Quiet Temptation

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Parker

It's been a while since I've had to get my hands dirty.

Honestly, maybe it makes me a psycho, but there's a certain thrill in beating the shit out of some asshole who deserves it. Brent, Joe, and I are on Matteo Marino's job in the suburbs. My knuckles are cracked open from punching the daylights out of one of Marino's dealers who has had it coming for a long time.

Brent holds a gun to the guy's assistant's head as he opens the safe, grabbing handfuls of cash.

"In the bag," I warn.

The assistant shakily fills the bag with dollar bills. Brent presses the gun harder into the guy's back.

Meanwhile, the asshole dealer is bleeding out all over the floor. I wipe my hands on his shirt before standing up and leaning back against the wall.

"All of it," I frown.

The guy does as he's told and empties the entire safe.

I smirk. "See! That wasn't so hard."

Brent takes the bag from the guy's shaky hands and throws it to me.

I inspect. That should be more than enough to make Matteo happy. I zip the bag up and nod at the guy.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

Brent smirks and backs out of the room behind me.

I turn to the assistant, "Oh. And if you ever think of cheating Matteo Marino out of money again, your little friend here won't wake up next time. And neither will you." I grin when the guy's face pales. "Later!"

Brent, Joe, and I drive out of the suburbs towards Marino's mansion on the outskirts of the city.

"Fuck, that was fun," Brent laughs a bit.

The Marino mansion isn't nearly as big as the Donnelly's. It's classic, maintained, but clearly has been lived in for generations. I can't help but smile as I think about Marty growing up here like the little princess she is, playing in the garden, scuffing up the fancy wooden floors with her dancing shoes.

Matteo is waiting for us on the back patio when we arrive. He's talking with his right-hand, both of them smoking cigars.

"Ah, there he is!" Matteo greets me with a grin.

I nod to Brent, who disposes of the bag of money on the table.

Matteo raises a brow. "You know, I trusted you to wait till morning to get me this, but it's appreciated regardless."

His right-hand immediately starts counting the cash.

"Sit with me, Fallon. Have a Cuban."

When Matteo Marino tells you to do something, you do it.

I nod to Brent and Joe and they fuck off to the car.

Nino takes the bag of money and heads inside.

I sit beside Matteo and he offers me a cigar. I take a moment to savor it before cutting it and lighting it.

"Gianni give you any trouble?" he asks, eyeing my bloodied knuckles.

I shake my head. "Nothing I can't handle."