Top Dog

“Simple,” he said. “I hate the Martine family.”

“That doesn’t make anything simple,” I said. “That doesn’t explain why you have so many intricate plans in play here.”

“The Martine family is smart but idiotic in their plans. When Giuliano and your father started meeting to talk about peace, they broke the one rule both of our families have abided by for years.”

“Which is?”

/> “Loyalty. I was loyal to my brother. Until he went behind my back and started meeting with that no-good, disgusting man you called ‘father,’ Romeo. Peace between the families? What complete and utter shit!”

He cocked his gun and held it to my face as Julia screamed out again.

“Shut up!” Stefano roared.

He popped off another gunshot in the air. I fisted my hands at my side.

“Your father turned my brother against this family. Made him into a weak little princess. Convinced him that living in some cohabitation with the enemy was a good thing. I know your father was planning on taking us out!”

“No, he wasn’t,” I said. “My father wanted peace because of that little boy behind you. The one who’s frightened and innocent. Nothing changes the heart of a lion like a cub, Stefano. My father? Your brother? They were lions. Seduced by the innocence of a small cub when Julia gave birth six years ago. All they wanted was a peaceful coexistence so Matteo would be safe. So any coming children of either family would be free from the bloodied streets of this town. The blood that was on their hands. They didn’t want peace because they were weak, Stefano. They wanted peace because they were good. Good men. Men you slaughtered, didn’t you?”

Stefano’s nostrils flared, and I took a step forward.

“We know you killed Julia’s father, but you killed mine as well, didn’t you?” I asked.

A smile crept across his cheeks. I wanted to strangle him until his eyes popped out.

“They both deserved it for being pussies. I had to end their disgusting softness. Stop them from disgracing the reputation of our families.”

“Your goal was always to take out the Martine boys. My father, me, and Antony. But when Julia gave birth, you had a fourth person to take out. A fourth heir to the throne you had to get out of your way before you could take over both businesses and merge them.”

Stefano licked his lips, and my stomach rolled with disgust.

“The police have Johnson. He’s already flipped on you,” I said.

“I’m already working to silence that greasy wheel. In a little while, the cops won’t have a damn thing on me. I’ll be free to run this city. I’ve got more people on my payroll than you can imagine. The world won’t miss one dirty cop.”

“I think they might,” I said.

“They really won’t. And with you out of the way, I’ll move into that power void and start being the go-to distributor for everything. Guns. Drugs. Girls. For the whole of New York City. The Martine family name will be done. It’ll be my turn to shine. My brother promised us dual thrones. He promised me your father’s seat so we could rule side-by-side. Then your father and this little shit here made him soft.”

He whipped his gun over to Matteo and Julia started sobbing.

“You made a promise,” I said. “And I fully expect you to keep that promise. Your brother ran his business as well as he did because he kept his promises. Because the people that worked for him could always trust his wrath as well as his word. If you go back on the promise you made me, you’ll crash the Martine business before you can get it off the ground. Above all else, they take a man for his word. What will your word mean if you kill my son after promising to spare him for my life?”

“Then where the fuck is the paperwork?” Stefano asked. “Because you promised me your businesses, yet you came empty-handed.”

“No, I didn’t. If you’ll be patient, I’m transferring my father’s businesses over to you and have people working on transferring the legitimate and charitable businesses from my name to yours. But you of all people should know that takes time,” I said.

“Too much time. I want those businesses now. Like I want you dead. Now.”

He turned the gun back on me. I buried the smirk trying to spread across my face.

“Are you stalling? Shall I assume you’ve defaulted on your end of the bargain? Because that means I can default on mine.”

Then I cocked my head to the side and let the grin free as pure confusion spread across Stefano’s face.

“Teddy bear,” I said loudly.

Let the games begin.