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Nico claps a hand on my shoulder. “You sure you don’t want to take your old job? I’d like to have you back as my number two. I still have your private fuck room available, even though Rocco is trying to take it over.”
I let out a grunt. “Fuck him. He’s never getting it, even if I never use it again. And thanks for the offer, but I’m done being a number two. I wanna be a number one.”
I want to be someone’s number one is the thought that passes through my mind right then…and it has nothing whatsoever to do with the mob.
“I know. You’re doing good work at the site. And your dad hasn’t fucked things up there yet, so it must be pretty easy for you right now.”
“Can’t complain. The team is pretty good. They show up, get shit done, leave. They don’t give me headaches, and I haven’t had to kick anyone’s ass yet.”
Nico cocks an eyebrow.
“Relax, I’m not being literal. The anger management classes are really working.”
He rolls his eyes. “Hey, isn’t that Layla over there?” Nico nods over to a staircase by a far wall, past an orgy waiting to happen.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Layla deVincenzo standing alone, her dark hair falling over one eye. Her full red lips curl upward, and she nods at the guy groping her tits, still staring me down.
“Oh, Christ. What’s she doing here? She’s supposed to be upstairs in the dance club, working tables.”
Nico shakes the hand of a guy walking past. “Something tells me she’s looking for you. She’s been hanging around down here a lot more lately. Beware, brother.”
“I have enough shit to deal with right now, namely Mikey. I don’t need any more headaches.”
“Good, because Layla is fucking mental, and she doesn’t like to take no for an answer.”
My iPhone buzzes, and I pull it out of my pocket. “Yeah?”
Patty, one of the guys on my construction job, barks into the phone. “Max, I need you to come by my house.”
I look at my watch. “It’s fucking eleven o’clock, Patty. What the hell is the problem?”
“A pipe broke, and I gotta stick it somewhere. I need some help.”
Fuck. I look at Nico. “Something’s up at the construction site. Patty’s down there.”
“Did he say what?”
“Yes, he spelled everything out in complete detail so anyone tapping our phones will know exactly what’s about to go down.”
“You’re a sarcastic fuck, you know that?”
I nudge him with my elbow. “I keep shit interesting.”
Nico grabs my arm before I head toward the staircase opposite where Layla is getting finger fucked, still watching me.
Bat. Shit. Crazy.
“Max, why don’t you take Rocco with you? Let him handle it. You don’t know what you’re walking into.”
“Don’t worry, I’m gonna let Patty take the reins. But I need to be there to make sure he gets the job done.” My fingers are already starting to twitch. This construction foreman job is my way out…the closest to legitimate work I’ve ever had. I’ve done enough to screw with my livelihood over the past few years. Thanks to Nico and his dad, I have my own thing and the family finally takes me seriously again.
I’m building shit that’s gonna make us all a lot of fucking money.
I’m more than just an enforcer.
Lucky Luciano said the only way out is in a box.
And I need this job so I can stay out of said box.