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I swallow hard as the guy narrows his eyes at me. His lips curl into a smirk as if he’s calling me out on my bullshit threats. He knows what I’m capable of, and he knows I won’t do shit to him until I get what I want.
My hand grips the blade tighter, my arm twitching.
He doesn’t know dick.
With the flick of my wrist, the blade slashes his skin, digging into the flesh, and fuck, it electrifies me. With that one swift movement, I reclaim the control and respect hanging in the balance only seconds ago.
With a loud yelp, the shithead looks down at the deep red stain coloring his shirt. He clutches his chest, crying like a bitch. “It fucking burns, asshole!”
I dip my head, lowering it to his. “Are you wishing I’d have just slit your throat instead? So it’d be over and done with? How could you take this message back to your boss if I did that?” I hold the tip of the blade to his lips. “Besides,” I snarl. “I want you to remember how I put the fear of God—fuck that, the fear of Max Oriani—in you tonight. Because you can bet the next time we come face to face, there won’t be a second message for you to deliver to your boss. You’ll be the fucking message.”
If Bonnaro is behind this, I’m gonna show him the same courtesy. He popped a cap right into the wall behind me in that shithole restaurant. He had a message to send to the Salesis, and I delivered it.
Just like this asshole is gonna do for me.
Hey, Mikey, we’re waiting for you and your fucknut brother. And make no mistake, we’re ready.
I launch my fist at the guy’s jaw, sending him and the chair flying backward into a cement mixer. The cheap wooden chair crashes to the floor and he lands face-first onto the concrete. A rush of blood flows from his mouth, his face already bruised from the beating he took from Patty before I showed up.
“Oh yeah, that’s part of the message, too. I just want to be as thorough as possible. There may be a few final thoughts we put into it, but I’ll let my guys handle the rest.”
I pull Patty aside, away from the high-pitched screams that echo through the open space as the crew goes to work on him before sending him crawling back to his boss.
“Any ideas about who set this whole thing up?” Patty asks me in a hushed whisper.
I’ve got plenty of ideas that need to stay under wraps, at least for now. I don’t trust anyone anymore. People value money more than loyalty these days, and these guys will align themselves with anyone who’ll offer cash for information. “Nah, could be anyone. I’ll make some calls, put some guys on it. We’ll find the fuckers who did this.”
This has Mikey written all over it. He’s spiraling, waiting for a chance to sink his teeth into our business. He wants to crush us.
But he’ll start with me because I’m the one who fucked him over hard.
That was his message on Thanksgiving.
And I got it loud and clear.
I hope he appreciates my response. I’ve been waiting for a long time to deliver it.
I nod over to the spot where the douchebag who shall remain nameless is being beaten to a pulp. “Make sure they don’t kill him. I want him to be able to speak when he crawls back to his boss. Also, make sure they don’t smash in his head too much. I don’t want our message to be lost in translation, yeah?”
Patty nods and claps me on the back.
“Call me when you handle all of this. And call the Doc. He’ll take care of the girls and sober them up. Find out where they live and get them back home.” I pull out my keys and head toward my car.
I slide into the front seat and clutch my temples, but the pounding is too intense. A few deep breaths don’t do much to calm my breathing or my heart rate, for that matter. I fought it. I didn’t let the anger win. I saved face in front of my guys. My pulse throbs against my neck. I can do this. I can beat this thing.
I squeeze my eyes shut for a second of relief, and an image of her smiling face flashes across my brain.
My sanity.
Sloane.
The one thing I just can’t seem to win against.
I pull out my phone and stare at the keyboard for a second. My finger hovers over the screen, itching to type. I know it’s wrong. I know it’s bad.
But I know I won’t regret it.
I let out a deep sigh and stab the letters.
Are you up?
