Page 111 of Bene

“They know we’ve been trying to get in on their racket with the distribution company for the last couple of weeks while they’ve been trying to get a handle on their legal issues, and—”

“Shut up,” Mario snapped.

The man did.

His gaze slid to Vanna, but she stayed neutral, her expression holding that same indifferent stare while his burned with fire and fury. She could see his silent questions and demands without him needing to vocalize it, too.

Did you get them here?

You better not have done this.

Keep your fucking mouth shut.

“What do we do?” the guy to Mario’s left asked.

The silence in the restaurant stretched on.

“Get them the fuck out.”

“And cause a scene? It’s not just the clan in here. Outsiders, Mario, think about it.”

“Fuck.”

His snarl slithered across the quiet floor.

Vanna saw the way it made Bene smirk.

“Go assure my father I have this handled,” Mario ordered, eyeing his father fuming at the table nearer to the middle of the dining section, “before he blows a fucking gasket.”

The man didn’t hesitate.

Then, Mario turned on her, his back to the room, and his viciousness coming back out to play when he grabbed her arm hard enough to make it ache.

“And you,” he muttered.

Vanna gave him a look. “What about me?”

“You stay put—don’t draw that prick’s attention while he’s here. If anyone finds out you were fucking him, I will put a bullet in your skull, Vanna. Do you hear me?”

Yeah.

She heard him.

“Answer me.”

“Yes, Mario.”

“Have another drink. Don’t even look at him.”

Involuntarily, her gaze drifted over his shoulder to find Bene again. Now, the group had come a little farther into the restaurant, and Bene currently snatched a drink up from a table. One that another member of the clan had just ordered, but never even got the chance to enjoy before Bene downed it in one go, and then set it back to the table.

Mario yanked on her arm, bringing her attention back to him. “What did I just say to you, huh?”

“They’re just flexing,” she told him, “they know the Camorra was fucking in their business while they were distracted, and now they’re here to show you how big boys play. If you’re going to make moves like you did in their world, you better be prepared for them to answer you. Move is on you—keep throwing your threats at me or focus on making sure they know you won’t be pushed around. It’s your choice, but everyone is watching, Mario.”

That did it.

She knew it would.