Sweet Release (A Bad Boy Mafia Romance) by Victoria Villeneuve Read Free Book Online Page B

just—Hiya, Mac!” Someone had answered. I groaned, and rubbed my face. “Yeah, it’s Tony Frazetta… yeah, I got him right here. Eh, we’ll see. The Don around? Great, yeah. I’ll wait.”
     
    He covered the receiver with this fingers, “The Don just finished dinner. Perfect, he’s always in a good mood after he eats.”
     
    What would happen if he were in a bad mood, I wondered?
     
    A moment later Tony brightened. He did love Luchese. More like hero worship, maybe, but truth was the Don couldn’t have asked for a more loyal man. Probably that was why he took such good care of Tony, even though it sounded like lately my brother had cost him.
     
    “Don Luchese! I heard you just had dinner. Yeah? Aw, sounds like heaven. I love Maria’s food,” he kissed his fingers, Italian Chef style, “perfection. You know I said I’d have dinner with Mikey? Yeah, he’s here now. You know what? I’ll put you on with him; it’s been a long time since you two talked. Yeah, and to you, Don. I love you too, sir.”
     
    He passed me the phone, and mouthed, “Be polite,” As though I needed the coaching.
     
    “Don Luchese,” I said. I had to relax my jaw to keep from talking through gritted teeth.
     
    “Michael Frazetta,” the Don said. He had just a hint of an old Italian accent, left over from when he came to the states as a boy. He sounded old, now, and tired. Not like I remembered. Losing is son had taken a toll. “So glad to hear that you are with us again.”
     
    “Yes, sir… well, I’m out, anyway.”
     
    “Ah. I see. So, Tony told you of my interest in securing your future?” That was a way to put it, I supposed.
     
    “He did, sir. No disrespect to you, or the Family—you took good care of my Ma and Pa, but… I don’t think this life is right for me.”
     
    The Don was quiet for a long moment. Then. “So be it. I cannot fault you for your conscience. I know that you were pressured to discuss my business while you were in prison.”
     
    “I had nothing to say on that count, sir,” I told him. Pembry had pestered me until the warden had to call him off, in fact. They’d even offered me reduced sentencing if I turned over. But, I never did. For one, Don Luchese would have had me strung up when I got out. But, on the other hand, it seemed to me that whatever I felt about the Family Business and its moral center—or lack thereof—in some parts of the city it did more harm than good on balance.
     
    “I do not forget the friends of the Family,” Luchese said. “I wish you well, my boy. Give my love to your mother.” I blinked, and frowned, and then gave Tony a sidelong look.
     
    “Uh… I will sir. Thank you for thinking of her. Have a goodnight, Don Luchese.” I paused. Oh. I was rusty. “My regards to Maria, and to Lydia.”
     
    “I will pass them along,” Luchese said. And then he hung up.
     
    My Ma died ten years ago.
     
    “Tony,” I said, “is Don Luchese still… you know… all there?”
     
    He shrugged. “Most of the time. Comes and goes. That’s why he’s got me recruiting. Wants Tommy to take over, and thinks he needs a good loyal circle. It’s a shame, too,” he said. “Brilliant man in his prime. It’s a real shame.”
     
    I sighed. Only Tony would have said a thing like about a man like Don Luchese.
     
    The rest of the meal was, thankfully, focused more on actual catching up, those most of that was shop talk. I cut it short about midnight, on the excuse—even though it was a true one—that I had to get up early tomorrow and train. Tony kissed both my cheeks and promised to come see my place soon—a subtle indication that I should let him know where it actually was, even though there was half a chance someone would follow me home.
     
    To someone who didn’t know, it was stalking.
     
    To Tony, it was just looking out for his little brother. Kinda like how a cat leaves dead mice on your doorstep. That was Tony. A giant, fluffy killer.
     
     
     
    Dinner