“Dante,” he said with a sigh. I’d known Dr. Chen since my war with the Chinese gang, back before I’d become a Capo. I caught him treating some wounded Chinese soldiers in the back of a gambling den, and I decided to spare his life, though not the men he was treating. After that, he decided that he might as well work for the winning team, and we’d been close ever since.
Normally, I wouldn’t bring him to this house, but he was the only man I knew that could come on a moment’s notice and take care of a serious wound. I didn’t trust him, not entirely, but he liked money and he liked boats, so we paid for his docking fees every year, and gave him as much cash as we could afford. That kept him loyal enough.
“You don’t get to get dragged into anything, doc,” I said. “If you want to leave, then leave.”
He stood and shook his head. “I’ll treat you as needed, and your men, of course. I’m just warning you, you’re not going to be young forever.”
I grunted and nodded at him. “I appreciate the advice, doc.”
He nodded at my wound. “That’ll be tender for a bit. Be careful, don’t rip the stitches. When you’re healed, give me a call and I can take them out.”
“I’ll do it myself,” I said
He sighed and shrugged. “Fine.”
“Steven has your fee.”
“I’ll write a script for the antibiotics. Take care of yourself, Dante.” Dr. Chen walked off and Steven met him in the kitchen. I watched as my lieutenant shoved a fat wad of cash into the older man’s hands then had Gino escort him back out.
My eyes moved across the room and fell on Aida. She sat at the kitchen table staring at the wall, not moving a muscle. A streak of my blood was still on her cheek. I wanted to get up and comfort her, but I was too exhausted from the fight and the blood loss. Steven walked over a moment later and sat down in a leather armchair next to the couch with a grunt and watched me for a moment. I lift my whiskey glass to my lips and took a long sip.
“Shouldn’t have brought Chen here,” Steven said.
“I agree, but it was necessary.” I shook my head. “He won’t talk. Russians won’t pay him like we do.”
“Probably right.” Steven crossed his arms. “So what happened?”
I winced and sipped my drink again before gingerly flexing my body. The stitches pulled but they didn’t hurt, at least not yet. I knew they would soon enough, but that wouldn’t matter.
I was too angry to care about that.
“Vlas took his shot. He fucking missed.”
Steven nodded. “In broad daylight. And ended up with two of his own dead in the street.”
“Told you. He missed.”
“Why were you alone?”
I shook my head. “Left Gino behind to finish his breakfast.”
“Dante.”
“Aida was with me. I wasn’t alone.”
“What the fuck were you thinking?”
I looked away from him and shook my head. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. The only reason you’re alive is because you spent a fucking fortune on that goddamn car.”
“And it worked.” I grinned at him. “Armor plating. Cost even more than a fortune in gas, but goddamn. It actually worked. I wasn’t sure it would.”
Steven shook his head and leaned back in the chair. He closed his eyes for a moment and let out a breath. “So,” he said, not looking at me. “Another war.”
I nodded once. “Another war.”
“Are you up for it?”
I leaned forward. “What the fuck are you suggesting?” I growled.
He opened his eyes and looked tired. “I’m suggesting that it was only a few years ago that we fought the last war, and that took a lot out of us. We’re stronger now than we were before, but the guys all remember what things were like back then. It’ll be even worse now.”
“I couldn’t give a fuck,” I said, my voice low and hard. “He came at me. He’ll pay for it.”
Steven nodded but looked troubled. “You’re right. He will.”
I grunted and leaned back. I took another sip and winced. I was starting to get some feeling back in my side. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“It’s just, do you really think Maksim would let Vlas do something like that?” Steven asked. “The old men have been bickering for years, but neither of them have approved of straight up trying to knock off a rival.”
I grunted and shook my head. “I don’t know what that Russian shit wants,” I said.
“Maybe you should think about that.” Steven met my eye.
He was right and I knew it, but I was too angry to go down that path. If Vlas came after me without the approval of his boss, there was going to be hell to pay all across the board. But that didn’t matter, not yet at least.
I leaned forward and looked over at Aida. She was staring into space still and had barely moved since we got back to the house. I shifted my weight and grunted as a fresh stab of pain sliced through my side. Steven leaned forward and shook his head.
“Stay there. I’ll bring her over.”
I looked at him then nodded and leaned back. Steven got up and walked over to Aida. He said something to her then helped her to her feet and walked her over. She moved on autopilot, almost like a robot, and he guided her down into the chair he’d just left. He nodded at me and walked off, disappearing through the front hallway. I heard his footsteps echo on the stone, and I heard him speak softly with Gino out in the front foyer.
My eyes drifted over Aida. She wore a navy blue button-down shirt that showed just a hint of cleavage. It was splattered with bits of my blood. Her hair was a mess, half of it still up in a bun, the other half fallen down around her shoulders and back. I leaned toward her. “Hey,” I
