MAFIA'S THORN

CHAPTER TWELVE

ALTON'S — POV

It has been fourteen days since I walked out of Flarie's apartment.

"How's the construction coming along?" I ask Erdo, taking a drag from my cigarette. The warm and bitter smoke saturates my tongue, with its familiar dry, woody taste.

"Everything's been replaced as ordered," he replies as his gaze sweeps across the construction site, the constant rumble of heavy machinery reverberating in the background. "And the Castaros didn't release the payment to procurement until last week. I think they wanted to make sure he hadn't talked."

I look over the site. Erdo's office is in a makeshift container that is situated in a position where he can see everything happening but it isn't easily spotted.

Erdo has been in New Jersey ever since the FLOW Hotel construction project began. He oversees the men on-site from the shadows and reports anything suspicious. Two weeks ago I joined him to deal with the tumor growing inside our organization—the head of procurement. Michael Hardwood.

He has no idea we know about his moves: every fraudulent invoice, every kickback, every deal he has made behind our backs. Even the secret he kept hidden from the public.

A smart man knows better than to steal from the Fereno family. In my world, betrayal isn't a mistake, it's a choice. One that destroys trust and lives. It isn't forgiven and there are no second chances. Unfortunately, smartness has never been one of his strengths.

Taking another drag from my cigarette, "It's time to bring him in tonight." I tell him.

Erdo's dark brown eyes meet mine. Beneath that icy exterior is a loyalty few would ever earn. If he is with you, he'd protect you with his life. "Consider it done," he says. "He called in sick this morning, but our intel says he's hiding out at the Stell Hotel in Jersey City."

"Good."

He takes a sip from his bottle of water before studying me carefully. "Any word about her?"

He is the only man who can ask me that. Not because he isn't afraid of me, but because his concern outweighs his fear.

"She's safe," I answer. "Nothing out of the ordinary."

He exhales slowly. "You know getting involved with her will only complicate her life. You've been doing a lot of things lately that don't sound like you."

"I know." But knowing it and stopping it were becoming two very different things. I squash the cigarette butt and stand. "We get him tonight."

"Understood."

***

The road leading to the remote motel where Michael stays is quiet, far from the neon lights of Jersey City.

He left the Stell Hotel and is heading back to one of his hideouts. Ahead, two black SUVs maneuver and cut him off. While my car stays behind where I can see everything that is happening.

Michael stays in his car for a few minutes before getting out. The door to one of the SUV slides open and four men step out. He is about to protest when one of the men goes behind him and pulls a blackout hood over his head, cutting off his view of his surroundings.

He tries to fight them off with useless struggles but the door to the other SUV opens and two more men come out and restrain his wrists with a zip tie. They shove him into the car, close the door and drive off.

Michael blinks rapidly as Erdo yanks off the hood from his head, his mouth taped shut with a duct tape. 'They must have done that in the car.'

His eyes dart around the room. The moment they land on Erdo and then to me he stiffens, clearly nervous although he is trying to down play it.

From my seat across from him, I ask, "You think you can steal from me?" The panic and confusion written all over his face turn into recognition. The color drains from his face. I nod to Erdo, and he walks over, removing the tape from his mouth.

"M-Mr. Fereno..." He stutters.

"You don't look sick, for a man who checked out from the Stell Hotel."

Erdo leans against the wall, arms folded. It's just the two of us in the room, the others wait outside.

"I... I can explain." Michael says. He's in his early fifties, with a receding hairline and a puffy face.

"I'm counting on it."

His throat bobs. "It isn't what it looks like," he stammers. " I am only trying to fool those leeches in the company so that they wouldn't come after the company's assets."

I motion to Erdo with my finger. He places a folder on the table in front of Michael before cutting the zip tie around his wrists. Michael rubs his hands but makes no attempt to run. He isn't that stupid.

With trembling fingers, he opens the folder. His face goes slack. "No..."

Inside are financial records, bank transfers, encrypted messages, and photographs of his meetings.

"You approved inflated invoices and redirected company payments."

Giving him a deadly stare, "you accepted money from the Castaros."

"I... I was forced, they threatened my family." He says in a shaky voice.

My expression doesn't change. "Doesn't seem like it." I hold his gaze. "I know far more about you than you imagine." Years of secrets he believes are buried forever.

"Please..." His voice wobbles, "I've made a terrible mistake. I'll work for you for free. I'll repay every cent."

I watch him squirm on his chair, in silence. Unsure if today will be his last day to breathe or if I will let him go.

I lean toward him."Do you know why you're still breathing?"

He slowly shakes his head.

"Because killing you only solves the smallest part of my problem." Confusion flickers across his face.

"You've spent the last week wondering whether the Castaros would discover if you talked," still pinning him with my gaze. "They won't, you accepted their money so they believe you're still useful."

"Tonight, you leave New Jersey." I say. "You resign, don't touch the money in your account and contact no one. Certainly not the Castaros. You vanish."

Understanding settles over his face. "You're making me disappear."

For the first time, Erdo speaks his voice flat. "And if you don't, the Castaros will know you kept their money and talked. When they find you explanation won't matter.

Michael collapses back into the chair, burying his face in his hands.

Standing, I pick up the folder. "If you're ever tempted to come back..." I tap the folder against my palm. "...remember how you pushed your wife off that balcony and staged it as a suicide." His head snaps up, every trace of hope replaced with terror.

Turning toward the door. Erdo opens it for me. "If I ever have to open this folder again..." I leave the sentence unfinished, I don't need to finish it. His expression tells me he already understands. The door clicks shut behind us

Outside the hidden room, the men bow as they see me. "Tie him up and send him back to his car," I tell the guy that brought him here.

"Yes boss."

We reach the black Maserati. Erdo opens the passenger door. "He'll run," he says.

"He better." I reply stepping into the car.

Tomorrow morning, the Castaros will begin searching for a man they believe has stolen from them and disappeared. Exactly as planned

I should feel satisfied having solved this. Instead, restlessness settles deep inside me as Erdo pulls onto the highway. I stare out at the passing skyline, but my thoughts drift somewhere they have no business going. Flarie, her smile, the way she looks at me without fear and sometimes with fear.

It has been two weeks since I left her apartment, yet she still occupies corners of my mind she has no right to claim. Attachment was dangerous. For men like me, it is a weakness. She replaced her locks that same day. It's good she understands that I wasn't joking around about them.

'I need to get her out of my head.'

"Take me to the club." I tell him. Erdo glances at me before turning his attention back to the road. He doesn't ask why.

Twenty minutes later, he parks the car and we walk into one of Jersey City's most exclusive nightclubs through the VIP section. Music thunders through the building, bass vibrating beneath the floor as expensive perfume mixed with whiskey and cigar smoke fills the air.

Women watch us the moment we enter. I ignore most of them until one brunette catches my attention. Tall, beautiful and confident.

She smiles as she approaches me. Within minutes, I lead her upstairs to one of the club's private suites. The door clicks shut behind us. But I know Erdo is outside on the lookout.

Without hesitation, she steps into my space, her fingers sliding beneath the collar of my shirt as her lips find their way to my neck. I stand motionless while she kisses slowly along my jaw. Sucking and nibbling. Her hands move lower, expertly unfastening my belt. The metallic buckle clinks softly as she pulls it free.

She steps back a little and slips off her dress until it pools around her feet, leaving her in her black lacy thong and bare breasts. Still on her red heels, she kneels. Unbuttoning my pants, she reaches for the zipper.

The moment her fingers brush the zipper, Flarie flashes across my mind. The way she'd looked up at me in her apartment. I freeze. The brunette looks up at me. "Is something wrong?" All I could see was Flarie's face.

I close my eyes for a second before stepping back. "Get dressed."

She blinks. "...What?"

"I said get dressed." I walk to the sofa and sit

Confused, she puts her clothes back on in a hurry. "You'll be well compensated for your time." I tell her.

She looks at me briefly, then quietly walks out.

My jaw clenches as the door closes behind

her. After a moment Erdo walks into the room, looking at me with those eyes as he did in the car, that says he knows something is wrong.