Page 7 of Mob Queen

“It’s set for five.” I glance at the wall clock opposite the desk. “Also, there’s something else.” G again shifts his eyes toward my brother.

“Your room upstairs has been made up and is ready for you,” I say to Rome. “I’ve got some work to do.”

“Dinner tonight?”

“Yeah, seven?”

Rome slowly nods and hesitantly steps toward the door. “About earlier.”

“Don’t even mention it,” I say.

Rome turns to look at G, then me, then back to G. “Tonight,” he says before exiting and closing the door behind him.

“What was that about?” G asks.

“Nothing I can’t handle. Rome’s concerned for me, that’s all.” G lifts his shoulders and appears to want to know more. “What else is happening?”

“Governor Hayes is retiring.”

I scoff then chuckle. “About time, he’s gotta be a hundred in the shade.”

“Yeah, but Jeremy Miller is taking his spot.”

I lean against the desk and release a frustrated groan. “Fuck.” I smack my hand on the desk in annoyance. “Jeremy fucking Miller.” I’m hoping G corrects me and tells me I misheard. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” G’s jaw tightens and he shakes his head. “There wasn’t even a whisper that Hayes was retiring. Nothing.”

“This is going to be a problem, G. Miller is straight as they fucking come.”

“I know. How do you want me to handle it?”

“If we can’t buy Miller off, we’ll have to ask the Saccos for passage through their ports, and I don’t want to do that. We need to find a way to get Miller on board.”

“I can send the boys down to him, have a talk.” The corner of G’s lip lifts as a wicked glint of evil flashes through him.

“No, not yet.” I chew on my lower lip as I try to think around this messy situation. If we can’t get Miller to take our ‘look the other way’ money, then he’s going to have to die. “Is there a dinner or something happening for him?”

“There’s a ball on Friday. Talk about a waste of fucking money. People are homeless and these pricks are throwing a ball.”

“Get me an invite.”

“You can’t be at the ball.”

“Why?” I look to G for a reasonable explanation.

“You’re the Don now, Frankie, you can’t be in the same room as those fuckers.”

I lower my chin and stare at a spot on the rich wooden floors. I need to find a way that’ll influence Miller so he takes the money, shuts his mouth and allows me access to the docks to import what I need. “Get me an invite.”

“Frank ? ” G attempts to argue, but I lift my chin and silence him with a hard stare. He slowly lifts his hands in surrender. “I’ll get us an invitation.”

Jeremy Miller will give me access to the docks, or I’ll kill him. It’s as simple as that.

* * *

Dario comes to a rolling stop in front of the warehouse. “Stay here,” G says as he moves to exit the car.

“I asked for the meeting. I’m coming.”