Chapter 2

Salvatore

Sitting in a chair, I watch—bored—as one of my men beats a competitor to my crime family. The Abruzzi Family promoted me to Captain, the youngest ever. The beating has been going on for far too long and there is much I need to do. Time for me to end it. Standing, I walk towards the bloody form, indicating for my enforcer to stop.

“Jerome, I need you to tell me who you are buying guns off. They are undercutting my business and I can’t have that.” I smile at him and motion towards my man. “He will stop the beatdown, Jerome, if you just tell me who it is.”

Tony cracks his knuckles and sneers at Jerome with a sadistic gleam. He’s only five foot eleven but is built like a brick wall, sturdy and impossible to knock down and when he hits someone, they stay down. Plus, he’s loyal and has been with me from the beginning. When they made me a Captain, he was so proud of me.

Jerome mumbles something so I crouch down over his body and study his face. “Jerome, you know it didn’t have to be this way. Just give me the name and I’ll let you go. We’ll be solid; just give me the name.”

His eyes find mine, well, the one that isn’t swollen shut. “Savage Angels, Tourmaline.” It comes out as a croak. My eyes widen and I shake my head. “I swear, I swear it! Savage Angels.”

“Now, Jerome, I had a deal with someone in Tourmaline. The deal was they wouldn’t undercut me or muscle in on Abruzzi Family business. Who the fuck are the Savage Angels?” I grab him by the back of the head and lift him towards me.

“I swear, please, Sal, please!” he pleads.

“Who. Are. They?” I pause between each word and shake his head.

“Savage Angels MC, they are tough motherfuckers, Sal, and they are everywhere.”

I look him in the eyes and know he’s telling me the truth. I stand and Tony hands me a cloth for my hands.

“You want me to pound him a bit more, Boss?” Tony looks down on Jerome as he tries to crawl away.

I smile at him and say, “I believe he’s telling me the truth, Tony. Get him cleaned up and returned to his home. Make it clear to his family that there will be no retribution and that in future they will buy their guns from us. Yeah?”

“Yeah, Boss, I can do that. Should I take one of the guys with me?” he asks.

I nod my head and say, “Take three—armed to the teeth—so if there are any problems we will have enough men and firepower to come out on top. Kill whoever you have to; just get our point across. Clear?” I walk towards the door, stop and place the cloth on a table and continue, “Do not kill Jerome. If there is a problem, kill his family.”

Jerome groans on the floor and Tony smiles and nods at me as I leave the room. When I enter the front of the warehouse, Guido is waiting for me.

Fuck.

He’s the main enforcer for the Abruzzi Family and works directly with the old man, Dominic. Obviously they are concerned about business, but I can fucking handle it.

“Guido, how’s things?” I smile and walk towards him with my arms open.

He envelops me in a quick hug. “Sal, same fucking shit, different day.” We break apart and he says, “Dominic sends his best.”

Fuck, he’s letting me know he’s there on business. Instead of reacting to him, I say, “You must give Dominic my best; it’s been too long since we’ve had a sit down.” I clap him on the shoulder, look down at his shoes and play with my pinkie ring. Then I slowly lift my eyes to his.

“He’s concerned about the East Side. Business has dropped?” He makes it a question but we both know he already knows it has.

I smile and say, “I have it covered. Tell Dominic things will be back to normal and as business has dropped, I’d be happy to make up the lost funds, plus three percent.”

“Eight percent and he wants you to handle all of it yourself.” He smiles but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. I’ve fucked up big time, and if the family is sending Guido, I’m in over my head. Something bigger must be going on.

“Five percent and we have a deal.”

I hold out my hand to Guido who smiles, grabs my hand and says, “Seven.”

I nod as we shake. “Seven it is. I’ll send Tony to fix this....” My voice trails off as Guido shakes his head.

“No, Salvatore, the old man wants you to fix this personally and...alone.”

He holds my stare and I raise my eyebrows at him. “Personally and alone? Okay, Guido, what gives? I am a Captain in this family and I don’t do errands.” My voice is controlled and my hands are at my side but internally, I want to rip this fucker’s face off.

“Just telling you what the old man said. He doesn’t want those bikers stealing anymore of our business. He wants it controlled and he wants someone he trusts to do it, or he’ll send me.” The threat is clear. If he sends Guido, I’m as good as dead.

“Fine, I’ll do it and I’ll go alone. Tell the old man I have it covered.” I pause and look around the warehouse. “Perhaps next time, if you find out who’s undercutting us, you could possibly share that information so it’s handled more efficiently.” My voice has gone icy, my intentions clear. I didn’t get to be a Captain in this family by being a pushover. I am deadly and Guido knows this.

He holds up his hand in a placating manner. “Sal! You know how this family works and you got the information, yes? So, it’s all good! I’ll tell the old man you have it covered, and that you’re paying him seven percent, then all will be good...so long as it gets fixed.”

He holds out his hand and smiles at me. Guido is Dominic’s right-hand man. He is a cold‐blooded killer who only cares about one thing—money. He does the family’s dirty work and they trust him completely.

I grab his hand and move into him. I am slightly taller so I look down on him. “Yes, Guido, tell the old man I will fix it. Could you also tell him I don’t like being threatened over my own business deals and I did indeed have it... covered.” My voice is steely and my gaze says I’m not to be fucked with but I’m playing a dangerous game as Guido is above me in the family and deserves respect.

He holds my gaze then throws his head back in laughter. “Fucking balls of steel! I’ll let the old man know. He wants it done fast; here’s my number, let me know when it’s done.” He has a business card in his other hand and holds it out.

He lets my hand go, I grab the card and he heads for the door of the warehouse. He stops at the door, looks at me, shakes his head and then does a two-finger wave and is gone.

Fuck.

The fucking Savage Angels must be moving in on our other businesses. I stand in the warehouse for a moment, not moving. I rub my hand over my face, letting out a little frustration.

“Boss, you okay?” It’s Tony, the look on his face and in his eyes is sheer concern. He knows the dangers of being in this family.

“Yeah, Tony, I’m good. Did you hear?” He nods at me. “I’ll be going out of town for a while. Take care of operations here while I’m gone. You need help you contact Carmine. Do not go to Guido, do you understand?”

“Yes, Boss, I understand. What I don’t understand is why you have to do this alone? Makes no sense. What if you get killed? You need protection, Sal; it’s been a long time since you’ve been out on your own.” Tony is a loyal soldier. I place my hand on his shoulder. He’s right, it has been a long time since I have been out on my own, but I’m no pussy.

“I can still fucking look after myself, Tony, but you are right, it has been a long time. I can handle myself.”

“Don’t like the idea of you being out there alone. The Balotelli family has been making threats; you’d be making it easy for them, going out on your own.” He slips his hands into the pockets of his khaki and blood splattered trousers. “I don’t like this, Sal.”

“The Balotelli thing is under control. I’ve negotiated a deal; it’ll be fine. Now, what car do I take? Might as well get on the road.” I take in a deep breath and hold it as I glance around the room. “Minimal bloodshed,” I mutter as I let out the breath I was holding in a frustrated sigh.

“Take the Escalade, the black one. I have hidden gun compartments in it. You run into any problems you will have enough firepower to get yourself out.” He doesn’t sound happy but he knows I have to go.

“Thanks, Tony. I’ll see you when I get back. I will call if there is a problem, okay?” He nods and I head for the Escalade. I’m in for a long fucking drive.