Page 13 of Dark Breaker

That’s what I always love about my brother: I know I can count on his loyalty.

“I’m thinking a little… play-fighting… with a few of the Tunisians should work,” I reply.

“I got this,” he tells me. “I’ll send a few men into Tunisian territory tonight to bust some heads.”

I nod. “That works for me.” It also gives us plausible deniability in case pa finds out. Nicolo could claim the men did it without his permission. They’d have to be vanished after, but it’s part of the cost of doing business. I’ll make sure their families are compensated if it comes to that. But I don’t think it will.

“Maybe I should also burn down one of their strip clubs,” Nicolo continues.

“No,” I tell him. “Let’s not escalate this to an all-out war just yet.”

“If burning down one of our unfinished buildings isn’t starting a war, I don’t know what is,” he counters.

“There’s a difference between burning down an empty building and a full one,” I try to explain.

“We could burn down the strip club after it closes for the night…” Nicolo suggests.

“No, we have to be patient,” I tell him. “We’re not ready for a war just yet. We need to wait for my wedding.”

“Ah, so you’re actually not as pissed about the wedding as I thought,” Nicolo replies.

“I am, but I might as well use it strategically,” I say. “We’re going to be allied with the Morettis and Amatos. They’re just who we need to win a turf war with the Tunisians. Besides, I heard Giovanni Amato has no love lost for the Tunisians.” I clear my throat. “Speaking of my future wedding… did you learn anything more about Rosa?” Earlier over messenger I asked him to reach out to his network of university friends to see if she attends. She’s about the same age as Nicolo after all. Maybe a class or two ahead of him.

“I did,” he replies. “She’s a psych major. I got her class schedule if you want it.”

I grin. “Send it to me.”

“Done.”

My phone buzzes and I check. There it is. Rosa Moretti’s complete schedule.

Good ol’ Nicolo.

“Thanks, I owe you one for this, and for roughing up the Tunisians,” I tell him.

“Hey, we’re brothers,” he says. “You owe me nothing. Well, one thing maybe… I get to be the one to plan your bachelor party!”

I sigh. I forgot about that.

“All right,” I tell him.

“Good!” he says. “I got the perfect strippers in mind. Might as well go out with a bang, taking three of the hottest babes to your bed at the same time before your wings are clipped for life!”

“Who says it’ll be the last time I fuck other women?” I inquire in all seriousness.

He laughs. “Good point.”

“Just make sure any strippers you hire don’t work at the Jackal’s clubs,” I tell him. “I don’t want to support that asshole or anyone who works for him.”

“You got it. See you Fabio.” With that he hangs up.

At a red light I pause to look over Rosa’s schedule. Interesting, some of the electives she’s chosen. Why would someone taking psych need computer programming?

I detour, heading to the university. I’m not sure why. Guess I’m curious what my future wife does with her free time. I want to get some idea of what the she-demon is actually like. Something more than the small, TikTok-like snippets I’ve had of her. I heard the Morettis are based on the island of Ustica, but if Rosa attends university in Palermo, that means she takes the ferry back and forth every day. Or maybe uses a speedboat.

I arrive at the campus and head to one of the parking stalls. After picking up my ticket, I place it on the dash and then pull up the university map on my phone. Psychology 101, her current class, takes place in a building about three blocks from here.

I make my way across the campus grounds. Students pass me, many carrying textbooks and laptops. The girls whisper quietly and giggle, shooting me shy looks as they pass. The guys, meanwhile, are divided mostly into two camps: the nerds, who are very careful not to make eye contact, and the jocks, who puff out their chests and try to strut when they walk by me. As I’m getting close to her building, a member of the latter camp thinks it’s a good idea to slam me with his shoulder as he walks by.