“You don’t have to give me your word. I know you’ll take care of her. It’s better you than the Chopping Block.”
I’d always heard horror stories about the Lanzas’—Enzio Lanza’s—torture room. Cosimo’s twin brother street name was Il Tagliatore. The Cutter. He did sick shit with his knife. His reputation never succeeded to shake me, though. I didn’t think he had anything on Roar or Big Gun. With Cammie in charge of the Boiler, the Lanzas finding Beth first would be mercy for her.
“I need a favor, Cosimo,” I said.
“I can’t help you find her.”
“Why not? It’s your business like it’s ours. I’m short on men, and your help can—”
He gestured for me to come closer. “Walk with me.”
Skid and Owl shifted on their feet, fully alert.
“I need a word capo to capo. My men will stay with yours and we can all still see each other,” Cosimo said.
I nodded at my brothers and walked with the man. It wasn’t easy to trust anyone when your own parents betrayed you, but I knew Cosimo had something important to say that no one should hear but me, especially when it came to our deal about my leaving the MC.
“I have a lot to deal with in the family, Dusty. Yours might not the only one with a traitor,” he started as soon as we were away from the men’s hearing range.
“You think the crack lacing is an inside job? Why?”
“Why do you think?”
“Someone is after your seat.”
He gave a terse nod. “You understand now I have a much bigger fish to fry and can’t spare any men to look for your mamma. Betrayal hurts, and when it comes from family…” His fists clenched. “You know the feeling.”
I wiped my hand over my mouth. “I’ll find her, Cosimo. You have my word.”
“Whoever catches theirbuscettafirst updates the other?”
“Deal. I just need to know one thing. Rush was so sure I wasn’t going to kill him when I found out his dirty. He had something. Did you talk?”
“I haven’t seen him since that night you talked to me about making him your replacement. I haven’t seen or spoken to your mamma either, but I’ll look into it and let you know if it’s related.”
I nodded once. “See ya, Capo.”
He shook my hand. “Will you still leave after it’s over?”
If it were up to me, I would without a second thought. But it looked like I had a long way before I saved my girl from the darkness that wrapped around her like a cloak, feeding on her every second.
He patted my shoulder, bringing me into a hug. Then he whispered, “Do it. Don’t let it suck you until there’s nothing left. I still have your back.” When he released me, the look in his eyes set my instincts on haywire. “A lot is going to change in the next few days. Be prepared.”
CHAPTER 39
Dusty
Two days later I found out why that look in Cosimo’s eyes was ominous.
“He was the traitor after all. Can you believe this shit?” Skid snorted over beers. “Their capo himself was the one sabotaging their business? If you ask me, he got what he deserved.”
“Who killed the switch on the bastard?” Owl asked.
Skid leaned closer, as if he was about to tell a secret, and snickered. “Enzio. His own fucking twin.”
“No fucking way.”
“The shit those fucking Italians have going on. Those two ate, pissed and fucked together, and look what the fuck happened.”