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"But you work for them, and you know how they operate."
"Y-yes."
I reach into the pocket of my suit jacket and pull out a knife. The Cirilo man's eyes bulge, and I can see the fear coursing through his body.
"I know Carlo is working with them."
"H-he owes them money," the man stammers. "And he thinks he's going to get into good graces.”
I walk towards him, letting the tip of the blade dig into the chair, mere centimeters from his skin. "How did he meet the Cirilos?"
"Through his bookie," he whimpers.
"What is Carlo's plan?"
The man gulps. "T-to string them along long enough to either get enough money to pay off his debts or take your place as the head of the Falcone family where he would be untouchable."
"And the hit on Daisy?"
"He keeps telling them that she has all his money and that the only way to get it back is to kill her. I can give you more," the man whines, fear oozing from his voice. "Please. Please. I can tell you everything you want to know, just spare me. I'm just a low-level goon. I had no choice."
I slam the knife into the chair, right between his legs. He yelps and tries to lean away, but the ropes hold him tightly.
"No lies or I'll bury this in your neck and leave you here to rot. Understand?"
"Yes! Yes, sir!"
"How is Carlo communicating with them?"
"Directly," the man gasps. "He thinks he's valuable, but they treat him no differently than they do me, like an associate. Please, Mr. Falcone. I have a daughter..."
Blowing out between my teeth, I pull away and pace the length of the basement over and over again. This feels like old times—violent and cruel. I don't like it, but damn if I still don’t have the touch for it. It's all too easy to just kill him and have him disposed of like all hostages from the past, but I've been working so fucking hard to make the change, to be a better man. So if I want to talk the talk, I have to walk the walk.
I circle behind the man and cut his bonds in a single movement. He makes a surprised sound, his eyes going wide when I toss the cell phone my men found in his pocket back to him. "Record me. I have a message for your boss."
The man is so shocked that it takes him a minute to react, but he finally does, setting up the phone and holding it out shakily in front of him. I clear my throat, staring down at him.
"I'm sure you know who I am. I want you to know that I'm aware that my son is working with you, but before this, there was no bad blood between the Cirilos and the Falcones. I'm going to make this very clear—pull the hit on Daisy Linden, retract it, cancel it, do whatever the fuck you have to do because if you don't, and if you or anyone else from the Cirilo family harms a hair on Daisy's head, I will destroy you. Your organization will fall, your leaders will die, and your children will live lives in poverty.
"But because you've never crossed me before and because I believe that Carlo is lying to you, I'm going to grant you a boon. I'm going to tell you the truth about my son, you're going to pull the hit on Daisy, and then I'm going to give you a chance to contact me and apologize. You see, I know Carlo has debts he owes you, and that he's saying Daisy has his funds. She doesn't. And whatever he owes you, I promise you it isn't worth getting on my bad side." Then, I pause. "Since Carlo is my son and he's wronged your family, I will pay off a portion of his debt myself after I receive the apology and proof that the hit is off. But if you want that money, it means you have to leave Carlo alone as well. If he fucks with you again, then it's out of my hands, but if you agree to all of this, you have to pretend he doesn't exist and let me handle the problems with my own blood. Think it over. Otherwise, count your days."
After rattling off a number for the Cirilos to contact, I tell the goon to turn off the recording. I step forward, reaching out and grabbing the man by the front of his shirt. He squeaks, shaking as I haul him up off the chair.
"Tell your bosses that this is my final warning," I hiss. "There is a ceasefire here. If you violate it, you are at fault."
The man nods furiously. "O-of course, Mr. Falcone! I understand, sir! Thank you, sir!"
"Good." I lower him back down to the floor. "Now get the fuck out."
The Cirilo man stumbles over himself trying to get out, and as soon as the basement door shuts behind him, I leave, heading home.
I hope that my message will be taken seriously, but even if it isn't, at least I tried.
* * *
When I get back to the house, Ashton is waiting for me. He seems a little flustered, which is unusual for him, and when he sees me, he holds up a small, long black velvet box.
"This just arrived for Miss Daisy," he says, his expression confused.
