AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My body aches like I have the flu.
"You said fuck."
So? "You say it all the time."
"You don't." His eyes narrow.
"How does that matter?" I demand. "Just tell me what outfit you are with."
I hate being in the dark about anything now that I know what a big secret he has been keeping.
"We are part of theÁdis Adelfótita." Atlas still looks like he can't believe I know what he is.
I look at him blankly.
"The Hades Brotherhood."
"A Greek syndicate?" It sure sounds Greek. He and his family are Greek.
"You're not the…" I trail off. "Does the Greek mafia have dons? Or godfathers?"
"My uncle is the Godfather of the Night. He rules the entire West Coast territory."
"Even territory you haven't claimed yet. There were no syndicates here when I moved to Portland."
"How do you know?" That is from his cohort, Theo.
I ignore the question. "Your uncle told you to set up protection territory here?"
"No. Zeus is myanax."
So, like a don, while the Godfather of the Night is like the Godfather in the Cosa Nostra. However, the Italian Godfather is the head of the entire Cosa Nostra in the United States and his uncle's territory is the West Coast.
Does it go up into Canada?
My brain is focusing on the minutia so I don't have to deal with the hurricane of pain from Atlas's betrayal.
"How much?" I ask.
"How much what?" he asks back.
His tone is neutral, but the words taunt me. He knows exactly what I'm talking about.
"Don't. Just don't." I inhale as deeply as I can, letting the air out of my lungs slowly in an attempt to keep my roiling emotions under control. "You know I'm talking about protection money. You've got two soldiers standing outside my office to make sure I don't leave before agreeing to your terms."
"Bobby and Michael are out there to make sure we aren't interrupted."
Is that supposed to imply a difference? If it is, I don't see it.
"How do you know why I'm here?" he asks and then glares. "Did the bratva approach you while I was gone?"
Theo makes a scoffing noise. "Nobody got past us, boss."
I refuse to answer. I willnotexplain how I know what is going on. Atlas deserves no explanations from me.
When neither Atlas nor I break the silence between us, Theo says, "10% of net profits."
Theo must be Atlas's second. He wouldn't speak for his boss otherwise. He's got the made man stoic mask down pat, his brown features showing not a single emotion.
