Miles Away (Carrion #1)(32)
“Maybe you should worry about the mobsters in the Big Apple…” Michael said to Knox, his eyes grilling his second-oldest son.
Knox rolled his eyes as he broke his gaze from his father.
“As I was sayin’…” Michael continued. “I need to put some provisions in place.”
“Provisions. What provisions?” Miles asked.
“Yeah,” Knox said as he adjusted his tie. Flicking his eyebrows up, Knox continued. “What provisions?”
“Don’t blow a load, Knox…” Dustin said as he rolled his eyes.
“Focus, *s,” Michael spat. “I need to put one of you jabronis in charge.”
“Now?” Dustin asked. “Why now?”
“No! Not now! When I kiss the sky!” Michael yelled, his face turning a violent shade of red.
“In charge… You mean boss…” Miles said, giving Michael a blank expression. His poker face was legendary.
“Acting boss… ’til Uncle Sonny croaks,” Knox clarified.
“I gotta make a decision, and you three *s don’t make it f*ckin’ easy!” Michael growled.
“I don’t want it,” Miles announced dryly.
“Did I ask what you wanted?” Michael screamed across the desk. He was becoming more and more irate with every second.
Michael Capadonno’s face was bright red as he prepared to berate his sons from across his desk. Before he could, Michael’s cell phone began to vibrate. The Fish’s ugly face popped up on the screen.
“Just ignore it,” Michael said as he cracked his knuckles.
“No, it’s a text message. Answer it,” Miles spat.
Rolling his neck, Miles let the stress of the situation roll down his back. Michael stared at Miles, trying to test his mettle.
Go ahead, old man. I could do this all night long.
When Michael didn’t answer his phone, Miles swiped the black iPhone from his desk. Before Michael could even say a word, Miles had already opened the text message.
Fish: Did you a solid. We’re bringing Letty in so she can be dealt with. I know you said that you wouldn’t be around... but we will and we need to protect our secrets. Consider it an executive decision.
An executive decision… by a couple of underling douchebags! Not my Letty. Not on my watch.
“Letty,” the name escaped Miles’s lips as his eyes met his father’s. “If she is hurt, you’ll be kissing the f*ckin’ sky a lot sooner than expected! You can count on that, old man! Pick one of them,” Miles pointed angrily to his brothers as he shot up out of his chair. Throwing the phone back down on the desk, he yelled at his father, “I ain’t about this shit anymore!”
Before Michael could even attempt to stop Miles or get a word in edge wise, Miles had bolted from the war room, his car keys in hand, ready to handle the business that had presented itself.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
IT WAS A COOL EVENING and the market wasn’t far, so Letty decided to walk. She tried to shake the worry that was induced by Landon’s text message. The war room. It was a locked, soundproof circular office where the Capadonnos talked business. Letty knew that Miles didn’t trust his family at all. Quite frankly, neither did she. The fact that they had Miles in the war room was enough to send Letty into hysterics. Miles was smart, though. He knew how to operate around his family—he kept his secrets close, his enemies closer and he wore a good mask to keep people fooled. Walking down the sidewalk on Piney Street, dead leaves crunched under Letty’s feet. Carrion was a beautiful town with a really ugly past. Letty had thought about moving many times, but everything and everyone she loves is in Carrion. Now with Miles home, the struggle whether to stay or go was very real.
A street lamp flickered overhead as Letty passed by Tia Marie’s Italian restaurant. Peering inside the window, she recognized plenty of the faces. Associates of Michael’s sat at the table nearest the window, enjoying their dinner and the conversation that the evening provided. Smiling at the doorman Derrick, Letty waved. They had went to high school together. Moving on down Piney Street, it was a pleasant walk.
In Carrion, nobody really bothers you unless you get on the wrong side of Michael Capadonno. Fortunately, that isn’t a problem I have. At least I don’t think so.
Letty stood at the stoplight at Piney Street and Mulberry Avenue as she waited for the light to turn green. Out of the corner of her eyes, she watched as an old black Cadillac town car pulled up. It felt like time had stalled. Letty watched as Dante and the Fish strolled past—eyes fixated on her. Letty’s chest panged with fear as her pace quickened along the sidewalk. Her shadow flashed across the wall of Litman’s Barber Shop as Letty began to run from the approaching vehicle. A terrible screech sounded as the wheels of the caddy came to a grinding halt. The car was coming right at Letty, wheels spinning at the last minute, pinning her against the wall of the Barber Shop.
“Leave me alone!” Letty screamed as she reached into her boot for her knife.
Fish emerged from the car with a twisted smile on his face, with Dante quick on his heels. Glowering at Letty, they were both chomping at the bit for a taste of blood.
I’m in a panic. I have nowhere to go. There’s nothing to do but fight like hell.
Bracing herself for the attack, Letty took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself to plunge the knife into Fish’s throat. But as Fish’s shoes stepped onto the pavement, a terrible noise roared down Piney Street. Immediately, Letty recognize the sound.