Page 34 of His Wicked Wants (West Coast Mobsters #6)

CHAPTER 31

NERO

“I don’t understand you at all,” Gabriel sighs once Yvonne has left us.

“What is there to understand? I offered protection and now I have given it.”

He won’t look at me, staring back at the buildings instead. “Did you kill the people who did this?”

I shake my head. “Murder is bad for business.”

He looks relieved, though not exactly overjoyed.

“I don’t understand you, either,” I tell him. “You had a problem. I solved it. You’ll have food to provide today and plants to grow for future crops.”

He gives a sigh. “And once again, your approach is to throw money at a problem until you think you’ve solved it.”

“Not just money, this time. There was labor involved, too.”

“Right.” He looks away. “Nero, I meant what I said. I don’t understand you. One second you’re pushing me away, the next you’re defending my honor to Roxanne Rochford, of all people, and fixing the community garden.”

“I told you?—”

“Yeah, yeah,” he sighs. “The garden was work. But Roxanne Rochford? What do you care what she calls me?”

I study his face for a moment. I can’t think of a good excuse, because he’s right: I threatened an important ally of the Castellani family simply because she insulted Gabriel, and there was no actual business reason for me to do so. If anything, it will only make my job harder.

But I can’t feel sorry for it.

“She needs to learn some time,” I say at last.

“Learn what?”

“That being so venomous will only get her poisoned in the end.”

“Oh, so it was for her benefit? You were teaching her?” But at last I have provoked a small smile from him. “Listen, I know I should be grateful. And I am. Truly. You really didn’t have to do all this, and it’s not about the job, I know that. I just don’t know what it is about.”

“You don’t have to worry yourself, little gardener,” I say at last. “I won’t bother you in the future.”

I turn to go, but he grabs me back with an irritated scrunch of his nose. “That’s not what I meant. The way you’re acting right now is what I mean. One second you’re acting like I barely exist, and the next you’re all over me, seducing me.”

“Have I seduced you? Or did you merely allow yourself to have some fun?”

“That’s the thing, Nero.” He takes a deep breath, and I fight the urge to run. I know exactly what’s about to come out of his mouth. “I’m not interested in having fun on the side. Not with you. Because for better or worse, sex with you means something. Even though it’s only happened a couple of times, and even though I don’t actually know what it is we’re doing together—whatever it is, it’s hurting me. I don’t mean physically,” he adds impatiently, as I open my mouth to speak. “Please, I’m begging you, just stop hurting me.”

“It’s fine,” I tell him. “You have your community garden back and all is right with the world. The wedding is only a few days away now, and after that, we won’t have to see each other again.”

“That’s not what I meant ,” he says again, sounding even more frustrated this time, but I’m already backing away.

“You’ll have to excuse me, Gabriel. I have to go and see the Don now, and explain tonight in full to him.” When I spoke to Sandro earlier, I left out a few details…such as assaulting Legs Liggari in front of his crew. I’ll need to work on my apologetic expression on the way over. “If it makes you feel any better, you may never see me again after all.” I give Gabriel a lazy grin and then whistle at Ray, who is deep in conversation with Yvonne about the best fertilizer for potted plants.

“That was a fun night,” Ray says in satisfaction as he drives me back toward Redwood Manor. “Linda’s gonna bust my balls, but I had a good time. Those are good folks there at GreenSpace.” He sends me a sidelong look. “I heard from one of the guys about what happened with Legs. He’s not gonna let something like that go.”

“No more am I,” I say coolly.

“Don’t know if the Boss will go for it much either,” Ray says cautiously. “I know Legs ain’t much chop, but the Boss likes to keep him there for a reason.”

“And what reason would that be?”

“He’s one of the old guard. When the Boss took over from his dad, may he rest in peace, there was a lot of trouble in the Family. Now, don’t get me wrong, Sandro’s done a great job pulling up everyone’s socks for them. But he had to keep a few familiar faces around to make sure the glue stayed sticky.”

Somewhere in that mixed metaphor, I glean his meaning. “The Family is more stable now. Perhaps Sandro will see that it’s time to send Liggari to the retirement home.”

Ray guffaws. “And then what, you step up to lead the crew?”

“Is that so unbelievable?”

“Course it is.”

My temper has been steadily rising over the last few seconds, but I rein it in for one last moment to ask, “And why is that?”

“Why the hell would you want to waste your time with us losers? They all fell in line for you tonight. And you know why? Because you’ve got what it takes. Me and the rest of the boys, we’re the old cattle you keep around at the back of the field just because you forgot about them. You? You’re a class act. First in show.”

I’m struck dumb for a moment. “You’re too hard on yourself,” I tell Ray at last. “It would be a great privilege to lead a crew with you in it.”

“Yeah, well, let’s not get weepy.” Ray grins as he swings onto the freeway. “And good luck with the Boss when we get there. I have a feeling you’re gonna need it.”

Ray is right. As soon as I walk into Sandro’s study at Redwood Manor, I can tell he’s furious, because he’s very calm, very controlled. Legs is there too, despite the early hour. His nose is swollen and he has a black eye. He glares at me when I enter.

“Good morning, Sandro,” I say with my wide grin. “I hope Mr. Liggari hasn’t been filling your head with nonsense.”

“You show some fucking respect,” Liggari roars.

“Sit down, both of you,” Sandro says, completely even in tone. “It’s too early for shouting.” He looks at me as I take my seat. “Nero, I do not like to be called out to Redwood this early in the morning. It will not happen again.”

“No, Don Castellani.” At last I seem to have struck the appropriately humble tone, because Sandro nods.

“Legs has been telling me that you assaulted him last night and usurped his position. Is this true?”

“It is.”

Neither Sandro nor Legs respond for a moment. “And why did you do that?” Sandro asks after a long pause.

“What does it matter why he did it?” Liggari growls. “He deserves to be killed for disrespecting me.”

“Not killed,” Sandro says. “Lose a hand, perhaps,” he adds as I smirk and Liggari looks outraged. I stop smirking. “To begin with, Nero will offer an apology. And it will be a genuine, heartfelt apology.”

I have to bite my tongue, literally. I am not used to apologizing to anyone for things that I do. But if this is the only punishment, then I will take it with good grace. Because Liggari is correct.

In Italy, if I had struck my Capo like that, I would have been executed immediately.

“You have my sincerest apology, Liggari,” I say, and I even try to put regret into my voice. “I was completely out of line. I should not have usurped your position like that.”

“You’re damn right you shouldn’t have,” Liggari says.

“Nor humiliated you so completely in front of your own men,” I go on.

“ Basta ,” Sandro says sharply. He’s right to call it enough—I’m about to veer from sincerity to sarcasm, and I need to rein myself in. “Liggari, you were right to call me in on this. Thank you for your good judgment.”

I can’t stop my snort. I need to pull myself together. None of this is helping my case with Sandro.

Thankfully, Sandro goes on over the top of me, although it’s clear that Liggari is not happy. “For now, we are done here. Not you,” Sandro adds, as I rise as well. Liggari gives me a sharp but hungry grin as he realizes that further punishment will be doled out privately.

I settle back in my seat and wait for the door to close behind me.

Sandro stands once it has and walks to the large bay window. “This will not do, Nero.”

“I apologized. Hell, if the stronzo wants to beat me, I’ll even let him.”

“I’m not talking about Liggari. Well, not only. You have put me in a difficult position.”

“The man barely has the brains to scratch his own balls, let alone lead a crew. What are you thinking here, Sandro? If your mother could see the kind of men you have working for you?—”

He turns to look at me. Finally. “My mother has nothing to do with this,” he says softly. Dangerously. “I have been patient with you because you are my oldest friend. But old friends are not necessarily good friends. You came to me with some bullshit story about my mother turning you out— you , Nero, her most loyal hand—and I accepted your story even though I didn’t believe it.”

I lift my chin. “I don’t work for La Contessa anymore. And you must know it’s true, because if you didn’t believe me, why let me stay in the first place?”

“Because it suited me to have you here. And now it suits me to have you leave. You are no longer welcome at Redwood Manor, and I will no longer offer you my protection in this city.”