Page 79 of Made in Love and Blood

“Week two,” Big Mike continued, his gaze turning on the boss as he said it, “Nico comes back to me again, but he thinks he’s got a problem.”

“What pro—”

“Or rather, he thinks I do,” Big Mike interrupted Anthony.

“Are we getting to the point anytime soon?” Giorgio demanded.

“Week three, he confirms what he suspected to me. Carcoli has been taking a cut from every sale my dealers make in his clubs and likely has been since the inception of the agreement we made five years ago when he took over after his father died.”

“That’s fucking bullshit,” Anthony hissed. “We don’t take a damn cent, Mike.”

“You’re lying. Nico made a sale. A cut was taken. I sent out five more guys. Cuts were taken. So not only do I have a fellow capo stealing from me, he’s turned associates on both sides into thieves as well.”

“You-you...You’re wrong,” Anthony stammered.

Big Mike shook his head. “No, I don’t think I am.”

“Anthony,” Giorgio began, “this is serious. It’s one thing if your crew is skimming off the top and you don’t know about it, but it’s another thing altogether if you’re aware they’re doing it and you’ve done nothing.”

Anthony remained quiet.

At this point, his only option left.

Giorgio arched an eyebrow, never looking away from the younger of the two capos. “How much would it be, Mike?”

“If I went all the way back?” The older, bigger capo folded his arms over his chest. “Nico ran the numbers with Vauhn. Easily a million a year.”

“A million.”

“A year,” Salvatore echoed the boss’s disbelief.

Anthony’s shoulders lifted and fell with his heavy breaths. “What, did you have that little shit Nico sniffing through my fucking streets?”

“Apparently, there was something to smell,” Big Mike replied blithely. “I can’t help it if the kid has a knack for finding money. Five million made in three weeks isn’t too fucking bad, is it?”

“One week,” Giorgio said suddenly.

Everyone looked his way.

“One week,” he repeated. “That’s all you have to correct this mistake, Anthony, and make an appropriate apology that Big Mike must feel is sufficient to repair his damages. On top of that, you will pay him for his use of territory, he will continue to sell in your clubs without issue, and your dues are up ten percent from today.”

Anthony’s mouth fell open. “You can’t do that!”

Giorgio didn’t blink. “Didn’t I just do exactly that? Be grateful your mother won’t wake up tomorrow with your hands on her doorstep in a white box. It is only Marco’s friendship with you that saved you today. Thank him on your way out and get the fuck out of my face.”

Salvatore openly scoffed as the man stormed from the dining room, leaving his pile of cash as tribute behind. The boss didn’t miss it.

“What?” he snapped at Sal. “What is it now?”

Salvatore gestured with a finger at the empty seats, and the one filled by Big Mike who remained quiet during the exchange. “Not one other man at this table would get away with that, Giorgio. Not one of them, but Marco’s best friend...oh, that’s a different story.”

“You know, I’ve had about enough of you lately.”

“You know,” Salvatore returned in kind, standing from the chair, “same, boss. Nice seeing you, Mike. I’m glad Nico’s working out.”

“Working out?” Big Mike laughed. “Sal, he’s moving up.”

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