Page 64 of A New Days Don

Raphael grabs the groaning Fabio by the scruff of his neck and pulls him back far enough to pour water into his open mouth. Fabio sputters, but drinks what we give him. I prowl over to him, grabbing the small knife off the table on my way and stab it into his thigh, not near his artery, but enough that it will hopefully sober him for this conversation.

Fabio shouts, his raspy voice increasing in pitch.

“What the fuck were you doing with Thiago and that cop?” I snarl. Fabio’s blurry eyes blink rapidly as he focuses in on me. A little whimper slipped from between his lips. I can’t help the way my face twitches with disgust.

“I don’ know what you mean!” He shouts, his words beginning to slur together.

“You'd better start, or this is going to be a long evening for you.” My voice is cold, distant, and as I watch Fabio’s face pale, the demon that lives inside of me smiles excitedly, “Ren! Grab the footage and show him.”

As Fabio watches the small screen of Ren’s phone, realization dawns on his drunken features before they fall into a blank mask.

When Ren pulls his phone back, I grip either side of the chair Fabio has been tied to and say with lethal calm, “That is what I mean. Better start talking, Fabio, because as I see it, you are one of three guilty of murdering my father.”

I push off the chair, and as I do, Fabio’s hazy gaze meets mine, “What’re you gon do? Kill a cop.”

I crack my neck as the tension builds within my body. I can’t fucking believe I have to deal with his drunk ass tonight.

“If I fucking have to.” My eyes drift to Raphael, who begins to crack his knuckles. I nod to him before stepping back, “Don’t knock him out, he is already on the verge.”

Raphael nods his balding head, then, with a firm fist, he slams it into Fabio’s gut. Vomit sprays from his mouth and splashes against the floor.

“Get some answers out of him.” I turn on my heel, Ren following closely behind me as we head for my office at the warehouse. It isn’t much of an office, mostly a rundown room with a table and two chairs, but it’s enough for Ren and I to meet while Raphael does his work.

We both don’t bother sitting. Instead, we both glare out the window at Fabio, who sits in a puddle of his own excrement. What a fucking mess.

“We are glad you’re back.” Ren notes, and I nod. I don’t doubt it. “Listen, Adriano, Caleb, and Raphael are the only men whom I trusted to join us this evening, but by the sounds of things, there are another fifty men who are on board with getting this bastard out.”

“It’s not about getting him out,” I note that Raphael breaks one of Fabio’s fingers. Fabio’s screams fill the warehouse, echoing into the office.

“But we will be taking care of that this evening, no?” Ren nods to where Fabio is slurring bullshit.

“Yes,” I bite through gritted teeth. There is no way in hell Fabio will survive tonight. It may not have been much on that tape, but it was enough to prove that Fabio can’t be trusted. The next few hours will be his last, and his blood will signal a warning to those who wish to trapse into Sin City.

“You have men backing you.” Ren reaffirms, “The Bianchi Mafia does not have to end.”

“My wish isn’t to rule Vegas.” I mutter, “I have my clubs here, and I will continue to aid whoever takes over in their business within the city, only if they prove not to be corrupt.”

“And what about your woman?” One of Ren’s eyebrows raised in question.

“What did I just tell you?” I snap, and he chuckles to himself.

“Relax, we are alone. You know as well as I do that without the structure of the mafia, your loved ones stand no chance if someone decides to exact revenge or take you out.” Ren explains, and I sigh.

“I will figure it out.”

Chapter 26

Mila

Seconds tick by into minutes and minutes into hours. By the two-hour mark of waiting for Massimo, my entire body is alight with frayed nerves.

I stare down at my phone, the last text from the unknown number blaring back at me. Taunting me.

I quickly navigate to my texts with Massimo, several of which are unanswered.

Frustration brews, though I am not being fair considering he is in a meeting right now, but every minute that slips by is time wasted, and I could lose this lead. This is a chance to gain intel on the person who hurt me all those years ago. Another text vibrates.

Fuck.