Page 44 of Worship

I round the corner to my office, tucking my phone back into my pocket, and head back to finish my day.

The second half of my day blew by, and now I’m headed home to meet with some of the guys. Dom texted me earlier to say that we needed to meet. Told me he was rounding up the guys, minus Dante and Matteo, and would let himself into my house. I’m assuming this is unofficial King Enterprise business since half the outfit will be present. We try never to mix the two worlds.

George pulls up to the house, and I hop out as the engine dies and the garage begins to close. I didn’t get a chance to ask him if he knew what Dom wanted because I was on the phone with the lawyers closing up the deal for Charlie’s on First. But he would be the one to ask, seeing as he does security for the both of us.

“You know what this is about?” I ask him.

“Not at all.” His response is as clueless as I feel.

I leave him behind and enter my home.

“Have a good night, George,” I say as he follows to head to his section of the house.

I can hear the mess of them laughing in the living room, and the cheers get louder the closer I get. They must be watching the game. As I walk into the room, I see them all sitting or standing, eyes fixated on Ella, who is stacking blocks and knocking them over. Each time she knocks the tower down, they cheer. So much for a bunch of tough guys.

Clearing my throat, I accept the drink Dom hands me. My voice raises enough for the group to hear.

“She’s got you right where she wants you.”

My joke elicits laughter, and Rose scoops Ella up off the floor, telling her to wave bye-bye. A room full of the scariest, meanest, most criminal individuals are now fighting for who gets a hug and who’s the favorite uncle. Unbelievable. Even the darkest men have a heart, I guess.

“Pull your shit together. Let’s sit,” I direct, and the room grows quieter.

Everyone starts to file over to the dining table, but I take the opportunity to walk Ella and Rose upstairs so I can spend five minutes with my baby girl.

“Mr. King, would you like me to read to her, just for tonight? Seeing as you have guests downstairs.” Rose was a real find.

Smart, capable, and she fell in love with Ella. She’s older, but I trust her with Ella’s life. And she always knows when to stop listening.

“Yes, that would be great.” I give Ella a kiss and snuggle her one more time. “Sweet dreams. Daddy loves you most of all.”

I hand her over and make my way back down the stairs.

I hear the shuffle of cards as soon as I hit the bottom step. It’s been an unwritten rule for years now that anytime we all convene to talk, we also play cards.

I clap my hands together and rub them back and forth.

“Whose money am I taking tonight?”

Dom starts to laugh when Antonio groans because last game I took him for nearly three grand. It was fucking amazing. He’s so damn cheap that his agony brought me real pleasure.

“Oh, come on, Antonio. It’s for a good cause,” I dig.

“Fuck you. What cause, the Keep Luca Rich Foundation? I need a beer for this.”

He stands and walks to the bar.

“You know where they are,” I say, patting Nico on the back as I take a seat at the table.

The game starts, and we all laugh and rib each other, but as hands are played, everyone grows more serious.

Dom motions for a card. “Let’s get down to business.”

“Luca, Shelby’s been at the clubhouse,” Nico starts. “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t give a shit about what some chick is doing. But this is different.” He puts a chip out to raise.

Vincenzo nods.

“Yeah, I don’t know who she’s with, but there are rumors. Talk that she’s looking for people willing to take you on.”