Chapter Four
Stefano
I GLARE AT THE glistening gold chess piece nestled inside the black giftbox.
A rook.
THE O’s way of confirming I was right about Renato Mancini. Head of a small-time mob family, one that only operates because I allow it. This is my city. And he’s never hid his resentment over that fact. Hates that every major deal, every retaliation hit, has to go through me first.
It wasn’t hard to guess he’d be the first to align with my unknown rival.
Fueled by frustration at THE O, I snapped. Handled Renato Mancini the way the old Stefano Castello would.
Messy. Bloody. Loud.
A message, not just to the others in the coup against me, but to THE O. A reminder of what happens when held under the gun. Of the inhumane savage I was before they stepped in to keep me in line.
A statement wrapped in a question: Are we sure we want to do this? Because left to my own devices, there might not be a Vegas left for anyone to rule when I’m done.
I pick up the note at the bottom of the box…
You can either throw a tantrum like a BOY…
Or you can use the chance we have given you wisely.
Keep it CLEAN from here on out.
-JB
“Stronzi,” I mutter under my breath and backhand the box off my desk.
Lorenzo strides into my office, bringing the rich aroma of coffee with him.
His attention flicks to the overturned giftbox and the rook now lying on the floor. “From THE O, I take it?”
Gio walks in behind him.
“Confirmation that we got it right with Mancini,” I say. “Along with a warning to ‘keep it clean.’”
Lorenzo sighs. “To be fair, I did tell you that handling Mancini like that would likely piss them off.”
His tone alone pisses me off further.
“That’s not us anymore, brother,” he continues. “That’s not you anymore. We’ve got nothing to prove anymore. We’ve come a long way. We’re the kings of fucking Vegas. It was only a matter of time before some ambitious fucker rose up.
“Does it suck that THE O is letting it happen? Yeah. But let’s be clean about it.
Let’s not unravel. I’d bet that’s what they want.
For us to revert to how we used to be. For us to go full on savage and burn it all to the ground.
Let’s not give it to ‘em.” He sips his big-ass mug of coffee.
“And to be honest, brother? I fucking hate being the calm one these days. Feels weird as shit. So just…take a breather. Go back to being you. Calm, levelheaded, unruffled, and self-obsessed. So that I can go back to being me.”
I glare at him.
Then launch my crystal paperweight at his head.
He dodges it, then looks to Gio. “See what I mean?”
“He’s right, Stefano,” Gio chimes in. “We’re not used to you like this.
You’re our steady and fearless self-absorbed leader.
When you’re like this, everyone’s on edge.
Don’t know what to expect. Especially since no one but us knows about THE O or what’s going down.
” He jabs a thumb toward the door. “Out there? It’s starting to feel like a nation on the brink.
Whispered theories. Misinformation. Paranoia. ”
All this fucking talk…
“It’s easy to talk about ‘calm’ when you’re not the one on a kill list,” I grind out, slamming my fist on the desk.
“Easy to be calm when you aren’t one slip-up away from being taken out.
Done. Gone.” My gaze flicks between them.
“What the fuck will you do when I’m gone, huh?
This one’s already whining about having to be the ‘calm one.’ What will you do?
Decide among yourselves who will take over in my place and bring it to THE O? ”
I let the silence stretch. “That is not how it works. They choose. They decide. They make the rules. And if I’m done, you’re all fucking done.
” I grip my cellphone so hard my fingers ache, barely holding back from hurling it at them.
“I’m not worried about my life. I’m worried about you hopeless idiots.
You should be on edge. You should be rattled.
You should be worried about what the fuck happens next.
” I blow out a sharp breath. “If you two have nothing better to say to me than to ‘calm down,’ then get the fuck out.”
Gio holds his hands up in surrender, backing down.
They have no goddamn clue. I’m head of this empire for a reason.
Everything rests on my shoulders. Always.
They don’t understand how crucial THE O’s support is to our operation.
I fall, the entire Castellos Empire crumbles beyond repair.
We aren’t powerful because we know how to pull a trigger, issue a threat, or instill fear.
We’re powerful because of THE O.
We have enemies. Lots of them. Surrounded by them. But THE O’s protection makes it so we never have to think about those enemies. Losing THE O’s support is the worst that could happen.
My biggest concern right now? Not knowing if that protection’s there or not.
Not knowing if one day I’ll get a call that my brother’s body was found riddled with bullets.
Or if a package will show up with Gio’s severed head.
That fear has me keeping Lorenzo busy with tasks that ensure he’s somewhere safe.
And taking Gio with me everywhere to keep him in my sight.
I’m not on edge because I give a damn about my life. Shit, I’ve been ready to peace out.
I’m on edge because I fear for theirs.
Lorenzo props a shoulder against the wall and sips from his mug. “Wanted to let you know I brought in a techie.”
For fuck’s sake. “You, me, Gio. That’s what I said, Lo. Just us three. We can’t trust anyone else right now. Especially some random I don’t fucking know.”
“I get that, but my tech skills only go so far,” he argues.
“We need someone advanced. Someone outside the surveillance team, because we can’t trust anyone right now.
” He lifts a hand before I can shoot it down.
“Yeah, yeah, Santo warned us not to put out feelers for a tech pro, too high a risk of infiltration. But he also said an idle young hobbyist or broke college kid could be a safe bet.”
“And this new person…?”
“Picked her up from Vivienne,” he replies. “Failed the assets test, but passed the smarts test.”
“You serious?” I lift a brow. “A girl? From The Pink House?”
“I tested her. She’s good. Quiet. Compliant. Doesn’t ask questions.”
“Background check?”
“Got it back an hour ago. All green,” he says. “She’s from a wealthy family in France. Has a scholarly twin brother. Mother’s a big-shot attorney. Father used to be some kind of secret intelligence agent, now defunct—he’s flagged red, though, to keep watch. He could show up for her.”
I rock back in my chair, scratching my jaw. “And she’s here why?”
“Running from an unwanted arranged marriage.”
I know how to use my computer and my phone.
That’s about as far as my tech skills go.
Lorenzo’s always been the one with curiosity for that side of things.
Over the years, he’s built up a solid amount of tech knowledge, enough to handle and oversee all our technical operations himself.
No point discussing it with me. Most of it goes right over my head.
But given recent circumstances, we’ve been checking in with each other on every little thing. Making sure we’re on the same page. No miscommunication. No slip-ups.
I trust Lorenzo’s judgment. Hell, half the time it’s better than mine.
The only other person I trust with my life is Gio.
Technically, he’s our uncle. Two years younger than us. But he’s been with us for as long as I can remember. Growing up, it was always the three of us, causing trouble, making mischief. Whether here or in Italy—we went back and forth a lot—we were never apart. They used to call us “the triplets.”
Gio is as much my brother as Lorenzo. That’s why he’s in this room.
If I were to extend the trust circle any further, it would be to our cousin, Luca. A loyal soldier. Not to some random girl from The Pink House.
“Look,” Lorenzo says, “it’s not like we’re trading secrets with her. She wants our protection and we’re giving her that. In exchange, she helps with whatever we ask. That’s all it is.”
This motherfucker doesn’t like anybody. He’s unfriendly, unwelcoming, and straight-up unaccommodating to anyone who isn’t family. Always. So, what is it with this girl?
“What gives, Lo? You claim she didn’t pass the assets test, but it sure seems like she checked all the boxes for you.” I pause, smirking. “Are you abandoning your obsession with the cop’s daughter for this one?”
“Fuck off.” He chuckles. “Not my type. Shit, she’s college-aged. But she feels…I don’t know how to explain it. Familiar? Like I know her, or have known her. That’s the best way to put it.” He shakes his head. “She feels like Tillie to me. Or Lexi. I don’t know what that means. It’s strange.”
Tillie is our cousin, and Lexi’s an in-law. At least that confirms he doesn’t want to fuck this new girl. Although…there was a time when he wanted to fuck Lexi, so there’s that.
“If you truly think she’s necessary, fine. But anything goes south with her, it’s on you.” I press two fingers to my temple, feeling a migraine coming on. “Right now, my focus is on our field operations. Like the meeting with the Russians later this afternoon.”
“That’s something I wanted to bring up…” He trails off, gauging me. “I think we should take her with us. She speaks Russian. She’ll be able to pick up on any—”
“You’re trying real hard to get me to shoot you today, aren’t you?”
Gio, proving he has some sense, edges closer to the door.
The Russians have a reputation for fucking people over, which is why we’ve avoided working with them at all costs.
But our artillery operation with the Irish have been stalled for almost a year after a big bust took them out.
Months of painstaking vetting, meetings, and dead ends led us here, to a temporary deal with the Russians.
Today’s our first transaction meet. And suffice it to say, I don’t trust these fuckers. But it’s either wait for the Irish to get back up and running again, or take a wild chance with the Russians.
“Stefano, you know how these Russians are. They’ll talk shit right to your face, knowing you don’t understand.”
“We’re not taking a random stranger to an arms deal, Lo!” I slam my fist on the desk. “We stick to the plan. Gio slips a bug in their vehicle when everyone’s distracted. We get their conversation translated later.”
“And what if it’s too late by then?”
“For fuck’s sake.” I yank open my desk drawer and grab the bottle of painkillers inside. “Matter of fact, you’re not coming to the deal either. Stay here. Play inspector gadget with your little Pink House girlfriend.”
“You’re serious?”
“Dead.”
It’s safer for you.
Lorenzo pushes off the wall, then hesitates. “Is this about your creepy death dreams? Did you have one about me?”
It would be the death of me if I ever got a dream about him. “No. This is about me giving you an order and you fucking taking it.”
Eyes identical to mine harden as he walks backward toward the door. “Whatever you say, boss.”
He flings the door open and walks out.
I knock two painkillers into my palm, but before I can take them, Gio steps up to my desk.
“I know what you’re doing, you know,” he says.
I toss back the pills and wash them down with a gulp of lukewarm coffee. “The fuck are you on about now?”
“You’re trying to shield Lo and me. Sticking us where you think we’re safe.” He crosses his arms. “It’s kind of insulting, really. The three of us have always been one, Stefano. If you go down, we go down with you. Stop trying to protect us.”
We lock eyes for a long moment before I scoff. “Don’t forget who I am, Gio. I’ve never been noble. I got this far on sheer selfishness and greed. The only life I give a shit about is mine.”
He chuckles, like he knows I’m full of shit. “Then believe it. Mean it. Because the only life that matters in this empire is yours. Without you, it doesn’t stand a chance.”