“That’s not how men like us think,” I said. “I wish I’d just finished the job then and there so I wouldn’t have to spend my time hunting him down.”
She didn’t drink her coffee again. Her hand rested on the top of the mug, the steam rising through the gaps in her fingers. “I wish that had never happened.”
“More shit like that is coming our way.”
Her eyes lifted to mine.
“As the gangs comply or resist the Skull King’s demands, your father is going to come out as the top player in arms. They’re going to do whatever they can to take it from him. Publicly talking shit at a wedding is child’s play compared to what’s coming. I’ve got to kill Warren to show the others not to fuck with us. Outsmarting the Lombardis made everyone take us seriously, so that probably prevented unwanted bloodshed.”
“But you’re the one who did those things.”
“I know.”
She stared at me across the table.
“Your family wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for me—and your father knows that.”
We had a meeting in Don’s office. Francesca was absent because she had a meeting with a potential client. Don Mancini stood in front of the desk and leaned against it, his arms crossed over his chest.
“I need about twelve guys.” I stood in front of Don Mancini while the guys had gathered in the room in armchairs and standing behind the couches. “We head to his place, hit it hard, and thenwe’re home by dinner. Pretty straightforward.” We should have taken care of this yesterday, but everyone wanted the day off.
“You know where to find him?” Don Mancini asked.
“Yeah. I’ve got my sources. Who’s with me?”
The guys volunteered, bringing the crew to twelve.
“I don’t like this,” Don Mancini said. “I don’t like killing my countrymen.”
“You kill him, or he kills you,” I said. “Simple as that.”
“But maybe there would have been another option…if things had unfolded differently.” He didn’t regard me with his resentment, staring at me like this was still a dialogue.
“He walked across that terrace with one intention—to fuck with you. He tested you and wanted to see exactly how far he could push your boundaries until you snapped. He’s a predator that likes to play with his food. That’s all there is to it.” I turned to the guys. “We’ll leave in a couple hours. Let’s prepare the vehicles.”
We stocked the cars with our guns and ammunition and then prepared to make the ninety-minute drive. When I turned back to the house, I saw Francesca on the steps with her hand on the stone banister. She wore a white dress with yellow and blue flowers embroidered on the material. Concern was written all over her face, like she would give anything to kiss me goodbye.
I wanted her to.
To walk over here and make her public declaration.
She moved down the stone steps and then headed to the road where the vehicles were in a line. Leo told Andre to bring the grenades before he turned to his sister.
“Be careful, okay?”
“I’m not worried about it,” Leo said.
“Well, you should be worried.”
He gave her a quick pat on the shoulder, a brother-sister gesture of affection. “You worry too much. It’s going to give you wrinkles.” Then he walked around the other side of the vehicle.
She continued to look at me where I stood in front of the other vehicle.
I waited for her to come to me. Waited for her to close that distance between us and kiss me exactly how she wanted to.
But then her dad appeared from the rear and headed for me, passing his daughter without recognizing the connection between our stares.
Don Mancini drew closer, and I was forced to rip my gaze from hers. To not stare at the way her hair fluttered in the warm breeze. The way that long dress made her look like a beautiful bride missing a veil.
