Page 30 of Empire of Seduction (New York State of Mafia #2)

I faced Tater, my patience evaporated. I needed answers quickly, then I had to hurry over to the winery.

I tossed a plastic retractor to Cesare and told the biker, “This will keep your mouth open.” In a blink, Cesare shoved the insert past the biker’s lips to spread open his mouth. To reveal his teeth.

I drew on a fresh pair of latex gloves, grabbed the pliers, and went over. “I usually leave the molars for last because they hurt the worst. But we’re under a time crunch, so . . . ”

Cesare tilted the biker’s head back, holding him still so I could see all his teeth, which were in bad shape.

“Someone doesn’t floss,” I murmured. I had to work to get the first molar out, pulling and twisting, while the man screamed and struggled against his restraints.

Finally, the roots slipped free of the jaw bone and the tooth came loose.

I held it up for him to see. “Let’s take another and see if you’re ready to talk. ”

Fear and pain were all I saw in his expression, his throat making pitiful little noises. This was when I knew a man was about to break, when the pain was too much and he craved death. The next molar was easier. I tossed it on the floor.

After I removed the third tooth, I received my answer.

As I suspected, the Red Raiders were pissed I beat the shit out of their man. Tater had accepted the winery job in the hopes of learning who I was, where I lived. Then they planned to come back later that night and kill me, but instead found Gaetano at the strip club.

Before I killed him, I needed one more thing. “Who is the head of your MC?”

“Baron.”

“What is his real name?”

“Pete . . . Mercer.”

Taking Tater’s mobile, I held it up to his face and unlocked it. Then I slit his throat.

Quickly, I stripped off my gloves, found the contact I was looking for, and placed the call. As the boys began cleanup and disposal, I moved away and waited for Baron to pick up.

“Where the fuck are you? You’ve been gone all day,” a smoke-hardened voice growled into my ear.

“Tater is dead,” I said without preamble.

“Who is this?”

“I’ve just killed three bikers who shot my cousin in the woods. It’s my understanding they belong to you.”

A beat of silence. “You’re that Italian who’s staying at the winery.”

I wouldn’t confirm or deny it. “I’m ringing you to let you know that I now consider this matter settled.”

“If you killed three of my brothers, this is far from settled, motherfucker.”

“That would be unwise of you. I ran the Red Raiders out of Toronto and I’m more than happy to take you on here.”

“You think we’re scared of your kind? You don’t fucking belong here—you or that other asshole.”

I assumed he meant Benetti. “Your men earned this the second they killed my man. So I suggest you stand down and keep quiet.”

“Fuck off. I don’t take orders from your dumb ass.”

“Don’t be stupid. I’m telling you this matter is settled. If I were you, I’d consider myself lucky that I only took out the three who were involved.”

“Well, you’re not me, so I’d watch my back.”

“You can’t take me on, dumbfuck. Go away and be grateful I didn’t do worse.” Disconnecting, I tossed the mobile onto Tater’s body, then whipped off my bloody shirt. “All of it, in the ocean. Deep.”

“Sì, certo, Don D’Agostino,” Cesare said.

I used two bottles of water to wash the blood off my chest and arms. Once I was reasonably presentable, I found my clean shirt and pulled it on, then pointed to three of my men. “With me. The rest of you help Cesare.”

Trailed by my guards, I left the warehouse and unlocked the SUV. Tommaso hadn’t checked in yet, so I needed to get to the winery and find out what the fuck happened there. Because if she was hurt—or worse—I was going to lose my goddamn mind.

I climbed into the back and let one of the men drive. Maggie didn’t pick up when I rang—and neither did Tommaso, which raised my level of panic a few more notches. I reached into my pocket and dug out my pack of cigarettes.

I tapped my phone on my knee, thinking as I smoked. I hadn’t expected to go to war with a motorcycle club while visiting here. Maybe Baron was full of shit, but I couldn’t risk Maggie’s safety. If it escalated, I would need help.

Or I could go back to Toronto.

Immediately, I discounted the idea. I wasn’t scared of the Red Raiders. I had plenty of men here and could bring more, if necessary. Benetti could be tapped, as well. His crew was living out by the river. But I needed to increase security at the winery, fast.

A text came in. Tommaso.

Michael found her. She’s OK

My entire body sagged into the leather seats. Thank fuck . I took a long drag off my cigarette and tried to calm down. I needed to touch her, to hold her. To order her never to fucking scare me like that again.

Exhaling a plume of white smoke, I said, “Drive faster.”

Nothing was going to plan since I arrived in Paesano.

It was times like this that I wished that Maz hadn’t left the family.

Yes, he was often unpredictable, but he was my brother, someone who could tell it to me straight.

Someone who could offer advice. Without him, I had no one I could trust, not implicitly.

Fucking Massimo?—

Wait . I did have more family. Not a brother.

My baby sister. Paloma.

When the shit went down with Ravazzani, Enzo sent Paloma, as well as his two children, to England to keep them all safe. Paloma decided to stay in England once the trouble ended instead of coming home to Napoli, though I never understood why.

While she was raised a mafia princess, Paloma was no weak, timid woman. When we were younger, she gave the three of us boys so much shit we told Papà he should induct her as a soldata . And she was the smartest of all of us, with an IQ higher than even Enzo’s.

Having Maz around these past few days made me realize how much I missed my family. How much stronger we are together than apart. And Paloma always understood me better than either of my brothers. She usually knew what I was thinking before I even said it.

The decision, though impulsive, felt right in my bones. I unlocked my phone and tapped to find her contact. We hadn’t spoken in over a month, but we texted every few days. Like me, she had an obsession with SSC Napoli, so we often talked about the team.

“Pronto,” she rasped into the phone.

Had she been asleep? I blew out a lungful of smoke. “Sorellina. Come stai?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Do you have a minute?”

“Hold on.” I heard her whisper to someone and then the rustling of sheets. She softly closed a door. “What’s going on? You never call in the middle of a workday.”

“Who is he?” My voice was sharp. “Have you asked Enzo to?—”

“No, I haven’t told Enzo. I don’t need him crawling up my ass about someone I’m fucking. And you’d better keep your mouth shut—or I’ll tell him about the time you came to visit me when you were supposed to be hiding on the yacht.”

I hissed through my teeth. That was the trouble with siblings. They had long memories and the best ammunition for blackmail. “Fine, I won’t. But is it serious?”

She snorted. “Vito. Please. Our family is very, very dysfunctional . I need to work on myself before I can expect to have a healthy relationship. Or so my therapist says.”

Therapist? Cristo Santo. I wasn’t telling Enzo that . “Good, so you can come here.”

“Thanks, but no. I’m not coming to Toronto in January. I have a weather app, bro.”

Bro ? I shook my head though a grin tugged at my lips. “Not Toronto. I’m in New York at the moment and I need your help. You know I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t serious.”

The irritation died from her tone. “Of course I’ll come. Whatever you need.”

That was the other thing about siblings. They had your back, no matter what. “I’ll explain when you get here. Bring all your shit.”

“Wait a minute. I thought you meant to visit. Are you asking me to move over there?”

“I want you with me permanently.”

I could hear her breathing as she considered this. “Vito, I have a life here. Friends, a job. I can’t just up and move to another country. And what would I do there? Sit around in the freezing cold all the time?”

I didn’t want to ask it over the phone. I preferred to have the conversation face to face, when I could let her see how serious I was. “Just come and hear me out. That’s all I ask.”

“Should I be worried? Are you okay? Maz said some winery owner there has your balls in a twist. Do you need me to kick this girl’s ass? Is that what this is, V?”

“ Dai , Paloma.” I rubbed my eyes tiredly.

She kept talking like she didn’t hear me. “I haven’t fought in three or four years, so I’m a little rusty, but if she’s giving you trouble, I’ll more than happily take her out.”

“This isn’t about her, I promise. I’m sending you a ticket to come tomorrow and I’ll explain everything when you arrive.”

“Va bene, va bene. But it better be first class, fratello.”

I grinned. This was almost word for word what Massimo said when I asked for his help. After we disconnected, I had one of the men arrange a ticket for her. I also let my brother know and suggested Paloma stay at Maggie’s house with him. He sent back a scream emoji, which I ignored.

That done, I continued to smoke. Why had Maggie disappeared today? I didn’t know, but I meant to find out.