5. Vito

5

VITO

A s I lounged in bed a few days later, not wanting to get up, I read over my text exchange with Zeke again and smiled as I imagined him trying to figure out how I got his number. I considered texting him again, but before I could think of what to say, my phone rang. I sighed when I saw my father’s name on the screen. I wished I could ignore him, but he’d probably expected me to check in with him hours ago since he was a fucking early riser.

Not answering now would only make my day worse than it was already going to be since I had an assignment that was going to keep me from watching hockey practice. The thought of not seeing Zeke all day wasn’t acceptable. I’d have to find out where he went after practice and follow him. I needed him like a drug.

I accepted the call. “Hey, Pops.”

“Vito, nice of you to acknowledge that you’re part of the family.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m at your disposal. What do you need?”

Pops huffed. “I need you to follow the instructions you were given yesterday.”

Then why are you calling me? “That’s the plan.”

“Yes, it is, but I know you don’t always handle plans well.”

I squeezed my free hand into a fist, letting my nails cut into my palm. “I can handle it.”

“I want your assurance you will follow the plan, no going off book.”

“I always get the job done.”

“You do,” he said the words like they were being forced from him. “But your methods leave a lot to be desired.”

“When you want me to scare a guy into paying, I do it. When you want someone eliminated, I take care of it.”

“In the loudest, flashiest way. Our entire purpose is to stay under the radar to everyone except our clients”

That was his mission. He wanted to hide away from the world forever. He liked living in the shadows—barely living if you asked me. No one who witnessed my unorthodox methods of taking care of assholes was likely to run and tell the cops. The Marchesis needed to keep their dangerous reputation in order to do business. We didn’t need to fade into the background.

“Have I ever brought the law down on us?”

“No.” His voice was cold as ice.

“Then trust me.”

“Vito, just because you get away with things once doesn’t mean you will the next time.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a child. I know how this business works.”

“It works because we have rules.”

“Fuck the rules.”

I jumped when a bang echoed through the phone. I was sure Pops had slammed his hand down on his desk. “Do you have a death wish?”

“No. I don’t think so.” I liked risk, and I liked danger. I didn’t like rules or keeping quiet, but that didn’t mean I wanted to die. It just meant I didn’t spend all day worrying about consequences. That had always been Val’s job. Maybe Pops has a point. Maybe I needed to grow up.

“Just follow the fucking plan.”

“Yes, sir.”

I would do as he said. I didn’t need more shit from him, but my methods got things done a hell of a lot faster—and they were more fun.

“This isn’t supposed to be a game.”

Fuck could he read my mind now? I sure hoped not. If he could, I’d be dead by the end of the week.

“I’ll take care of it your way. I promise.”

“Good. Take care of yourself.” My breath caught. Pops rarely said anything to show he cared, especially about me. “I don’t have time to replace you right now.”

Of course, I was useful, though he usually acted like I was barely even that. “I’ll let you know when the problem is taken care of, and I’ll be even more cautious than you.”

“Like hell you will.”

“Relax, I got this.”

I was going to enjoy taking all my frustrations out on the fool who’d failed to pay us back. The time for threats was over. He needed to feel some pain to realize how serious we were about getting our money back. I was sure he’d blown it all on drugs the moment he’d walked out of our office. Now he was going to have to find a way to pay it back.

Several hours later, I leaned my head against the shower wall as I watched blood run down the drain. Only a little of it was mine. The fucker had gotten in a few hits before I’d restrained him. That had only made it worse for him. A bullet would have been the easiest way to bring him down, but I’d promised Pops I’d be discreet, and honestly, I’d wanted a hand-to-hand fight. I’d fucking needed it. The only other way to get that kind of physical relief was a rough, wild fuck. The only person I wanted to fuck right now was Zeke, so a fight had to do.

I’d brought the guy to a warehouse my family owned in an area where no one asked questions—like what we did there that necessitated drains in the floor or why they were sometimes screams heard coming from the building. I’d left the guy alive, only making him wish he were dead. He’d stumbled off down the street, and I’d started the clean-up process.

I’d sprayed down the floor and the chair I’d cuffed him to, then headed to the luxurious bathroom we’d had added when we bought the place. I let myself indulge in a long, hot shower, wanting to be thoroughly clean and refreshed before tracking down Zeke. I couldn’t let him see me looking all roughed up or covered in some other guy’s blood. That wouldn’t give the right impression.

I slipped into a clean pair of coveralls. They weren’t fashionable, but they were serviceable enough for the drive home. I should have changed before I’d gotten to work on the delinquent client, but I’d been too enthusiastic. I blamed the stress my family put on me.

But now it was time for a reward. I was going to see Zeke and let him see me. I needed to watch his eyes widen and hear his breath catch. I needed to know how aware of me he was.