Page 5 of Mob Queen

I hang up and sit staring at the phone. “It’s good he’s coming home,” G says.

“Yeah, I just hate that he didn’t get to make amends with Dad, but at least he’ll be here for a little while.” I look to G and intake a sharp breath. “I’m going to try and get some sleep. If anything happens, wake me.” I push up out of the seat, swipe my cell off the desk and head upstairs to my suite.

This is not how I saw myself taking over the family business. I’d rather have my father than be the head of the DeLuca crime family.

Chapter 2

Frankie

That was the worst night sleep I’ve had in my life. It was even worse than the night when Mom took her last breath, ovarian cancer defeating her. Fuck cancer. I lay awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling, and I keep replaying those seconds over and over again.

My mind is turbulent with many unanswered questions. The one that’s living rent-free in my head is who. That’s the one I’ll find out, and I’ll end the fucker who took my father down.

I extend my arm to reach for my phone, and I see it’s not even nine in the morning. “Ugh,” I grumble as I sit up in bed. I scrub my hand over my face while my thoughts scramble, still trying to deny what I saw with my own eyes.

I throw the covers back and take a moment before I leave the comfort of my bed and head into the bathroom. I strip and turn the shower on, the hot water is a welcome antidote everything that’s happened. The knock on the bathroom door forces me to come back to the now. “Yeah,” I shout over the sound of the water.

“Frank, you’re needed downstairs,” G calls.

“I’ll be there in a minute.” Once I’m out of the shower, I quickly change and head down to Dad’s office. My office. G’s standing by the door waiting for me. “What is it?” I head around the desk, pull the chair out and sit.

“That meeting with Ben Pace has been pushed to this afternoon. Also, two of the girls from Dreams were assaulted last night.”

“What happened? Where are the girls now? And where the fuck was Christian?”

“He was taking a break,” G replies through gritted teeth.

“He’s there to protect the girls. That’s his only job, to protect our fucking property.” I sit back in the chair and stare at G. “And the girls?”

“They were taken to the hospital.”

“How bad?”

“Lidia was beaten, and Dina was raped.”

My stomach churns at the words. “What happened to the men who did this?” G turns down his mouth and shakes his head. “They got away?” He nods. “Tell me we ran their credit card?”

“We did.”

“Good, get the boys to track them down. I want to see them both.” I lean my elbows on the desk and steeple my fingers, tapping them to my lips. “Bring Christian to the docks, and find his replacement.”

“That’s a good decision, Frankie.”

I move to open Dad’s laptop, but stop and turn to G. “The word about Dad’s death will spread quickly,” I say and intake a small breath.

“I know.” G heads over to the liquor cabinet and pours us each a scotch. He brings over the two glasses, places one in front of me, then sits opposite. “How do you want me to handle it?” G lifts the glass and throws the amber liquid back. “I don’t want to speak out of turn, but if I may?” He waits for my reply, and I give him a nod. “Your father was tough, and now you need to be too. You can’t show weakness, Frank, or they’ll tear you apart. They’re old-school Italian mafiosos. Being a woman isn’t going to go in your favor. They know you, but,” he pauses and lifts his brows. “You need to think like a man.”

I swirl the amber liquid around in my glass, but finally relent and nod. “No, G, I have to think like a man, lead like a boss but act like a woman.”

G stands, pours himself a second scotch, and places his hand on my shoulder. “You have to work harder to prove yourself, but I know you can do it.”

I finally down the scotch, and with my chin lowered I ask a hard question, “Will you be moving on?” G was a formidable consigliere to my father, now I hope he stays with me.

“Frank, I’ve been here since before you were born. I’m not going anywhere.”

I lift my eyes to stare at him. For someone who’s nearing fifty, he’s still quite a sexy man. “You’re fine with taking orders from me?” I don’t want to lose G, and reality is, if he chose to leave I’d have to put him down. But I’d hate doing it.

“I’ll be your advisor just like I was for your father. You’re a natural-born leader, Frank. Don’t forget that. Now, if you can convince that brother of yours to stay and rule by your side, this family will be unstoppable.”