183

It’s been three days since Chelsea cleaned Lonnie’s clock down at Buscemi’s bar.

The way Daniel tells the story you’d think that Chelsea was a superhero.

Strangely, I have no doubt that she is!

She has all of our strengths and none of our weaknesses—Sure,we’ve made her that way.But it’s more than that. It’s the Lombardo blood flowing in her veins.

We’ve successfully taken back all thirty of the businesses that Josh was making collections from.

In the days that follow, something miraculous happens—Business owners in our areas beginapproachingus to have our protection.

That’s unprecedented—but it turns out business owners don’t like people dealing drugs on their turf. They don’t like the element that it attracts.

We even have some apartment building managers offer to pay us to keep their neighborhoods safe.

It’s just like it was in the old days.

Chelsea’s father was right all along. Weservethe community. Guy’s like Joshua de Soto destroy it.

I look fondly at Chelsea sleeping next to me.

Last night, after dinner, I feasted on Chelsea’s delicious pussy for dessert.

Our sex has become more aggressive now that she’s a trained fighter. She takes control a lot more. She’s a lot morephysical.Sex is like another kind of workout for her.

She will rule well and she’s a good leader.

I don’t think there’s anyone she couldn’t take out one on one.

When there’s something to do that she hasn’t done before, she always does it herself—To learn.

I wake her up with a kiss, “Good morning, boss.”

She stretches with a smile on her face, kisses me back with tongue and says, “Call me Donna.” She reaches down, under the covers for my cock—I’m hard instantly.“You know what would be a nice way to start this day?”

My phone rings and I look over at the nightstand—Unknown number.

I put my finger up—One second—and answer, “Yeah?”

“It’s me,” goddamn Joshua de Soto himself, “I need you to call me back right now.” He gives me a number, I memorize it and hang up.

I meet Chelsea’s stare, “It’s Josh, I have to call him from a burner.”

She opens the drawer on her side and hands me one, “Put it on speaker.”

I nod and dial.

He answers, “Yeah?

“It’s me. What?”

“Listen, kid, this thing that’s happening here, I need some relief,” he sounds desperate. “The thing with the DEA? She could have handedour whole thingto the feds on a silver platter.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Madonna!You’re a cautious man, aren’t you?”

“Like I said, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Whatever. At least don’t deny that she put Lonnie in the hospital and she’s taking food out of my children’s mouths doing collections that aren’t hers. Are you seriously telling me you’re okay with all of this? Your old man stepping down. A woman boss? A young girl?”He doesn’t even have kids.

Chelsea winks at me and gestures a forward motion—She wants me to hear what he has to say.

“What can I tell you, Josh? That’s the way my father wants it.”

“Your father is an old man, Antonio. He’s not thinking clearly. He’s stepped down. That means he has an equal, if not less of an equal say in what happens from here on out.”

Chelsea gestures again—Go on.

I say, “So, what are you asking me?”

“I’m asking you to do the right thing.”

“For who?”

“For all of us, Antonio,” he’s slow and patient, “all of us. Nobody wants to go to war over this thing. She’s not right forour thing.You know that.Youought to step up. As far as I’m concerned, you’re the one who’s next in line. You deserve it. It should be you in the big chair.”

“Uh huh?”

“I’m going to be honest with you here, out of respect to your old man, out of respect tothe formerDon Lombardo, some of the fellas, Don Cassaduchi himself included…they’re reluctant to do what needs to be done.”

“Yeah?”

“However, if certain things should happen, no one would lose any sleep, if you take my meaning?”Fucking asshole.I think everybody feels the exact same way about him. I can think of at least three captains on their side who would happily put a bullet in him for free.

But…there are rules. You can’t raise your hands on amade guy.

Chelsea smiles and gestures again—Keep him going.

“I see, except I fail to see what I’ll be getting out of this, Josh?”

“Listen, I’m willing to make certain concessions. Concessions that will be highly lucrative for all parties involved moving forward. There are big things in the works. Things your family wasn’t going to be a part of…but with this other thing out of the way…youcouldbe.”

“That’s not your call to make,” I tell him, “That’s up to Don Cassaduchi.”

“The old man is on his way out, you know that, you saw what he’s like. It could be any day now. That’s another reason why he’s in no rush to put this thing to bed, he’s at the tail end of a long tenure. He doesn’t want his last days wrought with peril. Just remember, when he’s gone, it’s going to be me in the big chair.”

“And then?”

“And then, things are going to be very different,” he sounds like he’s getting angry. “I won’t be taking orders; I’ll begivingthem. So, I’m making you a one-time offer, Antonio. Take care of this for me.”

I decide to take the initiative.“Yeah—Whenhe’s gone,” I say.“The problem is if I do what you’re asking and he holds on for another five years, I’m the one who’s getting screwed here. I’ll be dealing with him, not you. I won’t get what you’re promising. Five years is a long time.”

There’s a long pause. “Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, Antonio?”

“I’m notsuggestinganything. I’m just telling you how it is—No deal.But, should something happen to him,God forbid,that would be a different story.”

“Antonio, I want to be clear here. Are you asking me to do this thing for you?”I’ve got him where I want him. If he thinks I’m asking him to kill his boss, he’ll trust me to kill mine.

“It only seems fair, considering what you’re asking ofme.”

Chelsea taps a message out on her phone—Tell him you want him to deliver Don Cassaduchi to you tonight, by himself. You’ll deliver me. Tell him to do it under false pretenses. He can tell the Don he reached out to you and that we’re going to meet where there are no witnesses.

I smile. Clever girl. This might work.

“You don’t seem like your heart’s in it anymore, Josh. We can always forget this conversation ever happened and go on with our lives as normal.”

“FUCK GOING ON!” The frustration is really getting to him. I hear him sigh. “Okay, what do you suggest?”

Here we go.“Tell Don Cassaduchi that we want to meet. Somewhere we won’t be seen. I’ll bring Donna Lombardo, you bring him.”

“How the fuck am I going to convince him to do that?”He’s really on the ropes now.

“Tell him you reached out to me. Tell him we spoke and that I talked to Chelsea and got her to see reason. I made her understand that war is only going to hurt the both of us in the long run.”

“Uh huh,” he sounds like he’s buying it.

“I convinced her we should try to make peace, but she’s not going to let this go without taxing him. She wants to talk to him in person, with just you and me there as witnesses so he’ll honor the deal. Remember, it’s also got to be where no one can see us. She wants to hit him where it hurts, financially, but it’ll probably be something he can live with and then the bounty is off your heads.”

“That’s good. That’s good. I think I can sell that. Why where no one can see?”

“Because of what we’re going to do them, Josh. But we’ll explain it by saying we don’t want people getting the wrong idea about making peace if there isn’t going to be any. It’s going to confuse the troops.”

“Yeah, yeah,” now he’s excited, “you’re a hell of a negotiator, Antonio. A chip off the old block. But there is one more thing I have to ask.”

“What’s that?”

“This oath I took. It means something to me. The Don has wronged me in no way. It isn’t right to do this. So, I have to ask, you do mine, I’ll do yours?”What a piece of shit. Taking his boss to an execution is the same as doing it your yourself.

I lie, “I was going to say the same thing.”

“Our friendis going to want to set the location.”

“Fine, let’s make it for tonight at 10pm.”

There’s another delay before he says, “How do I know I can trust you, Antonio?”

“Youcame tome, Josh. I should be the one askingyouthat question. You’re setting the location, are you doing that so you can set me up?”

“Madonna!Of course not, kid. Okay, leave it to me. I’ll talk to you.”

*Click*

Chelsea smiles devilishly. “There’s a chance all this can be over and done with tonight!”

“Yeah, but a cornered animal is almost as dangerous as a wounded one. He’s both right now.”

The problem has always been about how to get close enough to de Soto and Don Cassaduchi to pull a trigger.

It was never a case of whether we were right or not.

They killed Chelsea’s family. Her honor demands she claim her vengeance. Don Torrio isn’t going to complain. The other capos aren’t going to complain.

Our thinghas rules. Chelsea has rights.

Making the official introduction all those weeks back was so that we could slowly gain favor from the capos on their side.

You can’t just show up with the long-lost heir, kill a captain and a boss and try to explainafter.

We’d have been mowed down in a hail of gunfire before you could sayJax Robinson.

Fortunately for them, a man still has the right to defend himself. Since thesit-down, Don Cassaduchi and Joshua de Soto probably have a small army with them at all times.

But now it looks like Josh is finally out in the cold. The other captains are not with him. He wants to take the big chair. His greed will be his undoing. It’s time to strike…and he’s walking right into it.

Or is he?

Chelsea takes me from my thoughts when she pushes me down and kisses me. “Where were we,” she reaches for my cock again.

I don’t react…I’m flaccid.

“What’s wrong?”

“Chelsea, what we’re about to do hasn’t been done since it was done to your father. This is a big step to take.”

There’s anger all over her face. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Antonio, they didn’t just kill a boss, they killed a mother and two of her children. I spent sixteen of the best years of my life in limbo. You can’t honestly tell me that you’re feeling sorry for those pieces of shit.”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” I kiss her to calm her down, but she pulls away. “I’m just saying things are moving pretty fast. The violence you’ve carried out in the last few days alone is ruffling more than a few feathers.”

“From my perspective, that’s exactly what everyone needed. There’s going to be a new regime around here. And it starts with me culling that old fuck and his lacky.”

“Do you even have a plan for how this is going to work?”

“I do,” she says, rolling her eyes, “that’s why I told you to say those things.”

“Okay.”

She tugs at my cock again and I feel it twitch. “Now, sex helps me think, so can you get your shit together and fuck me?” She raises her brow, “Don’t make me have to call Christian in here. I’ll make you sit in the corner and watch us!”

I laugh. The thought actually arouses me.

It’s incredible, we’ve just committed ourselves to murdering two people and we’re about to fuck. Maybe the people inour thingreallyarepsychopaths.

Oh well.I kiss Chelsea deeply, turn her onto her back and give her my swelling cock.