27. Zane
TWENTY-SEVEN
ZANE
It’s strange to be sitting at my office on a Monday afternoon, surrounded by my capos, like it’s a perfectly normal day.
I don’t feel normal anymore.
My hand itches to card through Hyacinth’s hair.
My thigh feels cold without his head on it.
Not that I’d be able to do those things during the weekly update meetings anyway, even if Hyacinth hadn’t dropped everything to rescue his sister.
“A gaming commission official stopped by on Friday,” Johnny says. He’s one of the men who’s been with the Villani organization for decades. When my father was alive, Johnny had been a regular foot soldier, tasked with enforcing the rules or collecting on debts.
Now he does a lot of interference with city officials, when he’s not overseeing his own set of foot soldiers.
“You convinced them to leave?” I keep my voice calm and even.
Johnny nods. “The usual bribes worked. But we chatted a bit, and he didn’t seem optimistic about the upcoming election. He thinks Harrington is going to appoint brand new people when he’s in charge.”
If he wins the election.
Even before I found out about his past with Hyacinth, I hadn’t been thrilled about the idea of him winning that particular election. Now, I especially don’t want to see it happen. I need to do something to get ahead of this.
But what?
I can throw more money behind his opponents, but I’m not sure how much of an impact that will have. Discrediting Harrington and ruining his reputation would be better. His habit of cheating could ruin some of his image, but some of what I know is only available because of our links to Genevieve.
She wouldn’t be thrilled if I leveraged that information against another of her valued guests, and it might cause her to act against me at a time when I need her help.
Fuck.
“All right,” I say. I turn my attention to Richard. “Work on finding out something we can use against Harrington. I want to tear his reputation to shreds.”
One of the other men laughs. “Who’s going to vote for that fairy? He’s got no chance. I wouldn’t want one of them leading the city. There’s enough of them here as it is.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “A lot of people intend to vote for ‘that fairy.’” If my own men are willing to throw slurs around, what are they going to say when they find out about Hyacinth?
I pretend I don’t feel Richard’s gaze on me.
This is the time for me to out myself.
But after how poorly the date with Hyacinth had gone, do I really want to do that for someone who might only want sex?
Why step out of the closet?
Because I’m tired of pretending.
I’ve always considered myself bisexual; I get off with men and women. Despite that, I do tend to prefer men, and that’s something I’ve had to hide for the majority of my life.
I wonder if my father would’ve supported me unconditionally or if he’d have turned his back on me.
I take a deep breath.
Richard stands up and claps his hands. “This isn’t a gossip session, you dimwits. Stick to business so we can get on with it.”
“Fuck, and here I was going to tell you about the new whore Pete’s been seeing,” Johnny says.
Pete flips him off, but the entire conversation is derailed.
I get more updates about the business: casino earnings, loans to significant people, information that might come in handy in the future.
“I caught some Cuore goons sniffing around, too,” Pete says at the end of his update. “I chased them off, don’t worry. He won’t be using that hand again any time soon.”
My gaze snaps to him. “What Cuore goons? I need names.”
I need to know who their loyalty is to.
Hyacinth had seemed certain that his family would back off, but he’s not here. I don’t even know if he’s going to return. He’d seemed earnest when he’d said he would, but his loyalty is going to be to his family.
Isn’t it?
“I didn’t stop to have tea with them,” Pete complains. “I don’t know, some foot soldiers. They had Cuore tattoos. What more do you need?”
“Information,” I say through gritted teeth. “Or are you too inept to look into it? Look into it, Pete, or you might be the next one who won’t be able to use his hand.”
Pete scowls at me, but he mutters, “Yes, sir.”
I give them all my orders for the week, and they file out like the good underlings they are.
Richard waits until they’re all gone, then he rounds in on me. “You were about to do something stupid, weren’t you?”
I inhale slowly, then let out the breath. “Stupid? No. Necessary. I need to know who’s going to have my back.”
Richard shakes his head. “Don’t do it. They’re never going to respect you if they know you’re shacking up with… with…” He grimaces in disgust. “They can’t even respect Harrington, and his partner… boyfriend… whatever, that man at least acts like a man.”
I fall silent.
I don’t particularly want to find out whether they’ll respect me the hard way, but at the same time…
I can’t be with Hyacinth if I don’t have the balls to do this.
I wouldn’t even hide when I knew someone wanted me dead, when I knew Hyacinth was trying to kill me.
Why should I hide now?
“They’ll have to learn that they can either respect me, fear me, or fuck all the way off into the depths of the swamps,” I tell him, my voice hard. “And if you’re going to get in my way, you can join them.”
Richard’s frown deepens. “He’s undermining you. Your toy. He couldn’t figure out how to kill you, so now he’s playing with you to make everyone turn against you. And you’re falling for it.”
“I’m not ‘falling for’ anything,” I snap. “I’m doing something I should’ve done years ago. If Silvano Cresci can pull this off in New Bristol, I can pull this off here. It’s not like I’m the only closeted man in New Valence.”
“Silvano Cresci is a fucking joke!” Richard shouts. “You think anyone respects him? The only reason he’s still alive is because of his ties to the Voronkovs! He has more people who want him dead now than ever!”
I stand up, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “Then I guess it’s time for me to start making more alliances as well. I’ve been too insular as it is. If I hadn’t been, we wouldn’t have to worry right now.”
Richard gets into my personal space. “I’m trying to keep you alive, Zane. Your father didn’t die for you to throw it all away for some… some…”
“Some what?” I challenge him, taking a step forward. “Go on. Say it. Say what you think of him. Say what you think of me.”
Richard growls in frustration, then storms out of the office. The door closes behind him, and I almost wish he’d done something as immature as slamming it shut.
That would look bad to the rest of the crew, though, and he cares about our image above all else.
I clench my jaw, flexing my fingers before forcing myself to relax them. I sink back down into my chair, staring at the door. I need to talk to Dante Cuore before I take this step. An alliance with him would make it difficult for anyone to act against me.
But someone within the Cuore family had put Hyacinth up to this in the first place.
I need more information. Who can I trust to get it? Everyone has been frighteningly inept lately, and I’m starting to wonder if that’s by accident… or by design. Who would be able to reach this high in my organization?
I grab my phone and send a text to Hyacinth.
Zane
I need to talk to Dante.
Hyacinth doesn’t respond immediately. Even two hours behind, he should already be awake—and exacting revenge on everybody who hurt his family.
I know exactly what that violent need feels like.
I sigh and sit down at my desk. I’m contemplating going over my emails when somebody knocks at my door.
Before I can tell them to enter, Bill comes inside.
I frown. “What’s wrong? Is there a security issue?”
“No.” Bill closes and locks the door. “I just have something to talk about.”
“All right.” I gesture to the seat across from my desk, trying to calm my racing heart. “Have a seat.”
Bill stays standing. “I want one hundred thousand dollars.”
I blink at him, then bark out a startled laugh. “You want what? For what, exactly? You haven’t been the most sterling employee, so that’s one hell of a bonus to demand.”
Bill’s a tall, imposing figure, which is how he got into the bodyguard business in the first place. He shakes his head. “If you don’t pay me, everybody’s going to find out what you’ve been up to, Boss.”
“What I’ve been up to,” I repeat. “And what is that, exactly?”
Bill reaches into his pocket. I tense, but all he pulls out is a photo.
A photo of me and Hyacinth, naked.
I can’t help it.
I laugh.
“Oh, is that all?” I ask, but my heart is racing. I wasn’t ready for this. No matter what I’d said to Richard, I’m not ready.
That doesn’t matter anymore.
“I heard Pete and Johnny,” Bill says steadily. “You don’t pay up, I deliver this straight to them. You won’t have much of a reputation after that.”
I should just pull the gun out of my desk and shoot him.
The walls are soundproofed, and I have a very good cleanup crew on hand.
The very fact that he’s trying to extort me means he’s not trustworthy, and he has to know that I’m not going to be cowed by demands.
Except… Obviously, he doesn’t.
He thinks I can be pushed around.
That won’t do.
That won’t do at all.
I snatch the gun from the top desk drawer, and before he can react, I shoot him in the knee.
Bill screams and drops to the floor. He immediately reaches for his own gun. I shoot him again, this time in the arm. He yells and drops his weapon.
I walk around the desk and kick his gun away.
“Did you really think it was a good idea to try to blackmail me?” I ask, my voice frosty as I kick him in the knee.
He shouts again.
I reach for the letter opener on my desk—a sharp knife, actually, since I have no use for a letter opener. Bill glares up at me and tries to stand, but I step on his injured knee again, and that makes him howl in pain.
“You thought I was weak? Because I enjoyed fucking Hyacinth Cuore?” I grab his hair and force his head back, dragging the knife down his cheek. A thin line of blood appears instantly.
Bill shakes his head. “No! I’m, I’m sorry! I’ll go!”
I shake my head. “And risk you cozying up to my enemies? I can’t do that.” I slice across his throat, not deep enough to kill him. The line of blood looks gorgeous, though.
I hum. “Should I make this quick, or should I take my time?” If Hyacinth was here, I’d take my time. He’d enjoy that, I think.
No, I know he’d enjoy that.
We’d fuck in the aftermath, and when we stepped out of my office… Everyone would know about us anyway, because we’d both be disheveled. I wouldn’t have to say a word.
But who would oppose us, when they see how deadly we are together?
“Pl… please—” Bill chokes out. He grasps my slacks with his still-intact hand.
“Tell me something, Bill,” I say, watching him dispassionately. “Is there a reason you’re so inept? Or are you taking bribes against my life, too?”
Who among my guards can I actually trust?
Bill shakes his head. “Fuck… fuck you…” He tries to punch me in the side, but he’s growing weaker, and I deflect the blow easily.
That’s a yes, then.
I’m going to have to vet all of them. The only one I think I can trust is Stefan, and I’m not even sure about him right now.
Trusting people gets you hurt — or dead. I know that better than anyone. Even if I’d tried to forget, Richard has been there every step of the way to make sure I can’t.
My father had given his life to save me, and I’m never going to forget that. How could I?
“I see.” I cut a line across Bill’s cheek. It’s a shallow wound, all things considered, but I want to see him bleed.
It’s stupid; I’m going to have to work especially hard to eradicate the evidence from my office. At least I don’t have carpet, a thought that makes me smile despite my dark mood.
“We can make this quick, or we can draw this out,” I tell him. “I want to know who’s paying you to fuck with my life, Bill.”
Bill whimpers, but he shakes his head. “You’ll… you’ll kill me anyway. Fuck you.”
“Mm, I will,” I agree. “But there’s killing you, and there’s leaving such a big mess that no one would even recognize you when I’m done with you.”
I wish Hyacinth was here. I’d love to see him work.
Does he generally torture his victims before he kills them? Or does he make it simple and clean? It’s something I’ll have to ask.
I slice a cut along his other cheek. “I’ve never castrated someone before.”
Bill growls and shoves his entire torso forward, trying to unbalance me with his shoulder.
He doesn’t have the strength to do more than make me take a small step back, and I sigh. I don’t actually have time to torture him, and besides, there’s no one here to watch me make an example of him.
I trace the cut I’d left in his throat with the blade, and he hisses in pain. The sound cuts off when I cut more deeply, sawing into his skin as I draw out his death instead of giving it to him easily.
He deserves this.
He deserves worse than this.
I’m not usually blinded by rage, but I’d made the near-fatal mistake of trusting him and my other guards.
By the time he’s gone still beneath me, I’m covered in blood.
Clean-up is going to be a bitch.
I wipe the blade off on his shirt, then head into the private bathroom connected to my office. I’m a mess, wild-eyed and disheveled in a way that has nothing to do with good sex and everything to do with violent abandon.
I wonder if Hyacinth would prefer a picture of this to a dick pic.
Too bad I’ll never know.
I shed my shirt and trousers, cleaning every inch of skin that’s been painted in blood, and grab the change of clothes I keep on hand.
You never know when you need to leave a bloody corpse in your office, after all.
I get dressed, then pull out my phone.
I start to send a message to Richard, but something makes me hesitate. I text Stefan instead, telling him to schedule a deep clean on my office.
I should feel lighter now that I’ve gotten rid of one threat.
Instead, I feel heavier than ever.
I slump down into my office chair, staring at Bill’s body.
This is what happens when I’m careless.
I can’t let it happen again.
I may be risking my reputation by being seen with Hyacinth Cuore, but I’m not going to allow my men to turn on me.
I’ll solidify my alliances, and I’ll make my terms clear.
Anyone who betrays me will regret it.
My phone buzzes, startling me out of my thoughts.
A new text from Hyacinth.
Sin
Don’t trust more.
What?
Zane
More what?
Sin
Flight AB4520. Tonight.
Zane
Stefan and I will pick you up.
I should stay at home and lie low, but why start now?
Besides, the itch beneath my skin is starting to get to me.
I need to see Hyacinth.
I need to kiss him, and drag him into the playroom in my home, and make him bleed.
He’s mine, and once he’s back in New Valence, I’m never letting him leave again.