Page 22 of Wicked Throne

Watching my wife, her friend, and my brother leave, I waited until they were gone. I'd been intending to make this call for a few hours but hadn't been able to. The heads of the other families had been ignoring me.

The only thing they truly had ever responded to had been power. My ex-lover answered on the third ring.

"Lucia..." I said.

She sighed dramatically. We had parted on good enough terms and she understood exactly what this was. We had been comfortable and familiar with each other. She knew exactly what I was and what she was. There had been a quiet understanding, especially since she was a DEA agent I fucked for nearly five years. I had paid her to keep my family's names off the books while we enjoyed each other's company. It was a simple enough arrangement.

"Shouldn't you be enjoying your honeymoon?" she asked.

Was their spite in her voice?

"Are you jealous?" I asked.

"Of course not...but I do wish I'd gotten a vacation to Italy just once," her voice sounded annoyed.

Of course, she'd wanted a vacation to Italy. What woman didn't? I rolled my neck, feeling tension forming there as I kept the phone in place.

"How long would it take you to get a raid going on a few port locations?"

"Oh, you're ignoring me about the vacation... Fine, whatever. But it wouldn't take long."

"Good, I'll text you the names. I want it done clean. No arrest but enough to get the ports closed for a few months."

"That might be impossible? What do I tell my superiors?"

I gave the phone a brief look. "Lucia....that's for you to figure out. I'll be sending over ten thousand to the account as well. Thank you for your services."

A moment passed.

"Fuck you, Scarpetta."

"Have a good night," I told her and finished the call.

Giancana.

Ricca.

Corozzo.

Cefailu.

They all owned ports within the Tri-State area. The head bosses had all been vacationing in the area and had refused to see me, except for the Torrio family. They had disrespected the Scarpettas for too long and now that I was backed by my southern ports thanks to my marriage to Diamond....they were going to bow before me.

Soon.

Chapter 13

Diamond

I finally had gained access to the wifi and international calling. The first thing I did was call one of the jewelry store managers. They knew better than to miss a call on a regular day and it was roughly 2 a.m. in Georgia. Nevertheless, Rita seemed awake and perky and ready to talk. Her high-pitched voice went on and on about all the rappers that had been coming in requesting luxury pieces.

"And Miss Ivy...oh my god," Rita let out another high-pitched squeal that had surely been heard on another plane of existence. "I know it's unprofessional but one of the guys in this rap group asked me if I could be in their video. I told him I'd have to run it by you."

Looking at the phone, I sighed and shook my head.

"As long as it doesn't interfere with your regular duties at Magnolia Bloom, then darling feel free. I do have to go, though. I'll check in again soon."'

"Byeee.... "