Chapter 7

My second phone rings at 6 AM, making me want to chuck it across the fucking room, but I already broke one this week, so I resist. Slapping at it to silence it before it wakes up Daisy, I grab the stupid thing, stalking out to the balcony, fighting to pull my pajama pants on along the way.

Daisy and I explored each other until three in the morning, so this early-as-fuck wakeup is not appreciated, and when I see that its an unknown number, Im even more pissed.

Hello?

Dominic. The voice is masculine but weasley. This is Marc Cirilo.

I grit my teeth. Marc fucking Cirilo. I guess he got my message from his goon, then.

Cirilo. Youre calling very early. There is no humor in my voice. No patience, either.

Well from the tone of your video message, time seems to be of the essence.

Get on with it.

He huffs but continues. I found the information about Carlo illuminating and your offer to help pay off your sons debts very generous. Normally, I would kill someone for not only racking up debt with my family but lying, too. Im sure you understand.

I do because thats the life I used to live. And hearing him talk that way about my son, no matter how fucking pissed off I am at him, threatens to make me spiral into a rage. I have to keep reminding myself that Carlo did this, not me. This is his problem to clean up, and hes lucky that Im willing to help at all. I said get to the damned point, Cirilo.

Okay, let me put it simply. If I kill Carlo, I get nothing. If I take your offer, call off the hit on Daisy Linden, and blacklist Carlo, I at least get some of the money, and I dont start a war with the Falcone family. I accept your offer. It would be stupid not to.

Good.

So wheres the money?

Where are the signed contracts and the confirmation of the hit called off?

I dont have the cancellation confirmed yet, but?—

Youll do that before you get a dime.

He laughs. Trust me, I know. Itd be the same if I was in your shoes. All I was going to say is that if you give me an email address or a fax number, I can send the proof over within an hour.

I give him an email address and hang up the phone, already writing him off in my mind. Once the contracts are delivered, and its confirmed that the hit on Daisy is called off and that, barring retaliation on his end, Carlo will be left alone, Ill have the money wired to Marc.

Its that easy. Fuck, it felt like a long road getting here, but at least its almost over.

Daisy is safe. The relief is staggering. The only problem left is Carlo, and without any help from another crime family, hes no real threat at all. I have the leverage I need, and unless hes even more of an idiot than hes proved himself to be, hell contact me at least once more so I can set everything up for him to go underground for a few years. Hes sullied his own name, and hes going to need to start his life over from scratch. Ill help some, only because hes my son, but I dont think I can ever forgive him for putting a hit out on my woman.

My woman.

Daisy Linden.

Soon, Daisy Falcone.

With a genuine smile, I tuck the phone into my pants pocket and return to my bedroom, and the soft, willing woman waiting for me within. We have time now, and I plan to savor every second of it.