Page 72 of Dirty Hearts

I held up my hand, pretty certain Dante wasn’t going to actually place an order.

“No. We don’t need anything,” I told her and cut Dante a sharp glance.

“Are you sure? We have all sorts of new drinks in.” She beamed, then looked over at Dante. “And all kinds of fun in the back.”

Gio chuckled.

“No thanks.” I intensified my stare, and she pressed her lips together. Thank fuck she knew well enough to drop it and move away without questioning us further.

“Claudius, you could have at least let me get her number,” Dante chided.

I cocked my head to the side and glared at him. He knew well enough too to know his place.

“Or I could get it another time.” He smirked.

That’s right.I didn’t need to say anything.

We were here for business. Not damn pleasure. If I wanted pleasure, I wouldn’t be here with them. I’d be with Ava, who I’d told I was working.

Working this late. She wasn’t stupid. She knew I was going on some mission to do something less than savory. She didn’t question me though. She just gave me a worried look and told me to be careful.

It was the life of a mafia boss that I’d never quite thought into before. Walking on eggshells with your woman, never telling her too much. Just enough so she knew where you were. It meant asking her to go above the remits of trust with few answers to her questions.

“Boss. Look.” Gio motioned below us.

Corey and another guy walked up to the bar. They were talking. That had to be the associate.

We watched them. Tonight must have been our lucky night because they headed to the door Alex had pointed to earlier.

Perfect.I didn’t know what beyond the door looked like, but anywhere away from people was good for us.

“Let’s move, boys,” I ordered, and move we did.

People gave way as we found our way through the sea of bodies clashing together on the dance floor, and no one dared to question us when we opened the door to the staff room that saidStaff Onlyin big bold letters.

The kitchen was behind here as was the door that led out to the bar area. One of the bartenders came out and looked at me. One sharp look sent him right back to where he came from, closing the door behind him. To say the man looked scared of me was an understatement. Although I guess it wasn’t just me to be afraid of. It was us as a group.

Me in the front with The Four behind me. All dressed in black with our long coats and the crosses tattooed on my cheek and their necks. We had the look of death, carried it wherever we went, and only the foolish would mess with us.

There was a room at the end of the corridor.

“That’s the room,” Alex said.

“Perfect for beating the ever-living shit out of someone.” Jude chuckled and bumped his fists with Alex.

I got to the door and kicked it in. Dante looked a little surprised. Maybe he thought I was going to knock.

There were two topless strippers inside who screamed and scampered to get their clothes.

Corey glowered at me wide-eyed. He was a big, burly man with a bushy beard and muscle. He could probably take down a few regular-sized guys, but not me. Seemed, though, he was foolish enough to reach for his gun. Big mistake.

Jude shot the gun out of his hand, and Alex moved in on him and held him in place with his guns pointed to his head.

As did Dante and Gio while I went to him. He looked like he was about to shit himself.

I looked at the two frightened women, who were now dressed.

“Get out!” I barked at them, and they moved. Quickly.