into the vehicle, and Matteo climbs in beside me. As I clip in the seatbelt, I look down to see another blouse ruined with blood. Time to rethink the wardrobe.