AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Alright, Hook. That’s it. Hand it over.” Juvo motions for my pistol. “There’s only three doors out, and you can bet your ass they’re all covered. Don’t go down as the bitch who got it in the back. Hey.” He gets nervous when I shift in my seat. “No fucking games, man. That’s enough. You’ve been caught.”
“Brings me to a curious question plaguing my mind. Who spotted me?”
“You? Hah.” The others laugh alongside him. “Narcissist, this one. No one spotted you, Hook.”
Deangelo gets up and closes his gaudy crimson blazer.
“Do you have any idea how many times I had to threaten Joey to stay in line?” Deangelo says. “I’d been aching to clip him and his wife for the better part of a decade. Yet, you were always one step ahead of me.” Deangelo’s expression bleeds satisfaction. “Not today, though. You can throw ten pounds of make-up on that bitch, and I’d still pick her out of a row.” He leans over to me. “I know every hair, every blemish, every mark on her body. Checkmate, comrade.”
My heart aches inside my chest. They’re going to kill her. Fuck.
All this time, my mistake was letting them see her. They know I wouldn’t bring someone so risky unless there was a connection. They know… I have an Achilles heel.
“I’ll come quietly,” I finally agree. “Just let her free. No pursuit. I want to hear it from the don’s mouth.”
The men all eye one another.
“I’m at your mercy.” I change my tone so they know I’m serious. “No games.”
Deangelo clenches his jaw.
C’mon. I’m right at your fingertips. Just let it fucking go.
He nods.
“I have your word, by the blood of your seal?” I ask, testing his ‘made man’ status.
“C’mon, Hook.” Deangelo nods for Juvo to take his gun. “We aren’t savages.”
“I want it from the horse’s mouth,” I demand, dangling the gun in front of Juvo.
“It will be done. Now let’s go.”
I drop the gun in Juvo’s hand, receive my pat down, and proceed to walk with him and his goon at either of my sides, while Deangelo leads us.
Don Carlo nods toward me, silently asking Deangelo if I’m clean. Once the pussy knows he’s not in danger anymore, he squares his slumped shoulders and frowns defiantly as he fixes his tie. I can’t stand the way he waddles and expects everyone to kiss his ring. For what? He hasn’t earned anything himself in twenty years.
“Deangelo.” Carlo lifts his chin. “How’d we get such a big fish to come quietly?”
“He has a request,” Deangelo says. “Wants the hit called off on his little girlfriend.”
“The one he made a widow?” He chuckles. “That woman must have lips shimmering in gold.”
The goons laugh around me, making me second guess my quiet death. One has a holster peeking out of the back of his blazer – the idiot. And the other is packing on his hip. The bulge makes it clear as day.
“Alright, Mr. Rigiano. We can make that work, I think.” He offers his hand for me to kiss. This fucking bullshit piece of fat shit.
I take his limp hand in mine, and spin it up right so we’re both shaking hands like men. None of this kingly nonsense. “You have a deal, Carlo. Let’s not make a show of it.”
He puckers his lips. “The mighty Hook, brought to his knees by a risky job and a risky girl,” he hoots. “My men are going to sleep better tonight knowing you’re off the streets.”
“I’ll bet they will.”
The Don snaps his fingers, and I’m surrounded by another two thugs. They strut toward the double doors.
As soon as we leave the reception, the main hall is eerily quiet. I would’ve expected some staff hauling decorations into storage, or clearing plates, or something. Our footsteps echo on the marble floor, until Deangelo puts up his hand for everyone to stop.
Another set of footsteps echoes from around the staircase, and I’m shocked to see Sal Dicey Matteo – Donny’s right hand – whistling like he’s just strolling down the street.
