Liar's Lullaby

is, u

do! Cat

a big, beefy guy with scary eyes, the kind of person you cross the street to a

ng to change my traject

o fast. Too

on my shoulder. He pins me against the wall

yes are now gla

you for the dine and

of me!

ething else, but the beefy g

r to me,"

sly back towards the restaurant. His smell invades m

by my efforts. We both know I don't stand a chance o

past the gawking diners, and shoves me stumbl

ere. Probably because

ape except for the door I

n there who's intent on k

m anyway, but he pu

uck down,"

hell I

n here. His head scrapes the ceiling and his

eisty one,

answering. Just

ll for skipping out on the bi

ing to come back wh

ogre cares abo

to call the cops, or hand me an apron and tell me to

ady for what h

ts special treatment." He turns and calls over hi

ree

the

U

DON OF THE MAZZEO

edge of my tumbler. "I'm dr

cally. "Right away, Your Highness. Forgi

. They do that pretty much cons

r the damn drink

as he uncorks the Macallan twelve-year w

hen we're both settled back in our lea

" Adriano

o I have to do e

one who can get away with th

ing everythi

ide the fuc

s through the files that litter my desk. "

" I remind him

you fir

touching

literall

. "I can handl

u don't have to. Also-when you said earlier, she

here Adriano is concerned, sometimes I won

been holding on t

with himself. "When you've got a

s organizatio

operation would fa

d loud, so he knows exactly

s drink and gives me the finger.

o w

nist you had before the last one. Th

s Tessa," I

his head. "It

Well, she wa

ays. "Why did you ge

too fucki

no nods. "Didn't she refe

I fired her," I

ad a killer ass. I wou

he came from," I say dismissiv

isagree, you h

a dozen, why are y

watt smile. The smile he

Rosellis are planning a drug trade next

in my side," I growl. "We'

small fish," Adriano reminds me

n my fucking turf," I reply. "A lesson needs

with dramatic fla

had one warning, so this time,

"Glad we're on

pment they're pla

to expect a fresh container lat

d so long together that he knows

attention away from pleasant da

in," I

in. His massive frame just barely

to me. "I got so

asks, craning his neck back to look at

on me. He's a few watts short of a lightbulb,

muscle for the Italian restauran

, he's never broug

ued now, to s

e you got

gir

wed interest. "Fucking hell. I know you're the don a

ackstory here?" I ask, fi

," Riccardo explains. "Dined a

rows. "How much