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Max

“So, visiting this kid at the hospital makes you feel better about yourself, huh?” Nico kicks his legs up on the desk in his office, tossing a football into the air and catching it.

I shrug. “I guess. But I’m not doing it for me. I just wanted to do something good for someone else. Sloane…she’s always doing stuff for everyone else. I figured I could do something to help, too. She started that whole charity at the hospital and its really helping a lot of people — kids, their families. I wanted to do my own part. I’m not a completely self-centered prick.”

“No, not completely.” Nico snickers and holds the ball and sits straight up in his chair. “This is a new side of you, Max. I didn’t realize you got the sensitivity gene.”

I let out a snort. “Me either. But this kid…he’s really in bad shape. I was there this morning, and he’s got some kind of infection that’s keeping him in isolation. It’s serious, Nico.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah. It does. I feel bad for the kid’s brother, too. Their mom’s a druggie who got her ass thrown in lockup after he was diagnosed. The older brother takes care of everything, and he needs cash. I offered to help, but he said he’s got something going on here in the city that’ll pay him decent money.” I rub the back of my neck. “Some drug deal. He didn’t know much more than that, but—”

“What drug deal?” Nico drops the ball on the desk and grabs his phone. “Did he give you a name?”

“No. His friend pulled him in to help. But if it’s here in the city, the Sardiscos should be involved.”

Nico narrows his eyes and stabs a few numbers into his phone then slides it away. “I just sent a text to Viktor. If there’s a drop and the Sardiscos are running it, we should know the details.”

“Maybe Viktor just forgot to say anything to you.”

Nico lets out a dry laugh. “To cut me out of the take when I gave him access to distribute in the city? Ah, no. He wouldn’t fuck himself up the ass like that. The Sardiscos wouldn’t go behind my back and deal with him directly, either. Someone else is running it.”

“You think the Bonnaros are behind it? Would they pull shit in the city knowing we’re tight with the Sardiscos? Would they fuck around like that and risk everything they’re trying to build?”

“If they think they can take both families down at once? Yeah, I’d say so. Gianni and Mikey know we’d back the Sardiscos. And we’re the only things standing in their way of taking over the whole territory.” Nico nods at his phone. “That’s why I sent that text to Viktor. We need to be prepared. Things are gonna happen fast, Max. Be ready.”

I lean back in the chair and push back my hair. “Aren’t I always?”

Nico lifts an eyebrow. “It might be worth it to tell your friend to watch his back. You know how these things go and getting caught in this kind of a family crossfire isn’t ideal for a guy in his situation.”

“I told him not to get involved. I know he’s in a bind and doesn’t want to take handouts from anyone, but he doesn’t get how dangerous this is. I wish he’d have just taken the fucking construction job I offered.”

“Sounds like Sloane’s do-gooder ways are really rubbing off on you, brother.”

“You know, I’m trying to do the right thing here and all you do is give me shit.”

“Don’t get your dick in a twist. Maybe you’re a little too sensitive now. Are you gonna start binge-watching Lifetime movies now?”

“No, jackass. I’m gonna call Louie Sardisco and find out if he knows about any of this. If something’s happening and they are involved, I need him to keep an eye on the kid.”

“Not a bad idea. You haven’t pissed Louie off, so he may actually do it for you.”

I roll my eyes. “I know my list of enemies is long—”

“Max, there isn’t enough paper on the Lower East Side that can hold all those names.”

“Fuck you.”

He smirks. “Oh, so you wanna add one more name?”

“I keep things interesting. You’d never feed me to the wolves.” I say it, believing it about ninety-five percent. But I know Nico’s loyalty is to the family. He honors the code, the one I keep breaking.

That’s me. The rule breaker.

And someday, the rules are gonna break me…my neck…my knees…my arms…

You get the idea.

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