I'm Nothing (The Family Book 2)(14)
“Believe it. I’ve never been close. Being the son of a mafia leader, you kind of have to keep to yourself.”
“Jake’s father is still alive?”
“Yeah, he was a soldier, so he was different.” Tonio laughed. “Dad hated it when we hung out with Jake. He believed there was a hierarchy, and Jake didn’t fit in with our world. He was a minion, a goon, someone that was expendable.”
“Aren’t you all expendable?” she asked.
“Nope. We’re the ones that are supposed to keep the traditions going, to keep order, and to kill whoever thinks they can take from us.”
Zara detected the hint of malice in his voice. “You’re not happy with that?”
“No. Who would be? I’m not a monster. Actually, scrap that. There are a shitload of people who would say I’m the monster that you need to hide from.”
“You don’t scare me.”
“You’ve not seen me at my worst.” They exited the building, and Zara had to blink a few times to get accustomed to the light.
“Wow, it’s still daylight.”
“We’ve been partying since the morning. You’re not slurring your words.”
“It’s early, and what I didn’t tell you was the fact my parents used to let me drink during special occasions. I never did anything radical, but this is awesome. I like feeling a little dizzy.”
“If you’re going to vomit, do it away from my shoes,” Tonio said.
She giggled and snorted. “You’re so funny.”
Several people passed them, and she ignored their blatant stares. She didn’t give a shit. The scent of food called to her, and she was starving, ravenous.
“I need food.”
“There’s a burger bar just up there.”
They made their way toward the burger bar, and the scent of onions and grease made her mouth water.
“My treat,” Tonio said.
“Ha ha, I can’t afford anything.”
They stood in line, and she got a buzz when Tonio rested his arm across her shoulders. When it was their turn to order, she let Tonio do the ordering. They grabbed their burgers and chili fries, taking a seat outside.
“Damn those smell good.” She took a fry, popping it into her mouth. The melted chili cheese was to die for. “So good.”
She took a large bite out of her burger as Tonio did the same.
“Okay, so be real with me. If you weren’t in this fucking mess with your parents, what would you be doing now?”
“Now?”
“Yep.”
“That’s what Lucien asked me. I’d probably be doing some assignments, or maybe waking up next to my boyfriend, who has just had rampant sex with me.”
Tonio wrinkled his nose. “You know, not all college guys know what they’re doing.”
“And you do?”
“I know a lot actually.”
“Tell me all about it then, stud muffin,” she said.
“You want me to tell you all of my secrets.”
“If I was a hot girl like that red—”
“You are a hot girl. It’s not about the way you look all the time. It’s about how you own your shit,” he said.
“Whatever, anyway, if I was a hot girl that you’d take to bed, how would you do it?”
“Well, first, I don’t take women to bed. I fuck them, that’s it. I fuck and I leave.”
She groaned. “For once, pretend you’re the boyfriend kind of guy.”
“When I was with Maria, I didn’t really do a lot of the leading. She did it all. If it was me, I’d start by buying you a drink, dancing with you.” That’s what they did already. “I’d have fun, laughing, and getting to know you. When we were done with dancing, I think I’d like to take you out to eat, maybe burgers.”
“Like we’re having now.”
“Yes, like we are now, only it would be late at night. I’d get to know you, and when I felt like it was the right moment, I’d invite you back to my apartment.”
“Damn, I like your style.”
“We’re not going to fuck. You’ve consumed so much alcohol you’re more like to vomit over my dick than suck it.”
“Ew, I didn’t need that visual.”
“You ever sucked a cock?”
“I’ve done nothing. Besides our kiss, I’ve not even been felt up.”
“You’ve not?”
“Good girl, remember?”
“You’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
“You’re a pain in the ass, Tonio. Do you even listen?” she asked.
“I liste—”
The sound of screeching tires had her looking toward the road. There were lots of people screaming, and Tonio suddenly pushed the table out of the way and grabbed her, tugging her down.
Gunfire exploded all around her, and Zara covered her ears, trying to contain her screams. Tonio had his gun, and he’d shoved her behind one of the metal tables that he’d upended. The bullets were denting the metal, and her heart was pounding.
Any kind of buzz faded as someone shot at them.
Tonio fired his gun, and he handed her a cell phone.
“Call Donnie, tell him everything.”
Her hands were shaking, but she was able to get into his phone and dial Donnie’s number.
“Busy right—”
“Someone is shooting at us, and we need help. Please.” She gave Donnie the location, and suddenly she was listening to a dial tone. “He hung up.”
“They’re on their way. Fuck! I shouldn’t have brought you here. We’re out in the open.”
She stayed huddled behind Tonio, and he shot several bullets.
The sound of a tire blowing filled the air, and then the car was driving away.
“I’m going to be sick.”
Bending over the plant pot, she threw up everything that she’d eaten. What a waste of good food.
Chapter Seven
“Fuck!” Tonio said, growling as the doctor stitched him up.
“Next time don’t get hit.”
“I didn’t exactly stand in front of the bullet, fucker.”
He sat in his apartment on a chair that the doctor had forced him down to. Zara looked pale, biting her thumb as she stared at him.
“Take it from the top, what the fuck happened?” Donnie asked.
“We were having fun at the club, the VIP one, and we were getting hungry. We left the club and headed toward the burger bar, and we were just talking. The car came to us, and started firing. I fired back. Are you sure you’re not hit?” he asked, looking toward Zara.
“I’m fine. You got hit.”
“It’s a graze, sweetie, nothing to worry about.”
The good doctor was more than happy to make her feel better, while he was making everything sting like a motherfucker.
“Why did you go out in public like that?” Luiz asked. “We told you to be careful.”
“I didn’t think.”
“In our life, not thinking gets you killed. You’re lucky you’ve just got a fucking graze. You and Zara could have been killed, not to mention, taken and then killed.”
Tonio rubbed a hand down his face. “I get it. I fucked up.”
“I’m glad you realize your problem.”
“Ugh! This is not helping. Someone knew where you were,” Jake said. “That’s the only explanation for it.”
“The redhead?” Zara asked.
“You think she was some kind of spy?” Tonio asked.
“What are we talking about, some kind of redhead now?”
“At the club, there was a redhead eye fucking him. She cornered me in the bathroom, doing the whole catty girl stuff. She may have been giving me a warning. It was really weird.”
“I’ll get the security footage sent over,” Luiz said.
“You can get that stuff?” Zara said.
“Do you really think Tonio would have taken you to a club we don’t own? Part of surviving in The Family is staying with what you know. It would make sense them using a woman to spy. We own the club, and women are often considered dispensable,” Donnie said.
“This is my fuck up. If you want to be pissed at someone, be pissed at me.”
“I am pissed at you, Tonio. This is not what we need.”
“We have enemies, we’ve always had enemies.”
“Yet, those enemies never came after us. Our fathers instilled fear, and we’re not doing the same. They are taking chances now, shooting at us, that for me crosses the fucking line.” Donnie got to his feet and started pacing.
“We got to go after Lucien.”
“I hate to add something here, but you’re right. I’ve heard a lot of unrest since you took out your father. There has been rumor that there are plans to create an uprising,” the doctor said.
“We’re not in the fucking movies,” Tonio said.
“We’re not, but that doesn’t mean others don’t get off on some shit like this. Someone is after you boys, and you’re going to need to show force.”
“How did your fathers show force?” Zara asked.
“A party, and during that party, there was a death,” Donnie said.
“You’re done, son,” the doctor said. “I’ll be back to change the dressing, but providing you don’t do anything strenuous, you’ll be fine.”
“I’ve got no plans to do shit!” Tonio said.