Savio sat with his back to us in the conference room of the Calabresi office, where he normally wouldn’t have us discuss mafia business. After retaliation for Maurizio’s murder on a few of our spots, we needed to discuss what the next move would be. To see my brother married and happy with a wife and baby soon was shocking for the entire family, but my mother hadn’t stopped crying since the news was broken at a family dinner.
“How many warehouses did they hit?” He turned in his chair and looked my way.
As the underboss, it was my job to keep things running without causing him any distress. Lately, things had gotten out of control. Carmine also was now in position as the head boss for Colombo family.
“At least three.”
“Three, Sante,” he growled
“We need to strike back, or they’ll think we’re weak,” Renato complained while he removed his gun from his holster.
“Put that gun away,” I demanded.
“Nobody’s in here.”
“Renato, this is a palace of business.” Savio pointed his finger to the table.
“I agree with Renato on this one,” EJ said.
“Usually, you’re the one who wants less death,” Savio replied.
“We can’t be seen as weak. Already have Greco’s team,” Elio responded.
“You have to wait!” a loud voice called out.
The conference room door flew open, and Satan’s spawn in six-inch heels narrowed her eyes on me. I didn’t move, only gave the same menacing look right back.
“You bastard!” Rena stalked around the table, and Renato blocked her pathway.
“Rena, this is a private meeting.” Savio looked at her, then me. All I could do was shrug. Her problems had nothing to do with me.
“No, let me go, Renato. Your brother is going to die today,” Rena shouted and shoved Renato, but he wrapped his arm around her waist and held her back. I didn’t like their closeness, so I motioned for him to let her go.
“Give me the room,” I told them.
Everybody looked at me like I was crazy, and maybe I was, but she wouldn’t try to spin this around on me. Savio rose, and the rest followed. Renato whispered something to her, and she nodded, released his hold, and walked out.
“Speak.”
“You got me fired.”
“I didn’t get you fired.”
“Then tell me why I was told to clear out my desk.” Rena’s bottom lip poked out. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me.
“I had nothing to do with you getting fired. Excuse me, I have business to handle.”
` I walked around her. She grabbed my arm, and my eyes scanned down at her grip.
“I know you got me fired.”
“I don’t have time to play childish games, little girl.”
Suddenly, her bottom lip trembled, and tears gathered into her eyes, as Savio and the rest of my brothers stared at each of us hard.
“We need to finish discussing business, Sante,” Savio remarked, and I sat back down. They stepped in the conference room, and she paused, shook her head, and walked back out. I released a harsh breath and rubbed my temples to relax. I hated to get angry. Like Savio, I tried to suppress the beast inside of me unless it was necessary.
“What was that about?”
“She thought I got her fired.” I loosened my jacket.
“Did you?”
“Rena Clark is not important enough for me to get fired.”
“But you tried to fight me when you thought she wanted to sleep with me,” Renato recalled.
“That was different, I know your track record with women,” I explained.
“You’re just as bad, Sante,” EJ blurted out.
“Fuck you, and let’s get back to business.”
“Do we know where Carmine’s head is?” Savio probed.
“I think we need to keep an eye on him. Right now, they can’t pinpoint we made the hit, but we had the most beef with the Colombos,” I leaned forward and explained.
“Keep me updated, but no more meetings here.” Savio stood, shook hands with Renato, and hugged us both.
“Sante, hold up.” The moment I arrived at the door, Savio called me by name.
“Yeah?”
“Is there anything going on with you and Rena?” Savio slid his hands in his pockets, standing tall.
“No.”
“What happened when you had her held up in your apartment for those weeks?”
My teeth chattered as I recalled those first few weeks when he requested that I kidnap McKayla’s best friend.
“Let’s just say I’m looking into better security.” I walked out of his office, catching up with Renato and EJ as they got on the elevator.
I closed my eyes, recalled her on a date, and I was a kidnapping, angry mobster.