The Mafia Contract Series

As soon as we reach the car and are safely inside, Roberto turns, and I see the concern in his eyes. “What’s your plan, sir?”

“Take me to Gasoline Alley. I have some calls to make.”

He nods as if he expected that, and as the partition closes, I ponder my current situation.

Massimo is playing his hand, and it concerns me-greatly. The fact he is using my sister against me isn’t anything new, just the puppet master wielding the strings. I understand what this is. He is sending a message that our alliance will benefit him and no one else. Marriage into my family goes both ways, and Massimo Delauren wants to absorb the Sontauro family into his.

Over my dead body, which is ironic really because it probably will be. But Winter. Why is she going along with this? She must have known it would anger me; it doesn’t make sense unless he has some kind of power over her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was abusing her. That kind of goes with the territory because many mafiosi can’t seem to distinguish between business and family. They wield their fists if anyone speaks back to them and use punishment instead of reasonable discussion if they don’t get the answer they want. I will never be like that, but sometimes you must walk in your enemies’ shoes to understand where they’re heading.

Gasoline Alley is a warehouse on the edge of town that used to be a bar but closed for business years ago. My father bought it and made it his headquarters and the fact it’s set in the middle of nowhere means it’s the perfect place for our activities. When we want to conduct business away from the mansion, it’s the perfect place. Many similar families have a disused warehouse by the docks or on the wrong side of town. I have Gasoline Alley and it’s the perfect place to wage a campaign of war.

We draw up outside the silent property and my soldiers swarm from the cars and secure the area.

Security is tight and I wouldn’t put it past Massimo to target us here. There would be no one to hear our cries of death and no witnesses to pin the massacre on him.

When the coast is clear, Roberto opens the door and I step into the cool, crisp air, with only the sound of birdsong in the trees nearby.

We head inside and I say wearily, “Meet me in the office. Tell the guys to keep watch and send a few into the trees to sweep for intruders.”

Roberto nods and while he carries out my orders, I head to my office and pull out my phone.

Malik, as always, answers quickly and just hearing his deep, cool voice on the other end makes me sigh with relief.

“Boss.”

“Demon.” Our greetings are curt and I’m grateful for the secure connection Malik set up on all our phones, giving us the privacy we need to conduct our business.

“I have a problem.”

“Only one.”

His deep voice wraps me in the familiar, allowing me to breathe a little easier. Malik has always been my first port in a crisis. He is our master planner and manipulator, always monitoring things and watching our problems approach rather than being surprised when they catch us unaware. I’m guessing he already knows about this one and I’m keen to learn what he thinks about that.

“Massimo is using Winter to stage a takeover.”

“I’m not surprised.”

“Well, I fucking am. He’s obviously decided that one Sontauro to manipulate isn’t enough, and now it’s my turn.”

“Relax, my friend. What’s the worst he can do? Take a little of your profits, irritate you, make you step up security. Small games to score a few points.”

“He can’t be seen to get away with it, and I need to plan my response.”

“He will get away with it all the time you are weaker than him. Y ou know how it works.”

Sighing heavily, I groan. “I don’t have to like it, though.”

He lowers his voice, and it makes my senses crawl as if death is approaching and I have nowhere to hide.

“Massimo is afraid.”

My ears prick up as he continues, “He knows you are coming for him, and this is a positioning of sorts. A warning that he won’t make it easy on you. He has your sister, and he knows she is your weakness. This will be the first move of many, and you will have to play him at his own game.”

“How?”

“Do what he expects and plan the unexpected.”

“Then I’ll enjoy hearing your suggestions because I’m fresh out of ideas.”

I’m getting antsy and I detect it in my voice, and he snarls, “Cool down, and park this move to the side. Massimo will soon make his position clear, but he needs you alive.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Think about it. If he takes you out, it will appear as if he planned your father’s death.

Married your sister and then took over the family by removing the men in power. He would create unease, and many would sit up and take notice. He won’t want to draw attention to this and so he will play with you like a cat tormenting a mouse to prove a point. My advice is to set up a meeting and call him out on it. Make a deal with the devil to win you some time and carry on with the plan.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Have you set the next move in place?”

I’m curious and keen to get started, and his heavy sigh makes me want to drive my fist through my own skull.

“No.”

“Why not?’ “Because the players aren’t in position yet.”

“I thought you had it all worked out.”

“I do, but the target is currently missing in action.”

“As in…” “Flynn has gone rogue, it seems, and isn’t answering his calls, which can only mean…” “His uncle.”

There’s a short silence as we fear for our friend because Flynn is no different from us. He is controlled by his uncle in a far more sinister way than we are, and I wonder what madness he is currently suffering at his hand.

Malik growls, “I’m in the process of locating him and need a few days. We also have another problem.”

“Tell me.” I could use some good news for once instead of all this shit, and he sighs heavily. “The woman in question is engaged to Massimo’s underboss, Fabio.”

Fuck.

I lean back in my chair and watch our plans burning at only the second hurdle.

Maria Masters was Flynn’s target bride. The only daughter of Harrison Masters, head of the Northwest syndicate. His family is huge and even bigger on loyalty and marriage to Massimo’s most trusted employee, guarantees his allegiance.

Malik’s low voice doesn’t help the situation when he growls, “It appears our target is plotting along the same lines as us. We must move fast.”

“Can we help Flynn deal with his problem, and then what? Who will be his new target?”

“I’m working on it.”

“Then work harder for all our sakes because if you’re right and Massimo is lining up his soldiers, there soon won’t be anyone left to join our ranks. He will win and we’re all fucked.”

The silence chills my heart because we can’t fail now. Flynn is next and needs to terminate his uncle’s involvement in his life and marry for power. Like me, it will be a business deal; a tactical move to grow our loyalty base. It sounds so easy, but there are many factors in play, and I say curtly, “We may need to bring your plan forward while Flynn sorts his shit out.”

“I am already working on it.”

Malik sounds as if I asked him for his fucking Christmas list and I wonder about his life in a secretive world. I’m guessing it’s harder than most and yet he appears to thrive on the intrigue.

Malik’s father is one of the closest advisors to the Sheik ruler of Dubai. There are seven rulers that make up the emirates, and Malik’s own marriage is targeted to the second most powerful one. Unlike the rest of us, he can take up to four wives, so isn’t bothered about who he gets. Malik will need to be careful though because, unlike the rest of us, it’s not as easy to remove his own father from the picture and it will need to be a closely guarded assassination of the most believable kind. If he does the unthinkable and secures the position his father enjoys, he will have the most powerful machine in the Arab world behind him. Subsequently he will be more than a match for Massimo Delauren on his own, so of all my friends, his mission is one of the most important.

I hear movement outside my office and say in a low voice, “I must go. Keep me up to date.”

“Stay strong, my friend.”

“You too.”

I cut the call as Roberto heads into my office and shakes his head, obviously not happy at all.

“What’s your plan, sir?” Leaning back, I say in a dull voice, “Arrange a meeting with Massimo and my sister. A small family dinner in neutral territory. A table for four at the Skyline restaurant would be the best choice, I think. Intimate and public and a neutral zone.”

“Consider it done.”

He heads off and once again I wonder about my father’s closest confidante. I’m still uneasy around him and wonder if he’s truly got my back or is he playing me for a fool, like I suspect. It feels as if I’m second guessing everyone right now and looking over my shoulder constantly. My thoughts turn to my wife at home, and I know that she provides the only source of comfort for me right now and I can’t wait for seven thirty to come around so I can bury myself deep inside her and breathe a little easier.