“Fine, fine. On the front end, he deals with meat, on the side, he deals with arms. Weapons, rifles mostly, a few grenades here and there.”
Arms dealing? That had never been our family’s thing. We were a money-laundering scheme, top to bottom. Every once in a while, we helped somebody out with muscle that was running drugs, but weapons? They were so messy, not up to our caliber of business. Not to mention that the payout wasn't always worth the pain.
“Weapons, Pops? Really? Have things gotten that desperate since I've been gone? I gave you advice about how to run this place better. About how to bring in high rollers. All those guys in the casino Marco works with. You can make a killing off of them.”
He slammed his fist on the table. “I made this choice for the family when you weren't here. And now I have to make good on my word.”
I clenched my teeth together. “Fine, I get it. What do you need me to do?”
He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms, looking more relaxed. It was all about respect to him. Sure, I was his son, but I was more muscle to him than anything else. Muscle that he could control because of our blood ties.
“I need you to clean up the little shit that’s been bothering him. He’s been taking some of his clients, and he needs to be taught a lesson. I sent Marco to deal with him a few months ago, but apparently that wasn't enough. He's back at it and even tried to steal from Armani recently. I need you to handle him.”
“I've been out of jail one day and you need me to kill some piece of shit?”
He lifted his hands and shrugged. “I understand your annoyance, it hasn't even really been one day. You don't have to do it right now, just watch him. Make sure he’s not making any big moves. Would that make you feel better?”
I had just promised Vienna that I wouldn't get involved in anything that would get me put away again. I was such a fucking liar. I knew the moment I said that, I wouldn’t be able to fully keep that promise. At least I'd been honest with her about how dangerous I was, and how I would always do anything to keep her safe. I was two sides of one dirty coin. I wondered if she really knew what she was getting involved in.
I was a monster. But I had a duty to do.
“Fine. I'll start watching him tomorrow. I've got other shit I have to do today.”
“You want a weapon? In case he steps out of line?”
“No, I’ve got my knife. And my fists. That's all I need.”
“You can dump him off at the docks, son. Our clean up crew can take care of it from there.”
“Pops, give the kid a chance, will ya?” But I knew he was right. I would find something on this kid. I’d end him in the end.
He put his hand on my shoulder. “It's good to have you back, my son. We missed you.”
Just then, my mother bustled toward us with a plate full of homemade spaghetti and meatballs. Exactly what I had expected. She sat down next to us at the table, and we didn't talk business anymore—it wasn’t allowed over family meals. It was as if our past conversation never happened. I just ate dinner and listened to my parents bicker like the old married couple they were.
It was moments like this that I felt like we were a normal family.
Sometimes, I even believed it.
9
Vienna
I turned my body to the side and reached for him. “Luka?” But as my hand felt the satiny sheets beneath my fingers, I didn't feel the warmness of his flesh. When he didn't reach out to touch me, I rolled over completely and found a handwritten note and a wad of cash. What the hell? I slammed my head back into the pillow and let out a frustrated groan. Jesus, he sure knew how to make a girl feel good. I wasn't some tramp he could just give money to. But then I read the note.
I want to see you when I get home.
I love you.
Luka
A love note? Maybe prison really had reformed him. The Luka I knew was the type to have sex and split, not really caring about the girl in his sheets. This note reminded me of what he said earlier. How he would protect me and keep me safe. About how this time was different, how we would be together. He promised not to make any decisions within the family that would hurt us. Nothing that would get him sent away again. And because I was stupid, I believed him.
But shit. How the hell was I supposed to complete my job now? I wasn’t supposed to fall for him. Roberto would kill me. I looked around me, I was lying in Luka’s bed. The man who may have killed my father. I couldn’t fall in love.
I shook my head in disgust. Did I really even want to do this job anymore? Given how I felt about Luka, how I always felt about him, I didn’t think that my heart would let me get the revenge I craved in the past. I knew I couldn’t pin all my anger on him anymore. Maybe I could stay and prove everyone wrong. Maybe Luka was innocent in all this.