“Hey, Janelle. My father around?”
Her bright red lips curl upward and she puffs out her chest. “He’s in his office.” She grazes my forearm, her long, matching red nails trailing a somewhat innocent path toward my bicep. “I’ll walk you back.”
I smile at everyone in the office who greets me as I walk next to Janelle. They treat me like I’m a celebrity. I like it. I love the action and being in the middle of it all is an adrenaline surge like nothing I’ve ever felt before. At least, not before the other night.
Janelle’s plump ass is wrapped in a skirt so tight, I’m not sure how she can even move. But she finds a way to swing those hips, and yes, on another day, I might be tempted to shove her into one of these empty conference rooms, spread those cheeks, and fuck her senseless.
But not today. I’m all business, and sex with anyone but Shaye is the furthest thing from my mind.
Janelle stands aside as I walk into my dad’s office. “See you later, sexy,” she murmurs before retreating down the hall.
My father looks up with a raised eyebrow and nods toward the door, my signal to close it. He’s not stupid. He knows I’ve worked my way through nearly all of the women in his office. But there are rules, and he likes to make sure I remember them. Never share any details about the family business. Never bring them home. And most importantly, never drill without a mask.
I shrug and sink into a chair in front of his large mahogany desk. “What’s up?”
Dad pulls off his glasses and rubs his eyes. Grandpa’s death has really taken a toll on all of us. A pang attacks my chest. We were so close. Grandpa probably knew more about my conquests than Dad, and he always egged me on. I think sometimes he liked living vicariously through me, especially since Grandma Lou died so many years ago. He never remarried. I think he liked being on his own. Or maybe the lifestyle just didn’t call for it.
“We have a problem.”
Fuck me. Don’t we always? With the shit my dad sees on a daily basis, I can’t imagine there’s a day he doesn’t think that at least once. But for him to actually acknowledge it out loud? Must be big. “Tell me.”
He lets out a deep sigh and runs a hand through his thinning hair. I’m surprised he’s not completely bald from stress alone. “Nico, there are a lot of things I’ve shielded you from over the past several years. But now Grandpa is gone, and as my only son, you need to be aware of how things work.”
“Pop, I get it. I’m not an idiot.”
He faces me, a sad smile on his face. “No, you’re not. I also don’t like the idea of thrusting you into this. But you need to be aware in case something…happens.”
“Dad, just tell me what you need me to do.”
“Tony Oriani is at it again. He’s quietly meeting with some of the other men, and they’re looking at new opportunities to branch out. He never learned his lesson after all that shit with Cappodamo went down.” He pauses and stands up, turning toward the large picture window behind him.
“And nobody has his back right now.” Tony is a fucking idiot to be flexing his dick right now. Frank Cappodamo is the most dangerous drug dealer in the Northeast, and if you engage with him, you’d better be willing to sign the deal in blood. If you don’t like the terms and try to walk away, he’ll draw the blood out of you first and then leave you for dead.
But somehow Tony is still alive after being dragged away from the negotiation table by Dad and Grandpa. What a dumb fuck. Cappodamo doesn’t take rejection lightly. If you make the mistake of initiating a deal, you’re either with him or you’re with him.
Luckily Dad and I made our own play in anticipation of the fallout with Cappodamo that we both know is coming. We call it the Vodka Connection. Nobody knows any of the details. Can’t risk a rat fucking up our plans. We needed a supplier, and Grandpa made an introduction to a Russian organization awhile back. Dad and I handled the logistics directly with the head, Viktor Ivanov, Cappodamo’s biggest competitor in the narcotics circuit.
“That’s why we contracted with Viktor Ivanov. His crew and his connections will help us resolve the Cappodamo situation when it comes to a head, but they’re still not family. They have limited loyalty to us. Money talks, but when push comes to shove, we can only count on our own.” Dad’s shoulders sag. “Look, I know Rocco fucked up, and I stood by Grandpa’s decision to get him out of New Jersey. But now, I need him back here. He wants another chance to prove his loyalty to the family. And Grandpa would say I need to do whatever I can to keep the organization strong and tight. That means working with the Luccheses. They have the right allies and access to a lot of the suppliers we need for our other businesses.”
“Max’ll go ape shit when he hears about this plan.”
“He’ll swallow it easier once you name him capo. You know that’s what he’s after. Being a captain with his own crew will give him the credibility he needs with the rest of the family.”
Little hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. “If he finds out I’m bringing Rocco into my business, you know exactly how he’ll react.”
“He may be pissed, but he’ll have to swallow it if he wants a shot at running things in the future. Bringing in Rocco and his family shows a united front and shuts down any potential for an uprising. Having the Luccheses on our side gives us the muscle we need to carry out our plans and maintain control. The other men will follow suit if they see they can advance in the organization when they support our new direction. And then we can focus on taking down Cappodamo. That’s the goal.” Dad gets up from his chair and walks toward the large window. He stares out at the tops of the trees lining the office park. “There is a lot of risk involved here. But I think it’s the only way to show the families that our organization isn’t going to crumble because Grandpa is gone. We need to be strong and swift in our actions.”
I let out a loud groan. “Christ, Dad. Isn’t there any other way? Rocco is a scumbag, and he can’t be trusted. You know it as well as I do. He’s not looking to take orders from anyone. He wants to give them. How the hell am I supposed to work with that?”
“I have faith in you, son. This is important, to all of us. Cappodamo will be back, and we need to be ready for him.”
I rub the back of my neck to relieve the ache. I’d rather shovel a jar of peanut butter into my mouth than work with that guy. A deep sigh deflates my body. Much as I hate to admit it, I know there isn’t another way. “I get it. And I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”
“Meet with Rocco and make him an offer. He won’t grovel because he’d never want to be seen as desperate. He’s always been a cocky bastard. Handle it however you want, just make sure he’s with us. Don’t let him walk, Nico.” Dad scrubs a hand down his face and turns away from the window. “Keep this quiet, and don’t let on to anyone that we had this conversation. This feud with the Orianis…” He sighs and shakes his head. “I always knew it would come to this. I wish like hell that we could have resolved things like normal people, but Tony is Tony. And since you’re the next in line, I just thought it was time to let you in on what’s happening and what we need to do to keep things running smoothly. Always be ready to make your move. I think you know very well what can happen if you miss your cue.”
Next in line.Ominous words laced with meaning that knots my stomach, but shit happens fast in this type of life. And you need to be prepared for whatever comes next.