CHAPTER FIVE
I vote for killing them
— CLEMENTE —
I storm into my office and slam the door shut behind me.
“I’m guessing your future wife is already drawing blood from underneath your fingernails?” Leandro states with a little laughter in his voice.
“It’s my own damn fault,” I snap. “I didn’t know what to expect and should have been more prepared instead of going in blind.
And you.” I point at Arturo. “You keep your cock reserved for your future wife. I’m damn sick of hearing rumors about my underboss’ cock qualities instead of his ruthless torture abilities. ”
“You’re the one with the outstanding torture reputation.
I’m the one with the knife throwing qualities while Leandro has flawless aim no matter what weapon he’s palming.
The rumors about my cock abilities are spread by jealous fucks who can’t get laid.
They rave about me to throw the focus off themselves.
Jealous assholes I tell you.” Arturo has a damn grin in place and I’m man enough to admit I’d like to punch it off his face just for the hell of it.
My phone rings with an unknown number. That’s the second time today. The first time I didn’t answer because I was working out. This time I will and maybe I can throw some anger at this unknown person calling me.
“State you’re fucking business,” I growl into my phone.
“Clemente, your sister, Gracy, gave me your number. I’m Beck. I’m friends with—”
“With my sister as well as Henley Pierce. Beck Roman. You’re Henley’s old cellmate.
I know exactly who you are. No one comes near my sister without a thorough background check.
Now, I repeat, state your business.” I never denied being an asshole.
I absolutely am, but a softy never becomes the head of the Famiglia.
“Then you’re probably aware of the reason why I went to prison. This also happens to be the reason why I’m calling. Gracy suggested I ask you for help since you practically own the state of California. Her words, not mine,” Beck chuckles.
His words should agitate me, but I happen to have a soft spot for my sister. She rarely talks about me in this way so I assume she did it with good reason. Besides, this guy’s wife is a good friend of my sister.
“Is the reason you’re calling your sister’s ex, or the drug dealer who tortured, defiled, and almost killed her?
” And yes, I know every detail of his background, and of his wife, Flora.
Like I said, I have a soft spot for my sister and I need to keep her safe.
Hell, it’s also why I’m about to marry the fire spitting goddess who yanks on my nerves any damn time I’m around her.
“They were both in prison but I heard they are out, have been for a couple of weeks. I’m worried.” A deep sigh rips from his chest and in this moment I understand this man completely.
“I’ll look into it. I’ll make sure they won’t come near your sister again,” I vow.
And I rarely make promises I can’t keep and do favors for folks who aren’t even in my life.
But like I said, I can relate to this man and he, and his wife, are in my sister’s life.
This brings a risk of something happening to Gracy if those two would think about striking at Beck or his sister while Gracy is with them.
And, fuck. Just the thought of having my sister go through what Beck’s sister, Ivy endured. Ivy’s ex, Daniel Sneyder, a drug dealer, had a dispute with another drug dealer by the name of Dustin Soren. As a form of retaliation Dustin kidnapped, defiled, tortured, and almost killed Ivy.
Beck went over to Ivy’s ex to get the address of the one who did that to his sister but snapped when Daniel basically said something about his sister being his personal whore. Beck went to jail for assault. Twisted fucking world where the good guy ends up paying for shit lowlife scum started.
Maybe I should hunt down both drug dealers and spend some time torturing them to make me feel better. It would solve his problem and would lighten my mood. Yeah, I think hunting down those two is going to be on my to-do list for today.
“Thanks, Clemente. I appreciate any help you can give me.”
“Just keep your nose out of this so my sister stays safe.” I put a little snap in my voice so he knows he needs to keep his nose clean and not go near Daniel this time.
“Don’t worry, I’ve learned my lesson. And I completely trusted Gracy when she mentioned you were the one guy who could keep us safe no matter what. And if there’s anything I can do for you, let me know.”
An idea comes to mind and it might just give me a chance to smooth things over. “Come to think of it, there is something you can handle for me. Well, it would concern your wife making the arrangements, but that’s for you to deal with. My future wife likes animals, your woman owns a shelter, right?”
“You want me to arrange for a pet?” he questions.
“Fuck, no,” I snap. “I don’t want any pets. I was thinking about allowing her to come by a few times a week to pet those things.”
Beck chuckles. “Pretty sure you’re not supposed to call them things. But you’re asking about volunteer work, right? Walking dogs and such? That can be arranged. They are always looking for help, I’ve done it myself and can highly recommend—”
“Excellent. You do your part, I’ll do mine,” I grunt, needing this conversation to be over.
I’m about to hang up but hear him state, “Thanks again, I’ll see you at the wedding.”
I hit the end call button. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. I don’t even know the dude and my sister invites him and his wife as if it’s her own damn wedding.”
“You’d rather have a ballroom filled with capos and soldiers? Did you even make a list with people to invite?” Arturo asks and shoots me a devilish grin. He damn well knows I didn’t so much as lift one finger to do anything concerning the wedding.
I narrow my eyes. “Keep smiling, fucker. Your wedding is next and I might rat you out and have Gracy volunteer to organize your wedding too since she’s so good at it and all. She’s enjoying it more than the two people who are actually getting married.”
Arturo’s smile falls. “That’s because your sister turned into a hopeless romantic, and the fact that she’s not raised in the mafia world. Even if she’s now an old lady of the president of Unruly Defenders, Henley protects and shields her from everything to keep her happy and safe.”
“Thank fuck for that,” I grumble and let myself drop into my leather chair, taking in the cold leather which reminds me of the fact I’m still only wearing sweatpants.
“Too early for whiskey?” Leandro chuckles and takes a seat in one of the chairs on the other side of my desk.
Arturo is now occupying the other one. “No alcohol. We need to focus on the shit at hand. And this is going to sound fucked-up, but the whole arrangement you just made for me and Caterina’s cousin is just what I need to regain focus.
I’m getting too old for mindless fucks and with you taking a wife, it’s a perfect solution.
They can keep each other company during our meetings and at the essential parties.
And at night I have a beauty available just for me.
Have you seen her? The most gorgeous redhead I’ve ever seen. ”
Leandro snorts. “And for how long will you keep focus until your dick takes over again?”
Arturo shoots Leandro a deadly look. These two can go at it all day if I let them.
“Cut it out. I arranged it because he damn well needs it. Our heads need to be on straight while showing everyone this Famiglia isn’t run by three stallions on the loose.
And like Arturo said, having Donya here with Rina will allow for a better adjustment for all of us.
And you better support this shit, Leandro, or I’ll find out if there’s another cousin to link your balls with. ”
Leandro’s eyes bulge and he sinks deeper into his chair. Thought so. If it was up to him, that asshole would stay an everlasting bachelor.
“The phone call you overheard just now was with Beck Roman. Those two drug dealers got out. I want all the details of their residence today,” I tell them to turn our meeting back to the business at hand.
“I’ll get into it. I have some of the details stashed anyway from the first time we ran a background check when Beck Roman entered your sister’s life.
” Arturo grabs his phone and lets his fingers dance over the screen to make a note to get this done.
Without looking up he says, “I know we now have our suspicions for Fredo being linked to those illegal gambling parties, but there are also new players involved and it seems they’re led by a woman. ”
“A woman?” Now this little piece of information catches me by surprise. “You’re sure?”
“I said ‘it seems they’re led by a woman.’ I’m not completely sure since it’s too obvious.
It’s as if it’s a cover to throw off the attention of the one, or ones, who are really leading this gang.
” Arturo puts his phone away and continues.
“It’s too well set up. As if there’s some level of familiarity of how to run this on our turf.
They know when to dodge random checks in the territory they’re operating in and are familiar with our routine so to say. ”
“Fredo should be all over this and yet there still hasn’t been one fucking message or phone call from him.
Crime is picking up in his district too.
There are more visible drug deals on the street, break ins, robberies, something has to be done.
It’s escalating quickly. We go from one or two illegal parties to a spiking crime rate in his district.
We’ve been receiving concerned calls from our contacts in law enforcement asking why we’re not handling this shit,” Leandro growls out in frustration.