“I’m the underboss that counts for something. I’ve only been making those decisions to save your ass. A lot of people in the family are not happy with you and feel like you’re losing your touch,” Matteo retorts.
“And yet none of them have been able to say it to my face.”
“Well I am right now. For years our empire was strong. Now you’ve hit your thirties and everything’s going to hell. Maybe it’s time to give it up. You know, get married, have kids or something.”
His words hit me hard and the slap that I give him to the face is even louder.
This is the exact thing I’ve spent years proving to myself. Dumbass men thinking a woman can’t handle running a crime organization.
He stumbles back clutching his hand to his cheek.
I lunge at him but Salvatore grabs me. “Guards!” He yells. “Get over here now.”
“How dare you!” I yell. “You know damn well I’ve built this empire into something my father could have only dreamed of.”
“Everything is all fucked up, Cipi,” He yells. “You’ve let a killer infiltrate our circle, steal your father’s chess set, then pick us off one by one. Now we have to look over our shoulders to see if we’re going to be the next person killed. You have no idea who the person is. You’re supposed to be keeping us safe, not setting us up for slaughter. Maybe you should take some time off and get your head screwed on straight.”
I elbow Salvatore in the side so he lets go of me. Reaching into my boot, I pull out a switchblade. Flipping it open, the blade gleams in the floodlights. “You take that back.” I go after him.
Salvatore grabs me again before I can reach him. “Stop it! Both of you! Just stop it. Guards! Get the fuck over here!”
Footsteps echo as the guards come and surround Matteo separating us.
Salvatore holds me back, but I fight to get to Matteo. “Cipi calm down. This is bullshit. We’re family, you aren’t going to turn on one another.” He glares at Matteo. “You get the fuck out of here and go clear your head. Watch your mouth next time before I let her go and she’ll tear you apart. You know Cipi can fight and she will beat your ass.” He shakes his head. “I should smack you for being so disrespectful.”
Matteo scowls and storms off.
Lucia is by my side as Salvatore lets me go. “It’s okay, Cipi.” She takes the switchblade from my hand.
“I don’t like his attitude and what he said,” Salvatore mutters. “His actions have been questionable. You and Dominic might be onto something about the killer being within. I’m sure Matteo would love nothing more than to be in charge and have the whole family at his disposal.”
“Matteo wouldn’t do something like that, he’s like a brother to me. We grew up together,” I protest.
“Power makes people act in strange ways, Farfalla. People will go to great lengths to obtain it.” He lets go of me and places the pawn on a nearby crate. “I can’t wait until I find out who has that damn chess board. I’m going to strangle them.”
“That means it has to be someone in our inner circle,” Lucia rubs my shoulder. “That chessboard was at your parents’ house, only someone in the family would have been allowed inside.”
My chest heaves as I breathe like a wild animal.
My cheeks are hot with fury as shame fills me.
I shouldn’t have lost control.
That’s not the sign of a leader.
Being hot-tempered makes you react on emotion instead of strategy.
It’s a toxic trait that will land you six feet under.
I blink back tears as I stare at the warehouse floor, at the crimson pool of blood and the imprint where the body used to be.
How dare I let Matteo’s words make me doubt myself.
Maybe bringing Dominic onto the case was a bad idea.
“Cipi?” Lucia’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Are you okay?”
I nod, staring at the pawn on the crate. “I’m fine. Maybe we should put a tail on Matteo. Have one of the guards trail him twenty-four seven.”
