Page 61 of The Taste of Deceit

Vito gasps out an address between sobs. I pull out my phone and text it to Mikey’s guy. “Boss wants the full amount recovered. Every dollar.”

Marco doesn’t stop. He lands another punch to the jaw, snapping the collector’s head sideways. Teeth loosen. Blood sprays across the floor. I step in, grab the man’s chin, and force him to meet my eyes.

“You skimmed once. You won’t again. And every low-level asshole who hears what happened today will think twice before touching what isn’t theirs.”

Marco kicks the chair legs out again. The collector hits the concrete hard, shoulder dislocating with a wet pop. He screams until his voice cracks. I crouch, press my boot to his throat—not enough to crush, just enough to remind him who decides if he breathes.

I wipe my knuckles on his shirt. “You’re breathing because we decided you keep breathing. That’s the only reason. You live to tell every other greedy fuck what happens when they try the same stunt.”

I turn toward the door. “I’m gone next week. You cover my end until I’m back.”

Enzo nods once. Vito sobs on the floor, the lesson carved into every bruise and broken bone.

“Clean him up enough so he can crawl out of here. Show everyone what happens when you steal from the family.”

Chapter 19

Sarah

Ipick up my phone and stare at it. Calling Katie should’ve been the easiest thing on my to-do list, but I’ve somehow managed to avoid it for nearly a full day. It’s almost three in the afternoon, and I’ve folded laundry, prepped dinner, worked out, and watched a few hours of Netflix. Apparently, I’m willing to do just about anything before making one phone call.

I even spent an hour online looking at horses for sale. I let out a slow breath and shake my head at myself. Call your damn best friend, Sarah.

I tap her name and hold the phone to my ear. It rings twice before she answers.

“Hey, slut,” Katie says. “What’s going on?”

I laugh.

“Oh, you know. Sitting on my ass, recovering from our trip.”

“Babe,” she says, “you fly to the fucking Bahamas in less than a week. You better start finding some energy.”

“Luca kept me up late,” I say. “It’s his fault.”

Katie gasps.

“Sarah Eileen, are you telling me you were getting railed instead of sleeping?”

I grin.

“Girl, that man never disappoints.”

Katie lets out a laugh on the other end of the phone. “How amazing is it that we both get pounded every night by men who worship the ground we walk on?”

Her laugh tugs at the corner of my mouth, but it doesn’t last. She has no idea the man she’s in love with has been lying to her since the day they met, and now so am I. Every time I pretend everything is normal, I become another person she has every reason not to trust.

“Sarah?”

“Yeah?”

“I asked you a question.”

Shit.

“Sorry,” I say quickly. “My phone slipped.”

Katie snorts.