AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Deal’s a deal. I keep my word. Besides, I scared the shit out of him. I doubt he’s coming back.”
“Yeah, maybe. You can deal with Don Bro. Now tell me what you found out.”
I give him the info on the hotel where Finnian shacks up with his girl. “My bet is he’s always on the move, never staying anywhere for more than a couple nights.”
“But he’s got a habit. Poor fucker needs to get his dick wet. War’s stressful, after all.” Carlo laughs, sounding delighted. “What a lucky break. God damn, bro, great work. If we get Finnian, I doubt Renzo’s going to complain much about you sparing one fucking guy.”
“I don’t want to hear it from Renzo. I’m the one getting my hands dirty.”
Carlo whistles, but he sounds like he thinks it’s hilarious. “You should head over to the big house. We’ll sit down and discuss strategy. I’m thinking we’ll have a guy or two watching that hotel at all times until we spot him. I’ll have a strike team within a minute of that place, ready to go.”
“Alright, I’ll be up soon. Get your cleaning crew over to the safe house, will you? Make sure those bodies are disposed of and the blood’s washed out.”
“Already on it. Fucking Finnian and his girlfriend. God, what a lucky break. I really hope your guy wasn’t lying to you.”
“He wasn’t.”
Carlo hangs up. I get dressed, shoot Molly another text, and head over to the Rossi mansion. My story seems to have worked, and it has the benefit of being mostly true. Yeah, Barry didn’t spill that secret about his boss until we were at the train station, and I didn’t kill those guys to spook him into talking, but it’s plausible enough. I don’t like the bad taste the lie leaves in my mouth, but it’s close enough to the truth that I can live with it.
This way, Molly’s cousin is still breathing, and my family’s a step closer to winning the war. If I have to bend reality a little bit to make that all happen then I’ll do it.
Before Molly though, I never would’ve considered being anything but completely honest and truthful with my brothers. That’s how the Famiglia works: utter and complete trust and loyalty. If I ever caught them lying to me, there’d be hell to pay, and I expect the same from them. Which is why this whole situation is so damn fucked. It goes against my entire world view and alters the way I think about myself.
I’d do anything for her. I always thought there were lines I wouldn’t cross, but Molly altered everything. I’d go anywhere, fight anyone, murder whoever needs murdering, all for her. I still love my family, and I’m still loyal to my brothers, but now there’s another axis to my life, pulling me in another direction. I can mislead them, fudge the truth, if it means protecting people important to my wife.
I know what my brothers used to say about me. I was the hero, the brother who always tried too damn hard, that took everything so seriously, that struggled and fought to be on top even though no matter how many hits I took or how many games I won, it never mattered. I was always going to be second to Renzo. But I tried anyway because that’s how I defined myself. Loyal to the Famiglia. Putting the needs of the Rossi family over my own.
Until Molly changed all that.
I’m a different man with her in my life, and I’m still getting to know what I’m capable of.
Carlo’s waiting for me out front when I get to the house. He’s in a good mood and gives me a massive bro hug, slapping my back.
“I can’t wait to catch Finnian with his dick in his girl’s ass,” he says, his arm slung over my shoulder. “Can you imagine it? That Irish prick’s pumping himself into his girl over and over, thinking he’s having the time of his life, then bam. We end him and fucking ruin them. God, I want to be there.”
“You’re a sick bastard, you know that?”
“Hey, they fucking shot me, remember? I have good reasons to be violent.”
“It’s the joy you’re getting that makes me very uncomfortable. And the weird sex stuff.”
He elbows my ribs and laughs, and I’m about to follow him into my office when I spot Renzo down the hall.
My brother’s looking grim. My guts clench instantly—what does he know? Did they catch Barry? Did that stupid shithead talk? Or did Dante tell him about Molly?
“Saul, we have to talk.” Renzo nods for me to follow him.
Carlo whistles. “You’re in trouble with the big man. Should I come for moral support?”
“Nah. You go into the bathroom and think about killing Finn while he’s balls deep in his girl. Rub one out and clear your fucking head.”
“Now who’s the sicko? But that’s a good idea. Serious spank bank material.”
I follow after Renzo, an ugly, cold grimness in my stomach. He sits behind his desk and I close the door, hesitating before taking a seat in one of the guest chairs.
“Carlo told me about last night.” His head tilts as he studies me. “Sounds like you did good work.”
“Got lucky.”
