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So long as it was him,then everything would be fine.
"Have Memphis send me the information. I'll decide how to handle it."
"Just promise me you'll give me a heads up before you go in with guns blazing," Tank requested. "I'd hate to lose you just when I think we're starting to become friends."
I shook my head as I turned the ignition.
"Friends have to see each other for more than just a round of poker and a beer once every few weeks."
Tank chuckled. "I'm pretty sure that's actually the definition of male friendship. But sure, why not? Come have dinner with me and some of the guys. We'll talk out your issues and give you more details."
I didn't want to talk it out. I didn't want to have dinner with him or any of the other NightShade team members.
All I wanted was an address. I wanted the information that would lead me to the one person I'd spent way too many years looking for.
When I didn't answer, Tank pressed further. "One meal, Preacher. Give me one meal to talk this out with you and create a plan. I'll have your back, just like you've had mine. And if you don't want my help, I'll let you go handle this all on your own."
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, knowing there was only one way to get what I wanted. This man had me by the balls — quite literally. He knew I would do anything for the information he had.
"Fine, Tank. One dinner. That's it. Then you give me what I want."
"You've got a deal."
CHAPTER ONE
DANTE
Seven years old
"I don't wantto go to no new school," I growled as I crossed my arms over my chest. I was a small kid, my body growing faster than I could feed it. The movement made me look even smaller, though I didn't care at that moment.
Father had retrieved me and Mamma three days ago, claiming he needed a new wife. His old one was dead.
That's it. That's all he said as he stood at our front door in the middle of the night while his men cleared out the one-bedroom apartment we lived in.
I might have been a kid, but I wasn't stupid. Mamma never spoke of the man who helped make me. Anytime I had asked questions, she would change the subject and tell me to worry about other things like homework or what to eat for dinner.
It wasn't until he stood at our door that I realized the reason.
Giancarlo Romano was a brute. He held himself to no rules, and loyalty could only be shown through blood.
"You will get out of this car, and you will go to school, young man. Or so help me, I will call your father out here and have him deal with you." My new nanny, Ms. Ricci, was as tough as my father. She had proven so over the last two days with her punishments.
The first day at our new home, a big castle looking place that creeped me out, I spent the day in my bedroom. I didn't want to see anyone or do anything. It all felt like a horrible nightmare.
Mamma never even came to tuck me in. She was too busy keeping my father content so he wouldn't pay me any mind.
It was Ms. Ricci who showed up with plates of food and who told me how things would be from then on. She let me know that I had to obey my father's rules no matter what. She called me his heir, claiming I'd be thankful one day for the things he'd given me.
Three days in and I wasn't thankful for much.
I yanked the door of the car open and climbed out. Ms. Ricci exited from her side, then walked me to the front office. Since we had to move, I was put into an all-new school on the other side of the city from my old one. This one looked less colorful than my old school and the way everyone didn't smile only added to how scary it all was.
"I'll leave you to it. Your father will be picking you up today. He will want to know all about your day, including any new alliances you form." With that confusing speech, Ms. Ricci finally let me be.
I took my first deep breath and turned to the lady behind the desk. "You're going to be ok, kid. Just need to toughen up a bit. Especially with the kind of father you got. Tough luck."
Yeah, it was tough luck. That seemed to be how my new life would go.
