Slaying The Mob - Paperback

This Life No Longer Owns Me. Only She Does.
This life.
It's a game, a very dangerous one where the losers always pay with their lives.
To win big, you have to take risks.
And I always played to win because I never had anything worthwhile to lose.
But when the rules changed, the stakes became too high.

I could have it all...
Or lose everything, including a future with the woman I love.

I took a chance,
Broke the code, and
Violated trust.

Then I lost the hand,
And the one I vowed to always cherish and protect.

SLAYING THE MOB is the fourth book in the dark Italian mafia series, RUTHLESS HEARTS, by USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Luciani. This steamy second chance romance features dark themes and scorching hot bedroom scenes that are intended for mature readers only. This story has a guaranteed HEA and no cheating.

“I don’t take orders from anyone, least of all some prick who fucked with my future. You never counted on me showing up again, did you? You figured once Cappodamo was outta the picture, you were in the clear. Am I right?” Mikey Bonnaro tugs my hair harder, and I grit my teeth, powerless to do a goddamn thing that’ll get me out of this cluster fuck.
Fucking A, I wish I had my blade. I’d cut the bastard so fast and so hard, he’d bleed out before I could jump to my feet.
“You know what?” He pulls out a cigarette, lights it, and blows a stream of smoke right into my face. “I’m glad shit worked out this way. I’m running my own show now, and I don’t have to listen to anyone. I’ve got my crew and some very fucking generous offers from people who want what only I can get.”
He narrows his eyes. “And I can get plenty, Max. Trust me on that. The Salesi family ain’t the only game in town anymore. The Bonnaros are back, and we’re taking over.”
“You don’t cross into this fucking state, you asshole. You know the rules.”
“Fuck the rules!” He drops my head and a sharp pain shoots down my spine. “You weren’t thinking of rules when your dickhead father decided to break them to cover his own ass.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I rub the back of my head. “He was trying to make a deal with Cappodamo to bring both families together—”
“Max, Max, Max. Is that what your old man told you? That he was doing it for the family?” Mikey’s eyes narrow to slits. “And you believed him, you dumb fuck?”
He lets out a dry laugh. “How gullible are you? Lemme tell ya, Tony Oriani doesn’t do anything for anyone but himself. He doesn’t give a damn if the big boss Joe Salesi lives or dies, something that was pretty fucking clear when he helped Luca Cappodamo take him out in that car wreck. Did you think it was really a hit and run? Oh, wow, sounds like there are a lot of things Daddy needs to catch you up on. That is, if you can make it to him in time.”
Helped Luca Cappodamo take him out… No, fuck, no! I press a hand to the back of my head where the lump grows by the second. I try to make sense of what he’s telling me, but my vision is hazy and my head is throbbing.
I knew it…I fucking knew something was off. I bought all of my dad’s bullshit, was it because I just didn’t want to admit the truth to myself? Was it because I knew I’d have to come clean with Nico? Didn’t I always know it would come to this?
If you violate the code, you die.
Everyone knows this.
You know what needs to be done. You just don’t want to be the one to pull the trigger.
Or, did someone else already pull it?
“Make it where? Where, for fuck’s sake?” I croak.
“Lemme give you a little clue. I’m crushing your business while I’m building my own. Right under your fucking noses, Max. Let’s see if you can figure out that riddle. I don’t have much faith, but who knows? Maybe you’ll just shock the shit out of me tonight. Christ only knows, I’ve done that to you, yeah?”
He snaps his finger and his crew jumps back into his truck, following his lead like the mindless ’roided-up minions that they are, the tires skidding on the icy pavement as it squeals out of the parking lot.
I lie still on the ground, trying to focus on numbing the pain with my mind, but I’m no Jedi master. I’m fucking hurting. Bad. And I have to get up and figure out how I’m gonna make it to the job site in one piece. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out. I feel like I’ve been knocked into next month, and I have no fucking idea what time it is.
Other than it’s too late.
Where are you? My dad and I are waiting for you.
Goddammit! I squint my eyes at the time in the top corner of the screen. I should’ve been at Sloane’s twenty minutes ago. My finger hovers over the keyboard. What the hell am I supposed to tell her?
Sorry, babe, can’t make it for your big night. I have to find my dad who may or may not have been gutted like a fish by a mortal enemy. I hope you understand.
Yeah, that probably won’t fly.
I struggle to my feet. “Ahh!” Are any of my fucking ribs still in one piece, for Christ’s sake? But as bad as the pain is, it still isn’t enough to mute the rage rushing through me.
My heart thumps, and I wince with every pound and pulse against my bruised chest. I pull myself to a kneeling position, my breaths sharp and raspy.
That fucking prick!
I’ll never forget the day Joe Salesi’s car was plowed into. My dad showed up to the hospital hours after the accident spewing excuses about issues with building inspections. He looked us all in the eye and lied like the sack of shit he is. Watching his childhood friend struggle for life while he lay mangled on a hospital gurney, bloody and bruised. Comforting Mrs. Salesi and Lily, their young daughter, offering to help, to do anything they need.
Yeah, because you hadn’t done enough already, right, Dad?
I look down at the trail of blood splattered across the front of my starched white shirt, my torn tuxedo jacket, and my scuffed-up shoes. What a fucking sight. How could I have thought I’d be ever be able to do right by Sloane?
I love her, but this whole thing…fuck. It’s where we have to end. I can’t drag her in any deeper. These people…they’re out for blood, and mine spread all over the fucking pavement sure as hell isn’t enough. They won’t stop until they’ve drained it from everyone I love.
Even the ones I don’t love…
I take a deep breath and stab a few words into the keyboard of my phone.
I can’t make it tonight. I’m so sorry. I know you’ll do great.
I stare at the words before clicking the Send button. I don’t know what hurts more — the ache in my heart or the one in my chest.
I know once I do it, I will have lost my chance with her. Forever.
I grab onto the door handle of my truck and pull myself up, wincing as my spine straightens. My body instinctively hunches over, falling into the side of the door. I pull it open and crumble into the seat, squeezing the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. “Motherfucker!”
I turn the key in the ignition, dropping my head onto my hands before I finally make my choice and send the text.
The fucking code.
It always trumps everything.
That’s how I’d always lived.
Until now.