Page 58 of Worth of Waste

“I’ll be taking Damian Rossi with me to New York,” Terrance said.

The change in topic drew in Dino’s attention. One, because Damian Rossi was Theo’s friend who still owed Dino a debt from years ago, and because the guy was a lower-level associate to the Rossi crew who also did work for the boss directly. And two, because the topic did not seem to please Ben, if the sneer he was sporting was any sort of indication.

Anything that wasn’t good for Ben, or that the man didn’t like, Dino was inclined to take notice of.

Especially now.

He still remembered how easily his uncle had put him in jail, and the shit show it had caused for Dino. He was still dealing with that mess, biding his time while he waited for the officials to bring a whole new round of charges down on his ass.

He still remembered how emotionless, yet seemingly pleased, his uncle had been as he visited Dino in the jail, gloating over his manipulation, proud he was still able to teach Dino a lesson for rebelling against his wants, even though his nephew was an adult.

His life would never be his own, Dino knew.

Not while Ben DeLuca was alive.

Except now … now Dino had something—people he loved—that were entirely his own, and had absolutely nothing to do with Ben.

Unless his uncle found out.

Then, he had no doubt Ben would take them away, as he had so many other things. He would never stand for a threat to his control of his family.

Dino couldn’t let that happen.

So, yeah, he started listening.

“Damian doesn’t need to go with us to New York,” Ben said.

“I want him to go,” Terrance replied simply.

“For what?”

“To learn, old friend. He could use the education on other factions and families in this life of ours.”

Ben scoffed. “Pardon my opinion, but a Rossi doesn’t need to learn anything except how to put down a liquor bottle.”

A few seats down from Theo, Tommas Rossi picked up his wine glass filled with red wine as though Ben hadn’t said a thing. He took a big drink, making sure to place his glass down with enough force to draw Ben’s attention.

Then, Tommas smiled coldly. “All Rossis, or just a couple, DeLuca?”

Ben’s expression turned hard. “I said what I meant.”

“That’s enough,” the boss muttered.

It seemed like nothing had changed within the Outfit families since Dino had been in lockup. They were still just as hateful and likely just as prone to violence, as they had always been. Dino put that tidbit away, knowing it might benefit him to use it someday.

When everyone sitting at the dinner table hated each other as much as these people did, it wouldn’t take a great deal to make them fight against one another. It seemed there was lots to fight about, too.

The boss had a favorite who one of his closest men didn’t approve of.

That was certainly something to use.

Dino couldn’t help but wonder if pitting these people against each other might someday be his Hail Mary, though he didn’t entirely know why. It was just an idea that suddenly stuck into his mind like a needle, poking and poking, but refusing to let go.

Yes, Dino filed all of that away for a rainy day.

He just knew—somehow—he would use it.

But at what cost?