Bitter Pledge (Falsone Crime Family)

We ran. Stumbled. Staggered. We reached the truck and Carmine shoved me into the back with Iago. He got behind the wheel. Danilo took shotgun.

I looked out the window at the flickering orange light. The house was burning. A big, beautiful ball of flame. Anyone inside would die. Balestra might be cinders. Plenty of his men were. Lots of his money and drugs and power.

That put a smile on my face as the blackness took me.

Chapter 37

Capri

Two Months Later

I stood in the middle of an empty, gutted room and felt sweat dripping down my body.

The walls were torn down. The tables, booths, chairs, lighting, and bar were ripped out. Everything was removed down to the studs and the original floors, which surprisingly only needed refinishing. It looked a lot bigger without all the crap.

My arms were tired. Every day since my dad’s house burned to the ground, I’d been working on this place. Every day I lost myself and pushed away the grief and anger. Rebuilding this place was one of the few good things I had in my life.

“God damn, girl. You look good with that hammer in your hand.”

That, and Mal.

I turned, grinning. He wiped sweat from his brow and leaned on a sledgehammer. His dark shirt clung to his body and he looked like a Greek god.

I walked over and kissed him, letting my lips linger.

“You look pretty good yourself.”

“And this place is coming along. Pretty amazing what two people can do.”

“Two people, a lot of mistakes, and plenty of YouTube.”

He grinned and yanked me closer by the ass. “How about we finish for the day and fuck right here on the floor?”

“I’d rather not get splinters. Take me home first, big boy.”

“Gladly.”

We stood and kissed. His arms were like heaven. I leaned my head against his chest when we broke apart and closed my eyes, listening to his heartbeat. After the attack on my dad’s house, I would sit and listen to his heart every night while he healed. The doctors Carmine bought and brought in saved Mal’s life, but it took him over a month to get back on his feet. It was slow going, but Mal was Mal. He couldn’t be stopped. Not even by two bullets, one of which barely missed his spine.

“I keep thinking about him,” I whispered. I didn’t look up to see if Mal knew who I meant.

“I know you do. We’ll find him.”

“I’m not so sure. Carmine says he’s got guys on it, but how strong is Carmine really? I’m worried, Mal.”

“Your dad’s hurt. He’s hurt really bad. When he resurfaces, we’ll finish him off. He’s got to resurface eventually.”

“I know you’re right, but it kills me that he’s still out there.”

He hugged me tighter and held me close.

It was a strange kind of grief. It was an anger and a resentment. I was pissed my dad was still alive and afraid that he’d come and steal my joy away. So I distracted myself by rebuilding the Lowdown with Mal.

The door opened. I pulled away from Mal with a sudden jolt, but it was only Carmine. He stepped into the gutted room and looked around, hands on his hips.

“Well, look at this,” he said. “I knew I said you could do whatever you wanted with it, but god damn, I didn’t expect you to demolish the place.”

“Got to start from scratch,” Mal said. “It was a wreck.”

“It’ll be great when we’re done,” I said.

“I have faith in you two.” Carmine grinned. He seemed better since the attack. Like some of the burden was lifted. But he still wasn’t himself, and I didn’t think he ever would be. “I didn’t give you the deed for nothing.”

“To what do we owe the visit, Car?” I asked. “You haven’t come down here since we started.”

“Ah, well, you know me. Been busy.” He walked over to Mal and patted him on the shoulder. “I brought the thing.”

Mal’s eyebrows raised. “Really?”

“Really. She said it’s all yours. She said she loves you.”

Mal nodded once. I narrowed my eyes.

“Who the heck are you talking about?”

Carmine slipped something into Mal’s hand. “Love ya, buddy.”

“You too.” Mal hid the thing from me as Carmine pulled away, grinning. He clapped his hands together.

“Well, I’ll leave you two to it.” He turned and walked to the door.

“Okay, this is shady as hell,” I said, glaring at them. “What’s going on? Who is she and what did Carmine just give you?”

“It’s not what you think,” Mal said.

“Do you know what I think?”

He hesitated. “No clue.”

“I think you’re both insane. What’s going on?”

Carmine laughed from the door. “Good luck, brother!” He waved and disappeared outside.

I put my hands on my hips, glaring daggers. Mal sighed and put the sledgehammer aside.

“Come here.”

I stepped closer. “I have a bad feeling you’re about to give me terrible news.”