His father had been asking too many questions, trying to learn the business, and work his way up out of just working collections for Carlos Romero. Carlos’ brother Mario, the suspicious asshole he was, started thinking the worst. Seeing Anthony’s questions as evidence seeking, Mario called Anthony a rat and had a hit taken out on him.
The kill was unsanctioned, and unfounded. Nonetheless, both Costello’s mother and father had been shot through the front window of their townhome while watching the evening news and eating Costello’s mother’s meatloaf. Costello had been left without a family.
“Yeah. Better to stay under the radar,” Costello agreed.
“But, and this is just between us three”—Sam leaned his hip against the edge of the table.—“I’m hearing things like Johnny thinks Frank’s too outdated in his approach. He wants to organize tighter, but Frank likes things the way they are.”
“Carlos left the family in Frank’s hands,” Costello said evenly. “It would take one hell of a movement to get enough okays from the heads to move on him.”
The Romero family held a seat at the table with four other main families. In order for any head of the family to be removed, the organization would need to give the okay.
“Just because it’s hard, doesn’t mean it’s not possible,” Sam remarked with a smirk. “Ah, but that’s talk for the bosses, not us.” He marched around the table to the filing cabinets and yanked the top drawer open. Pulling out a black leather duffle bag, he turned around with a grin. “Your cut,” he said, tossing the bag at Costello.
“Shit, this much?” Costello unzipped the bag, picking up three bundles of cash.
“Not really.” Nicky pointed to the bag. “That goes to the House. You and the others split it.”
Even so, he’d be bulking up his savings by at least twenty grand. Not a bad bonus for making a few errand rounds for the boss.
“Johnny already took his and Frank’s cut,” Sam said and shut the cabinet. “How is the gig at the House going? I haven’t done a stint there yet, but I’ve been thinking about it. Get off the streets for a year or two.”
Costello rezipped the bag. “It’s fine.”
“Just fine? I hear you get to bang whatever girl you want, and they just walk around agreeing to everything cause of the Lullaby,” Nicky pushed.
Sam laughed. “Wouldn’t I fucking love to slip my wife just one dose of that shit. Maybe there’d be a lot less nagging and a bit more dick sucking.”
“With a romantic like you for a husband, I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t be willing to see to your every need, Sam.” Costello chuckled and got up from his chair. It hadn’t been that long ago when he was working the warehouses and looking for a step up in the family. He couldn’t blame their curiosity.
“No. Seriously. What’s it really like?” Sam continued.
“You have a family. Why would you want to take the House gig? You have to live there.”
“That’s true. I forgot about that part.” Sam nodded.
“Okay, so he’s out. What about me?” Nicky piped up.
Costello stared at him. “There’s more to it than just getting your dick wet whenever you want. You gotta teach the girls how to be little girls, the way they’ll be expected to act when they get sold. So, it can’t be about just what you like.” Costello checked his phone for messages. He’d asked Maria to be sure Ariana was given more cream to put on her ass. The bruises were uglier this morning and would be even worse by the end of the day.
“Like babysitting all the time to grown women?” Nicky screwed up his face with distaste.
“A little.” Costello shrugged.
It wasn’t like that with Ariana, but the drug wasn’t working on her. The girls he’d trained before her were different. He didn’t see them as women or little girls. He’d only seen a product when he looked at them. He played with them, taught them what they needed to know in order to get adopted, then sent them on their way.
“If you’re so curious, why don’t we get Frank to let us up into the playroom,” Sam said.
“Maybe I’ll talk with Frank about it,” Nicky said, fisting his hands and shoving them into his jeans. “Until then, I got shit to do.”
“I’ll let you get back to it.” Costello shook their hands. “I need to get back to the House.”
“We’ll see you next week then.” Sam slapped Costello on the back and walked with him through the warehouse to the door. “Maybe sooner if we get over there to the playroom.” Sam waggled his eyebrows and laughed.
“Perfectly good wife at home, and you’re gonna spend that kind of cash to play with some woman who thinks she’s six years old?” Costello joked.
“One night of ‘yes, Daddy’ and I’d be in fucking heaven!” Sam laughed, yanking the steel door open, letting the sunshine from the parking lot into the dank warehouse.