Ruthless Prince (Dark Syndicate 1)

He gives me a little smile. It’s not one of humor though. It’s the kind that attempts to reassure. There is nothing to smile about today.

“I had your mother. Always, even when she was no longer living. I carried her in my heart knowing what she’d say and do when I needed her,” he answers and holds my gaze, studying me.

He loved my mother dearly, never remarried, never even got close to anyone. It was maybe five years after Ma died that I saw him with a woman, and it was just a date. She seemed nice, but it didn’t last. Nothing ever lasted. He always stopped anything from getting past that mark where anybody could get as close as my mother.

“Pa, everything is shit.”

“I know.”

“I’m worried as hell about all of this. I wish we’d killed Riccardo,” I say. Of course, the fucker is nowhere to be found.

We got the update from Phillipe this morning. My guess is someone knew we got ahold of Yev and knew he’d talk. Riccardo would have gotten the heads-up and head for the hills. Add the failure of yesterday into the mix, and he would know for sure we want his head on a spike.

“Me too. I fear that our greed to watch him suffer meant that we didn’t treat him the way we would if he were anyone else.”

“Pa, I’m going to hunt those bastards down.”

“I don’t doubt you, son,” he says. “But take some time to think about strategy. We have that meeting with the Syndicate tomorrow. Take the day to cool off from yesterday and regroup.”

Maybe he’s right. I’m too hyped up on emotion to concentrate.

The door opens, and Andreas walks in. I’m relieved to see him. He’s been holding down the fort for me at work.

“You guys okay?” he asks.

“Yeah, son. I’m gonna leave you two to talk,” Pa says with a nod. “Call me if you need me.

“I will.”

Pa walks toward Andreas, gives him a pat on his shoulder, and leaves us.

Andreas sighs and looks me over in that big brotherly way that used to get on my nerves when we were kids.

“I’m pissed at you for not calling me,” he says, comes close to give me a one-shoulder hug, but I hold on for a little longer.

“I’m sorry. Too much shit has happened, Andreas.”

“That why I should have been here, not pushing paper in the office. We have extra men. We have eyes everywhere, so try to relax,” he assures me.

“Thanks, Andreas, thanks for having my back.”

“That’s what brothers are for. Do you need me to do anything else?”

An idea comes to my mind.

I do need a break. I think Emelia does too.

It’s early enough to get away from here for the day.

“Could you be boss for the day? Just be boss. I just want to be Massimo D’Agostino.”

“Massimo D’Agostino is boss,” he replies.

“No, not that guy. I just want to be myself for today. Take a break from shit and return to the days when we used to appreciate the simple things in life.”

I think he knows what I mean when he nods.

“Well, I’m starting in here. You have better bourbon than me, and Cheetos,” he jokes and ruffles my hair the way he used to when we were kids and I was much shorter than him.