Chapter 13

They will rule in my favor.

***Afon***

 

“What the hell is he doing here?” Ricca snaps while he lifts his chin in Peacock’s direction.

Yeah, I wondered the same thing. Peacock’s got his own Russian gang, and a damn MC at his back, The Neon Marksman MC. A whole biker gang filled with hitmen. Yet here he stands in the room with us, having a meeting about a dispute between two Italian gangs who pissed on Russian territory.

“Tarzan called Karma. Then my woman gave me a wedgie about some fucker who kidnapped a damn woman to use as leverage. And I fucking hate it when my woman’s upset,” Peacock grumbles and sinks down in a chair. “Start fucking talking so we can end this whole thing and I can get back and mind my own fucking business.”

“I’ve got it all handled,” Ricca snaps again.

“Dude, I beg to differ, exclamation mark. Or should I say intestines and a fucking head nowadays for punctuation?” Tarzan rolls her eyes.

She’s the only woman in the room; being the other boss of The Dudnik Circle she has the privilege. These last few months she’s let Ford take the lead in most stuff. I think after years of running a gang on her own she’s finally getting to enjoy being a wife. Except now? With her friend, my woman involved…this fucker Ricca here kidnapping a woman? Yeah, she’s all in and up all our asses to get this handled.

“Why don’t we pop a round in that old fucker so I can take my wife and head home? It’s too fucking early for this shit,” Peacock grumbles.

“Because I have to go through the syndicate to end him. I can’t go off killing major players without consequences.” Ricca regretfully runs a hand through his thick hair.

“Esposito’s damn lucky Ricca’s the boss and not me, because I’d fucking end him right after I found Stefano,” Fausto mutters from across the table.

“Ricca already requested it, Fausto,” Arminio says. “He just has to wait until they give their answer, and you damn well know it.”

Ernesto just keeps quiet but his eyes are flaming. Andy told me all about these three. About her brother’s friends who have been a solid pack since they were all around the age of twelve. She talks about them as if the four of them are brothers but in this room, it’s clear Ricca is their boss. They have a structure, a chain of command where Fausto is the underboss, Arminio is Ricca’s consigliere, and Ernesto is a capo.

Fausto releases a groan. “Yeah. But there is another option though.” With this all eyes land on Fausto. “You already took the bitch…so, you know…take her.”

Tarzan flashes up and has him by the throat so fast it takes a moment before Ford, Peacock and myself can free him from her grip.

Fausto is now standing near the door, a hand bracing on his knee while fighting for his breath he manages to rasp, “I m..meant…marry h…her. Fuck.”

“Then you should have said that, asshole,” Tarzan seethes and shakes our hands off her. “I’m fine now. I won’t snap his neck…yet.”

“I’m not marrying anyone,” Ricca growls.

“Can I just suggest you see the bitch first and then repeat it…if you still manage to make your mouth work with all the drool. Or better yet, marry the bitch off to me, I’ll gladly offer myself.” Ernesto chuckles.

Ricca shoots him a glare that prevents the man from making any more sounds. I haven’t seen this Chiara either, but the way Ricca reacts does spike some interest. Lucky enough, Tarzan’s the first one to ask what all of us are thinking.

“How can you not know how she looks and yet you’ve let those idiots snatch her up?” Tarzan quips, seems her interest is sparked too. “And stop calling the woman a bitch, she hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“Esposito has wanted a tie between our families for years, through Andy. Our businesses match quite well but it’s a matter of principle for me. There won’t ever be a tie between us.” Ricca’s knuckles turn white, he’s such a stubborn fuck. “And Ernesto knows very well she can’t be wed lower in rank. She’s an heir, the only living blood next to Esposito to inherit when that fucker stops breathing.”

“Is she in good care? We need to know. Can I see her?” Tarzan presses.

“No. I don’t want her to see your face,” Ford tells his wife. “In case something happens, I like to have the advantage that The Dudnik Circle is out of it. That way we can strike harder when we do…I mean we fucking will, but you get my point.”

“Yes,” Tarzan sighs. “But then let Andy go in. She’s already connected in all of this.”

“Fine,” Ricca snaps. “Now can we get to the point here? I’m waiting to get word from the syndicate. With what Esposito did, I’m sure they will rule in my favor. I will either get the all clear to handle it or they will step in.”

“Did you…you know…add the fact that you snatched yourself a little somethin’ somethin’?” Tarzan wiggles her eyes.

Ricca’s upper lip rises in anger. “Not your business,” he snaps.

 “I’m going.” Tarzan smiles, clearly satisfied with riling up Ricca. “You guys can finish up here. I’ll get Andy to check up on the girl so we all know she’s taken care of.”

She slips from the room when Ford smacks down a file on the table in front of us. “This is all the intel our computer team could find.”

“That’s one hell of a file.” Ricca reaches out and starts to look through it.

I already know what’s in there. Ford stopped over our place before we all headed out to Ricca. We’ve got three computer geniuses, the triple A nerd team as we call them, and together they can bare every dirty little secret out there.

“A rat is still a rat, but fuck…money?” Ricca shakes his head. “Seriously? I don’t understand some people and I doubt ever will. How the hell can you sell yourself like that? I have more money than that Esposito fucker and yet Vinci turns his back to me and takes a quick pay…oh, you guys are good. So, he’s on a plane, huh?”

Ricca’s got a gleam in his eyes when his gaze connects with Ford but it’s Peacock that replies. “Yeah, I got Marlon, best fucking hitman in the biz, already in place. Vinci will get a warm fucking welcome when he steps off that plane.”

We spend the next hour going over some of the information about Esposito’s background. Before the meeting comes to an end Ricca asks if there has been any sign of Marco. But there isn’t anything to say except for the shit we already know. The fucker is either laying low long enough to try and take his revenge on Andy, or he’s left the country.

Not that he would enjoy living a long and happy life somewhere on the beach of God knows where, because we’ve got eyes and ears everywhere. I’ll hunt him down to the pits of hell if I have to, so I’m absolutely sure that fucker is gone for good.

Slight panic enters my chest when I stalk out of the room and scan the hallway. Tarzan shakes her head while Ruby and Karma walk to their men. “She went up to her room to change and pack a suitcase. No worries there, Afon. She’ll be right…ah, there she is.”

There. She. Fucking. Is.

She’s wearing a stunning white blouse that’s got a V so fucking deep in the front I’m wondering how her tits can stay put without bouncing around to greet me. The black skirt sways around her legs with a deep slit that allows her to show a little thigh. And then those heels, those high damn heels with straps to keep them on her pretty as fuck feet. For damn sure my slacks are tenting and I don’t care one fucking bit. That’s my future wife coming down the stairs.

“See?” Ricca says, waving at me but talking to his three buddies. “Cock and tongue on a leash. That’s one of the damn reasons I won’t take a woman.”

“Uh, Ricca…you sure, buddy? ‘Cause I swear you took a woman and have her hostage in your bedroom.” Fausto chuckles.

I tune those fuckers out because clearly they don’t have a clue what it’s like. My boss, and those close around me, have found their woman and when I first saw Andy I knew she was meant to be mine.

Cock and tongue on a leash, who fucking cares, as long as Andy has the reins, you’ll never hear me complain. “Where’s your suitcase, anima mia?”

A stunning smile and a kiss on my damn mouth before she brings her lips next to my ear. “My brother is avoiding me, so I’m going to either come back tomorrow or have him bring them over himself…because, you know…I don’t trust anyone else. That way I can give him a piece of my mind.”

The corner of my mouth twitches. I wouldn’t mind annoying the fucker myself too. “Come on, let’s go home.”

She sways over to her friends, and I can’t put it any other way because that fine ass in black fabric is mesmerizing. Hugs are being exchanged by the girls while all Andy gives her brother is a glare before I place my hand at her lower back and guide her out the door.