Chapter 38
38
Lorenzo
The report hits my desk.
When I look up, I see it’s Rafe who dropped the folder in front of me. His jaw is tight, and his eyes are darker than usual.
I’m not going to like whatever is inside.
“Start talking,” I spin my pen between my fingers while I stare at the closed file.
Rafe drags a hand over his face and leans on the edge of the desk. “You remember how you asked me to find out who our little accounting genius was working for p>
“I remember asking for a head in a bag,” I correct, letting my mouth twitch. “But sure, let’s go with what you’re saying instead p>
He exhales through his nose. “We’ve been hearing rumblings. A new outfit is moving through the East Coast. Young guys. They’re trying to make a name for themselves p>
“Great,” I snort. “Adorable. Do they have a mission statement p>
“There’s chatter they’re tied to a Boston family, and that there is someone who knows our inside workings,” Rafe continues, ignoring me. “Nothing fully confirmed yet, but all of what I’m hearing makes sense p>
I flip the file open with my thumb. Photos, reports, transaction logs.
My pen stills. “Which one?” My voice drops.
Rafe jerks his chin toward the photo. “Southside. We found the place hit last night. Doors blown. Our guys knocked out cold, but alive p>
“And the product p>
He hesitates.
I look up slowly. “Rafe p>
He grimaces. “Gone. Every brick. Cleaned out p>
A laugh slips out before I can stop it. It’s not a nice sound.
“So,” I say, closing the file with a soft thud, “not only are they stealing from our books, they’re now hitting our warehouses and walking out with our product p>
Rafe straightens. “We’re treating it as an act of war p>
“Oh, it’s worse than war.” I stand and then button my jacket. “It’s disrespect. I need to tell my uncle p>
Rafe’s gaze sharpens. “You want to pay our guest another visit first p>
I smile, all teeth. “He and I do have some unfinished quality time scheduled p>
I step away from the desk, feeling the old, familiar heat of violence rise.
This is going to be fun. Last time, I had nothing to lead with. Now I do…
I jerk my chin toward the door. “Let’s go see if our friend has found a sense of self-preservation yet p>
Rafe falls into step beside me as we head down the hall.
“Just a reminder,” he mumbles, half under his breath, “you told Vin you’d try not to kill him before he talks p>
“I recall making no such promise,” I answer, amused. “But I’ll do my best. Think of this as… anger management p>
“You should try yoga,” Rafe grunts.
“I prefer hobbies that make my blood pressure rise p>
Together, we head to my car and leave for the warehouse.
When we arrive thirty minutes later, we step out of the car and walk toward the building.
We push through the metal door, and the moment we do, the air changes to that familiar cocktail of concrete and blood.
In the back room, our little problem is still zip-tied to a chair. He looks like shit with a swollen eye and split lip. The arm of his shirt is still red with the blood from my stabbing.
I’m surprised he hasn’t died yet, but alas… soon.
He blinks when he sees me, then swallows. He knows his days are numbered.
“Look who’s awake,” I croon, strolling in. “I was starting to worry you’d sleep through all the fun p>
His breathing picks up. Good. I enjoy his panic. It brings me joy.
Rafe takes up a position against the wall, arms crossed, watching like a man at the movies.
I circle the chair once, slow, boots echoing on the concrete. The man’s shoulders tense with every step I take behind him.
“Bad news,” I say lightly. “The situation has escalated p>
His body trembles. “I told you everything I know p>
“You told me nothing,” I correct, stopping in front of him. “You passed out, which is frankly rude when someone is taking such an interest in you p>
This time, he flinches.
I tilt my head, studying his face. “See, I was willing to believe you were just a petty thief with a death wish. But it turns out you’re part of something bigger.” I lean in, smiling. “You’re not special, by the way. Just more of a problem p>
He shakes his head, breathing rough. “I don’t know what you’re talking about p>
I glance at Rafe. “You hear that? He doesn’t know p>
Rafe lifts a shoulder. “Maybe he suffers from sudden, acute memory loss p>
“Tragic,” I sigh.
I plant my hands on the back of the chair and lean forward, bringing my mouth beside the man’s ear.
“One of our warehouses was hit,” I tell him. “Product stolen. Men attacked. At the same time, you’ve been skimming from our accounts. That seems like a lot of coincidence for one scrawny idiot, doesn’t it p>
He squeezes his eyes shut. “I’m just middle. I swear. I’m nobody p>
“Then give me somebody,” I reply, fingers digging just a little into the chair. “Give me a name and walk out of here with all your limbs intact p>
He licks his lips. “They’ll kill me p>
“They,” I echo. “There is a ‘they.’ Progress p>
“I can’t,” he whispers.
I straighten, sighing dramatically. “I always appreciate when people make bad choices. It keeps my hobbies funded p>
I nod at Vin, who’s standing by a workbench.
Vin moves forward and drops a small bag of tools on the floor beside me. The clatter makes the man jolt so hard he nearly tips the chair.
He stares at the bag like it’s a live grenade.
“Relax,” I say, crouching to unzip it. “I’m not going to do anything too terrible. Yet.” I glance up at him. “I mean, relatively speaking. It’ll be horrible for you, obviously. Perspective is everything p>
I pull out a length of rubber hose and slap it lightly against my palm, considering.
Rafe groans quietly. “Not the hose p>
“You have a better idea?” I lift a brow.
“Not really.” He shrugs.
“You’re no help.” I step around the chair, and the guy tries to twist away, like there’s anywhere to go.
“Okay. Let’s try this again.” I swirl the hose. “Who are you working for p>
He clamps his jaw shut.
Disappointing.
And also, very predictable.
Boring…
The first strike lands across his thighs, jarring his whole body with a crack that bounces off the concrete. He cries out, more from shock than pain.
That swing was mild at best.
A warning of sorts.
The next time, he won’t be as lucky.
I wait a beat for him to speak, but he doesn’t.
This will be fun.
The second blow catches his upper arm. He sucks in a sharp breath, biting down hard, eyes bright with panic.
I’m careful where I aim and how hard I hit. I want pain, not unconsciousness. I want fear, but I also want him awake enough to regret every decision that led him to this chair.
After a few more strikes, his breathing turns ragged. Sweat runs down his forehead as his arms strain against the zip ties.
It’s cute that he thinks he can escape.
“See…” I step in front of him again, still calm. “This can stop any time. You aren’t built for this. You fold. It’s who you are. So how about you be useful p>
He wheezes. “You’re insane p>
“Objectively,” I agree. “And you still decided to test me. Whose fault is that p>
His head drops down, and I know I’ve got him. I lift my arm, more for show but just high enough to scare him.
“Fine. Stop. There’s a new crew,” he rasps finally, words scraped raw out of his throat.
“I know that,” I say. “Try not to bore me p>
“They wanted access,” he coughs. “Said if I skimmed a little, covered some shipments, they’d cut me in. Said Antonio Amante was… comfortable. Told me you were his nephew, and that you were lazy. That you wouldn’t notice p>
I smile slowly. “People say the wildest things when they’ve never met me p>
“They paid me well,” he rushes. “Said they had backing, that no one would dare p>
“Who?” My patience snaps, the word cracking like a whip. “Which crew p>
He sucks in a breath like it’s acid.
“This is where lying would be a very exciting choice for you,” I say. “I’d love to see how far you think you can push my mood today p>
“They’re… they’re connected to Boston,” he chokes out. “At least that’s what I heard. A young guy. Trying to prove himself. Said his uncle runs half the port. He handles the rest p>
Boston. We already knew this. I need more before I can bring this to my uncle.
I take a breath, roll my shoulders, and let that settle into place.
“Name,” I say.
He shakes his head frantically. “If I say it, I’m dead p>
“If you don’t say it,” I counter, voice very soft, “you’re dead now. I’m offering you the possibility of later p>
His eyes flutter shut. His chest heaves.
“Connor,” he whispers. “Connor Gallagher p>
I stare at him.
Rafe goes still by the wall.
“Gallagher,” I repeat, voice flat. “As in p>
“His uncle,” the man blurts, panic tipping him into honesty. “Declan. The old man runs the Boston family. Connor’s his nephew. New school. Wants expansion. Wanted to… wanted to prove he could cut into Amante’s business without… without anyone—said he has someone who knows Amante business p>
He trails off under the weight of my stare.
“Who does he have that knows my family’s business?” I narrow my eyes. This is information I need to know.
His shoulders start to shake. “I don’t know. I swear p>
“What do you know?” I hit him again.
“Only what I was told,” he cries out.
“And that is p>
“They said to hit the warehouse you ran for your uncle, that you were distracted and busy with other problems. Said it was the perfect time to test your borders p>
Rafe growls, “Stupid fucking bastards p>
I toss the hose back into the bag and grip the edge of the chair, leaning down until I’m eye level with the rat.
“So let me get this straight…” I grab a knife from the table. “A kid in Boston wants to impress his uncle. He skims our money through you, hits our warehouse, steals our product, and thinks he can spread rumors that I’m too distracted to notice.” I stab his thigh, all while smiling. “Do I look distracted p>
The man shakes his head so fast he looks dizzy. “I didn’t hit the warehouse. I didn’t touch your men. I just p>
I tap the knife against his cheek, silencing him. “Sadly for you, I don’t grade on a curve p>
“Please,” he croaks. “I told you what you wanted p>
“If this is genuinely all you know,” I cut in, “then you aren’t very useful, are you p>
I straighten, rolling the tension out of my neck.
Rafe watches me carefully. “What do you want to do with him p>
I consider the man. He’s shaking so hard the chair vibrates.
“There’s a certain mercy,” I say, “in making sure he doesn’t end up back with the Gallaghers p>
His eyes go impossibly wider. “No—please p>
I look at Rafe. “Get whatever else you can out of him. Cross-check what he said. If it all lines up…” I glance back at him. “Make it quick. He did talk, after all, so no reason to torture him… too much p>
Relief and terror cross his face in the same breath.
Rafe nods once. “You got it p>
I step away, dropping the knife on the table before wiping my hands on my jeans.
As I reach the door to leave, the man croaks, “You’re going after them p>
I pause, looking back. “What do you think?” I ask.
His throat works. “They’re not ready for you p>
I grin, dark and sharp. “No one ever is p>
I step into the hall with Rafe on my heels.
He stays quiet until we clear the threshold into the main warehouse. “You want to loop Matteo in p>
The question hits like a warning shot.
Matteo’s my brother in everything but blood. My closest thing to a conscience. Also, and most importantly, the son of the man who would put a bullet in my skull if he ever learned what secrets I’m keeping.
“No,” I say flatly. “He’ll want to question him, and I’m not sure what this idiot knows. He said he knows I’m distracted.. p>
“That could mean anything p>
“It could also mean they know everything.” I don’t say anything about Victoria, but by the way Rafe’s eyes narrow just slightly, he understands what I mean.
“Then we keep it clean,” he says.
“We kill him fast,” I correct, stepping toward the light spilling from the open door.
Rafe huffs a laugh. “Want to handle Boston on our own? Quietly p>
“Yeah, I’ll tell my uncle I want to spread my wings and handle this. Then we’re going to fuck shit up p>
Rafe snorts. “You planning to kill them all p>
I slide my sunglasses on and smile. “Not all at once,” I answer. “I’m not greedy p>
Rafe turns to walk in the opposite direction to start making calls.
“Rafe p>
“Yeah p>
“Get me everything on the Gallaghers,” I order, voice carrying across the distance. “Ports, fronts, lieutenants, accountants, girlfriends, enemies. Including when they shit and what type of toilet paper is used p>
Rafe’s smirk turns wicked. “This should be fun p>
I open the steel door to leave. “Everything p>
A few moments later, I’m in my car, hands on the wheel.
Connor Gallagher wants to be a problem.
I know exactly how to solve problems.
Permanently.