When Rena suggested the dog to make things up with McKayla, I was against bringing any filthy animal in my condo, especially a pup that would shit at any moment. After hearing Adelina Calabresi basically say she would come and beat my ass, that let me know McKayla had gotten into her heart. She was too close for my comfort. I didn’t want my family to like this girl; hell, they barely liked to deal with Viviana. I was past having feelings for her, and I couldn’t fight them any longer. When I yelled about her being a pawn, it was a half-truth. She started as a pawn in a game, but she meant more to me now, and I was determined to make them all pay. I got out of the car, waved my guards off, and met up with Vincenzo at the front entrance of the mall strip.
“What do you think?”
“Looks like you’re going to have a lot of work cut out for you.” Some of the windows were busted, and the paint was depleted.
“My team can handle all the demolition. This can be a moneymaker.”
“You speak with Sante and Elio?”
“They’ve been here.”
I checked the front door and wiped the dust off my hand.
“How much are they asking?”
“We can negotiate them down from quarter of a million.”
I sucked my teeth.
“This is barely worth a hundred thousand.”
“I was able to meet talk them down to one fifty.”
“Plus, the property taxes, the neighbors.” I looked up the strip at a few local stores.
“You were onboard the other day.”
“I didn’t see the place in person. I make money, Vincenzo, not set up to lose it.”
“As president, I made a call.”
“What if we need to dip in and out? All these neighbors, have you checked them out?”
“I have my team on standby.”
“You should because—”
Pop! Pop!
The glass of the window busted, and I dropped to the ground, pulled my gun, and sent bullets flying.
“Stay behind me!” I shouted to my little brother.
“Argh!” One of the construction workers was hit.
“Who the fuck is shooting in broad daylight!” Vincenzo blasted his gun back. He was trained to shoot, but I just hated putting my baby brother in situations when he was better in the legit world.
“Somebody who’s ready for me to break their neck.”
Pop! Pop!
“Let me call Renato.”
“Tell him to hurry the fuck up.”
“Yeah, Savio,” Renato said.
“Mom’s dress is ready. Mall strip twenty-fourth and third,” I spoke in code and hung up.
Ring! Ring!
“McKayla,” I mumbled.
Bark! Bark!
Renato’s car sent shots back at the red Mustang, and it took off down the street. I stood up and saw two of my men on the ground.
“I want blood,” I demanded, picked up the table, and tossed it across the room in the warehouse.
“How did they know you’d be there?” Sante asked.
“You don’t think we have a snitch.”
“I want Maurizio’s area set on fire.”
“Savio…” EJ started to say.
“Send the same message to Gennaro.”
“You’re taking it a little far,” EJ said.
“Shit, I’ll burn Gennaro if you want.”
“Motherfuckers think I’m weak.”
I paced back and forth; my hand was bandaged up from accidentally touching glass on the ground.
“Have you talked to the other bosses?”
“Fuck them.”
“Savio, you need to calm down.”
I jacked Elio up by the collar of his shirt.
“Who the fuck are you telling to calm down!”
“Savio, stop. We don’t put our hands on each other,” Sante said.
I looked at him like he was stupid.
“So why did you fight Renato at dinner the other night?”
“That was different.”
“Over some pussy.”
“Watch what the fuck you say.” Sante stepped in my face.
Renato chortled on the left side of us.
“Or what? I’m the motherfucker who calls the shots!”
“Then act like it!” Sante shouted back and shoved me.
I clenched my fist.
“Hit me, let’s see you lose your temper like always and have me clean it up.”
“Look, we all need to relax and think about how we’re being played,” Renato told us.
“That’s the first smart thing you’ve ever said,” Vincenzo responded, and Renato punched him in the arm playfully.
“Loverboy needs to stay in a child’s place,” Renato teased.
“Loverboy had our bro’s back,” Vincenzo said.
“First and last time,” I replied.
“Do we tell Pops?” Elio asked.
“The minute he gets involved, we’re bringing him out of retirement,” Sante remarked.
“I don’t want him involved. I can handle everything.”
I was the center of attention.
“So, you’re ordering to burn down his area?” Sante clarified.
Taking a deep breath, I rubbed my head and sighed in frustration, covering my face.
“Burn one or two small businesses. Make sure no one is there.”
“I like when the beast comes out to play,” Renato commented.
“Make sure no one is inside, Renato,” I demanded.
“Understood.”
“What else do we have to discuss?”
“Did you make that phone call to Joseph?” Sante said.
“Shit!”
“I will now.”
I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and dialed his number while my brothers talked over the plan.
“Joseph Editor-in-Chief.”
“Why did I hear you’re still running this article?”
He cleared his throat.
“Mr. Calabresi, I’d put the word out with McKayla to soften the story.”
“What do you mean soften the story?”
“It’s more of a fluff piece,” Joseph explained.
“Joseph, I bought the newspaper, and I can have you replaced.”
“I know—”
“Shut the fuck up when I’m speaking.”
“Sorry.”
“If anything, and I do mean anything, puts my family in a bad light, you won’t make it home.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Long as we’re clear.”
I ended the call and shoved the phone in my pocket, closing my eyes in thought.
“She’s changing you,” Vincenzo commented.
“No one can change me.”
“Where is she anyway?”
“Home.”
“You probably have a camera inside your condo, watching her every move.” Vincenzo chuckled, and I flipped him off, walking out.