Yesterday’s Betrayal, Today’s Scars

Chapter 10 - PAZZO

Star POV

Twisting in my chair to the left, I grab the back of it to take with me in the motion. Letting my spin propel me, and with as much force as I can, it comes up and around, slamming him in the head and knocking him down. I lunge on top of him, sliding my knife out of its sheath and putting it to his jugular with firm pressure. A trickle of blood left the contact point.

“10 seconds to confess, or I start carving away. 10, 9, 8,” I stop counting when he talks. “Paid by Frankie to take the Marino’s out.” I nod, then slide his side piece out, throwing it across the room. “I never said they weren’t going to have fun,” I state, smiling.

I look at Max and Tony, watching me intently with their guns pointed at the man cowering on the floor. I can’t help but notice how sexy they look standing there holding guns. Get yourself under control, Star.

I walk towards the door and then pause. “Seems our business dinner was interrupted, gentlemen. But you can call if you have any further questions.”

I grasp the handle, then stop when I hear Max’s voice. “You owe us a rain check, and we don’t take no for an answer,” he says. His tone isn’t playful. It is challenging.

I turn, making a point to look at the disgusting oysters they had ordered as an appetizer. “It seems my tastes are different from yours. Any future meetings will be at my place,” I say.

Tony takes three long strides and has me pushed up against the wall. It seems that my body is a traitor around them. He is breathing right in my face. “I want you. We want you,” he says with desire in his eyes.

I feel the heat rising to my face. My n*****s are hard enough to cut glass, and my panties are getting wetter by the minute with his show of force.

“I am not now or ever interested in a fling. Vegas is full of women looking for fun. Go find one,” I state firmly. Breaking his hold on me, I spin out of his reach, pulling the door open. Strolling out, I hear behind me, “You will be ours, Star.”

Tony’s POV

Damn, that woman makes me pazzo. (crazy). I reach down, adjusting my hard c**k turning to see Max holding the i***t at gunpoint. But his focus is on me. The look on his face says he is both aroused and angry.

He jerks the guy's head back and speaks in a low, dangerous tone. “Where is Frankie?” he asks. “He has a safe house on the outskirts of town. 320 Desert Street.” Max pulls the trigger, and it’s over.

I slide my phone out of my pocket, calling Santino for cleanup and transport to the disposal site. I then send a message to Lightnings service. “Drop off for one expired in 2 hours. I include the $7000 for the service.” Why she charges less for living drops is beyond me.

Shifting my gaze back to Max, he seems to be getting himself under control. His quick temper always gets the best of him. “Get the guys together. We'll get Frankie as soon as Santino arrives to clean this mess up.” He takes a drink from his glass and then sends a text.

Once Santino and 3 of our guys stroll in 20 minutes later, Max tells them to clean it up and dispose of him. The arrangements have already been set up.

As we stroll downstairs, I think about Frankie. Man has some balls putting two different hits on us. “We have to make an example out of him,” I tell Max. He glances at me and then nods in understanding.

Getting into the SUV, Max pulls out of the parking garage, heading to the safe house. “Frankie’s family was part of the original crew great-grandfather brought over from Italy,” I say with a sigh. “We need to ship his family back with a warning,” Max replies.

He’s right, I think to myself. I pull out my phone, hitting Santino’s number again. “Hey, boss,” he answers. “Send some guys to Frankie’s house. Pick the wife and kid up. Take them to the basement at the Royal,” I say with finality, hanging up.

“What are you thinking?” Max asks. “We're having a chat with them. Then they're going straight to the airport,” I tell him while looking out the window.

Finding Frankie kicked back in a recliner with a girl barely 18 riding him like she was a damn rodeo queen made my stomach roll. However, their faces when we kicked the door in were memorable. I pull my phone out, snapping a picture.

Max looks at me with confusion, but I give him a pointed look. I have plans that will benefit us using this photo.

We threw her out, and I enjoyed the view while Max beat the s**t out of Frankie. After forcing him to get dressed, we moved him into the SUV. You can almost smell the fear in him.

Arriving at the casino, we pull into the underground garage and enter the code. Max parks the SUV, and I exit, then drag Frankie out of the back seat.

Dragging him to a holding room in the basement, Max grabs the rope off the table against the wall. I slam Frankie in a chair and grab his throat to get his full attention. “We have a very special gift coming to see you.”

His look of confusion lasts a moment before his eyes go wide. “You wouldn’t,” is all he says. As Max starts binding him to the chair, I step back, sliding my hands in my pockets, never breaking eye contact with Frankie.

When I don't give him any reply, he screams “vaffanculo.” (f**k you). I smile at his outburst. It isn’t long before there are three taps on the door.

I pull it open, seeing Vito and Big T standing with Frankie’s scared wife and 12-year-old son. Stepping out, I shut the door behind me. “Follow me,” I order.

Walking down the hall to our offices. Once they enter, Vito shuts the door. I get directly to the point, looking at his wife.

“Your husband betrayed us.” She gasps, but I continue. “He also betrayed you.” I pull out my phone and find the picture. I motion for her to step beside me, as I don’t want her son to see this.

I watch the emotions cross her face after I show her. Hurt, pain, anger, then pure rage. She looks at their son and then back to me. “He is no longer my husband. He broke our vows and our family.” She straightens her spine and hugs their son. Looking back at me, she says, “Can I give him a goodbye gift?”

That has me surprised, but I nod. Looking at Vito, I say, “Watch the boy.” I lead her to the holding room and open the door. The expression on Frankie's face is priceless.

She looks him over with pure disgust. She steps forward and winds her arm back, slapping him so hard it throws his head back with a loud crack. “pezzo di merda” (piece of s**t), she exclaims with her head held high. Spinning on her heel, she leaves the room.

I like her, I think to myself. I follow her out and shut the door. She turns to me in the hall. “What are the repercussions for me and my son?” she asks. “You leave everything behind. We will ship personal effects such as photo albums and important documents to you. I will give you $500,000 from my safe to start a new life in Sicily. Neither you nor your son may step foot in America again. You are exiled but free to start a new life with family from the old country around you.”

My tone was hard and firm. I feel bad for them, but I need my point clear: there is no room for misunderstandings. “Thank you, Mr. Marino,” she turns and goes to her son. I get her the money out of the safe, and Vito takes them to the airport with orders for my pilot to fly them directly to Sicily.

I enter the holding room to see Max doing his favorite thing, dishing out punishment. He has Frankie out of the chair on the floor, throwing punch after punch. Kidneys, solar plexus, face. Frankie has stopped trying to get away and is now unmoving. I guess he passed out.

I walk forward as Max stands straight and looks at me. The rage inside him is fading as calmness takes over. “I know, brother, the betrayal has to stop,” I say as I bend down, slapping Frankie to wake him.

Once he finally comes around, groaning. I grab his face firmly. “Who else was involved in your plans?” His one eye that isn’t swollen shut looks at me in confusion, then defiance.

“You think I am more than a pawn?” he chokes, laughing. I jerk my head to Max. The idea of someone else behind all of this passing between us. Turning back to Frankie, I demand, “Who?”

He sneers, “I'm dead anyway, so I'll go to my grave with it. How does it feel knowing someone you trust means to take everything you have?”

We’re not getting anything out of him. I reach into my waistband, pull my gun, and end him—three rounds to the face.

I look at Max as I stand, and his expression is of deep concentration. “He made it sound like the traitor is close,” he says slowly. I absently nod while racking my brain for anyone who stands out. Hell, up until two weeks ago, I would have sworn everyone in our family was solid.

“With Lightning’s tracking and retrieval reputation, I'm betting one of her associates is a hacker.” Max studies my face carefully. “You want to have them look into our business, our family?” he questions.

“You're concerned about what she’ll find? Remember, brother, what Alex told us. No secrets, no lies, loyalty is everything to them. If this is to work, if we are going to join our families, we must earn each other's trust.”

I watch him think it over, but I know I'm right. It is going to be a game of give and take with her. Push and pull until we knock down all her walls.

I pull my phone out, texting Santino. Cleanup and drop off at the casino.