AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Marco’s lips tighten. “The Fontanas will do what’s best for the Fontanas. Always have.”
“Same with the Lombardis, but they hate Sal, so just to spite him, they’d side with the Abruzzis.”
It’s true the Lombardis have a profitable working relationship with the Abruzzis. I’ve disrespected Don Matteo by excluding him from deals in Chicago, and the Donati family in Las Vegas still harbors a grudge. These three families hold significant influence, and if I attempt to supplant the Abruzzis as the dominant force, it will probably ignite a war to determine who holds power over us all.
Dane’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Sal, is there anything else we need to discuss?”
“There is one way to get the Donatis on our side.”
Dane’s immediate response is a firm shake of his head. “No.”
“If we cut them in on the casinos, they will join us. They value the dollar more highly than even their children, and if it’s one thing us Italians value the most, it’s the next generation.”
“No,” Dane states again. “From the beginning, they’ve made it difficult. Hell, Sal, they threatened you and would have killed you if we hadn’t been there. The Donatis can’t be trusted. And you know as well as I do money doesn’t buy loyalty.”
A brief shared look with my men confirms his point. “You’re right.” With a heavy sigh, I stand. “We all have jobs to do. And as Dane told Dirt, we all need to be discreet.”
“We have a plan, and we each know what we need to do. Tomorrow, the fun begins.”
The weight of our deliberations still hangs in the air as Dane’s firm voice signals the conclusion of our meeting. Like synchronized movement, the men around the round table rise, their chairs scraping softly against the plastic on the barn floor. The creaking wood bears witness to the gravity of the decisions made, each echoing step serving as a somber punctuation mark to our collective contemplation.
Exiting the barn, the cold night air hits us, a stark contrast to the intensity within. Car doors open and shut, the metallic sounds punctuating the night. Headlights flicker to life, casting fleeting beams on the dusty ground as the men disperse into waiting cars. In this moment of departure, the camaraderie and shared burden of responsibility linger.
Once inside the car with Dane and my men, I say, “That went better than I thought it would.”
Dane agrees, “Yeah. At least we are all on the same page. Still, the road ahead isn’t going to be easy.”
The engine hums to life as we pull away from the barn, the gravel crunching beneath the tires. In the dimly lit car, the glow from the dashboard casts shifting shadows on Dane’s face, emphasizing the weariness etched in his features. As he maneuvers through the winding paths, the headlights cutting through the darkness, we head toward an uncertain future, and I pray our families survive what’s coming.
Chapter Eleven
DIRT
This morning, the weight of last night’s meeting hangs heavily on my soul. Since daybreak, I’ve been up, the rhythmic thud of the axe against wood a feeble attempt to work through the impending turmoil. It’s not as though I haven’t been in the thick of it over the years, but I know when the MC goes to war, it’s the innocents who end up getting hurt.
Lore.
Amidst the swirling thoughts, her name surfaces.
Her face has been a constant presence in my mind since the day I first saw her at the hospital. She claims we lead different lives, and she’s not wrong. Yet, as the morning light filters through the trees, I can’t shake the notion that if Dane can navigate a relationship with a famous rock star like Kat, perhaps an old man like me can find a way to make it work with Lore.
The distant hum of a car approaching pulls me away from the repetitive thud of the axe, and I embed it into the wood. Walking to the front of my property, there, navigating the driveway with precision, is Lore’s rental car.
As she stops just inches from me, she questions with a smile, “You trust me that much?”
“Guess I figured you wouldn’t want to damage the car and have to pay an excess,” I respond, a smirk playing on my lips.
Lore giggles. “Maybe?” Stepping out of the vehicle, she stands beside me. “Zeke told me where you live. I hope that’s okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. Can I make you a coffee?”
“Absolutely.” Lore reaches out, her fingers lightly tracing the wolf tattoo at the center of my chest. “How come you’re all sweaty? It’s barely eight o’clock.”
“I’ve been chopping wood.” I grab her hand and lead her around the back of my house.
The stacked wood, as tall as the shed it sits beside, is three logs deep and just as high.
Lore surveys the scene. “How long have you been awake?”
