Nero (Made Men #1) (3 page)

Bang.

One was all it took.

Elle started to
hyperventilate, covering her mouth before they could hear. She knew if she didn’t stay quiet, she would be next.

A car skidded up
, and she heard the doors open and bodies being shuffled in. Before the doors were even shut, the car skidded right back out.

Elle kept her mouth covered
as tears started to well in her eyes. She needed to get out of there in case anyone came back to clean up the mess.
You can do this.

When s
he peeked out from behind the dumpster once more, no one was in sight. At that point, Elle couldn’t let herself think anymore; she needed to let her body take over. She jumped out from behind the dumpster and did the only thing she could do—run the hell away.

*
* *

Sal stopped the car outside of his boss’s home
.
Thank fucking God I’m home
. The piss smell of the dead body was getting to him.

“Sal, go back to the Casino and get rid of the tapes and make sure his piss is cleaned out of my car.”
It hadn’t been the smartest thing to kill that dumb-fuck in the alley right where he worked, knowing people would hear the gunshot and they didn’t have time to clean up the blood, but he told himself, he hadn’t had a choice.

“Okay
, boss, I’ll call you when it’s done.”

“
Lucca, get rid of this piece of shit and don’t come home with that blood on your fucking shirt. Whatever slut you got at home tonight don’t need to be turned on by that shit. Capiche?” He was mad at his son. He shouldn’t have let his fucking hand get bit. He had risked everything the boss had worked for his whole life.

His son gave him a quick
nod. The boss could tell he was disappointed in himself. The only reason he knew was because he wore the exact same face the boss made when he fucked up. His son was growing more and more like him every day. He knew he was sure as hell just as scary as him; it was just the lack of experience.

He got out of the town car and went up to his house
. He needed a fucking drink after that mess. He picked up the bottle, poured the brown liquid into his glass and then went to his cigar box and pulled one out. Sitting down behind his huge desk in his big leather chair, he started to settle. There was nothing like whiskey in one hand and a cigar in the other to calm his nerves.

An hour passed
, and his thoughts became less gruesome. He led a hard life running the family and this city; however, he wouldn’t have it any other way. He belonged at the top, and everybody else knew it, too.

A knock came at his door
, ruining his alone time.

Sighing, h
e let out a harsh, “Come in.”

“Boss
, I ain’t got good news.” He was holding a laptop in his hand.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and handed Sal his glass
. “Fill the glass to how bad the news fucking is.”

Sal went over to the alcohol
station where he quickly poured the glass half-full. After a second, he decided to say fuck it and filled the glass to the rim.

“Fuck
, Sal, bring me the damn glass and tell me the bad news already.” The boss understood, whatever it was, it was nothing he wanted to hear in this lifetime.

“Good news for you, you get a fucking front
-row seat, boss.” He opened the laptop and pressed a button on the keyboard.

He knew exactly what he was watching,
a surveillance of the alleyway. Luckily for him, it also showed behind the diner next to his casino.

The f
irst few seconds showed nothing. It was almost as if Sal hadn’t pressed play yet. Then a young girl came out from the back of the diner with a trash bag, walking over and then throwing it in the dumpster. A second later, he saw her run behind the dumpster and into the darkness. He could no longer make her out.

“Fuck.”

“Oh, wait, boss, it gets better.” The boss didn’t like his fucking tone.

He saw the whole murder play out
. Nothing changed from his mind; he knew what the fuck had happened. He downed the shot glass. He knew exactly what was going to come once the town car sped away, and damned if the girl didn’t run out from behind the dumpster exactly how he’d played it out in his mind. Then she was gone.

Sal
slammed the laptop closed.

“Who is she?”
He knew Sal better have some fucking answers.

“Elle Buchanan
. She works at the diner next door. We do have another problem, though, Bo—”

“Fuck
, Sal, how much worse could this shit get?” He was over it. He knew the girl would die, so what the fuck was the problem?

“She’s a senior at Legacy Prep High
, boss. She’s still seventeen for the next month. I know you’re against whacking kids, but she’s practically an adul—”

“What the fuck did you just say?” He didn’t like what
had just come out of Sal’s fucking mouth. This family was built on rules, and not even he liked to break the family rules. Furthermore, out of all these rules, this was one he would
never
break.

“Sorry
, boss, I shouldn’t have said it. I just want to protect the family.” Sal started to get nervous; you never disrespected the boss.

He stood from his chair and looked Sal in the eye. Flexing his jaw
, he said, “I fucking say how to protect this family, capiche?”

Sal swallowed then nodded
. “Capiche. So, how are we going to handle this?”

He walked over to pour himself another drink
. “Leave the laptop. I’ll destroy the tape and handle this myself.”

Sal left the room at that
. His boss had said he would handle it, and he knew he would.

Taking the full glass with him
, he sat behind his desk again. He had an idea. Not only could he take care of the girl, he could see where an upcoming soldier’s loyalties lay.

He pulled out his cell phone
, and within two short rings, he heard a girl’s squeal come over the line.

“Yes?”

“Tell the girl to scram. I have a job for you, son.” With that, he ended the call.

The girl’s squeal helped solidify
his notion that his son could get the job done. He would find out what exactly the girl had seen and if she needed to be taken care of on her eighteenth birthday.

A
s a knock came to his door for the second time tonight, his son, unlike Sal, didn’t wait for his approval to come in. The boss studied Nero as he walked into the room. His dark hair was wet and he smelled of sex. For the first time tonight, the boss actually smiled.

He’s j
ust the one for the job.

Chapter
Four

Real Deal Whacking and All

Elle understood the crazed man
. She was turning into a crazed person herself. She ran to the bus stop as fast as her legs could take her, and when she was on the bus, she stared at everyone around her, wondering if one of them was going to kill her right there. When she got off, she ran as fast as her legs could take her again until she reached her front door.

H
er hands were shaking so badly she barely managed to get the door unlocked. It took a few tries before the key made it into the slot. Jerking the door free, she slammed it and deadlocked it. Afterward, she stood, staring out of the peephole for five minutes. She could feel in her bones that someone was going to come for her
.

“What are you
do—”

Elle
jumped and screamed so loudly she practically pissed herself. “Jesus, Dad, you scared me half to death.”

“Why are you staring out the door? Was someone following you?” Elle could feel her dad start to worry.

“No, of course not. I thought I saw…a big dog or something.” Elle looked through the peephole again.
Okay, this is the last time.

“Well
, whatever it is, it isn’t going to claw through the door.”

Elle forced a laugh
. “Yeah, you’re right.”
Okay, this is really the last time
.

S
he peeped through the hole.

“Uh
, Elle, I was about to heat me up some of your mom’s dinner; why don’t you come eat with me? I know you don’t eat the diner’s food.” He was right, but seeing a man murdered had really made her lose her appetite.
For the rest of my life.

“No
, thanks, I’m really not hungry. I don’t feel too well, Dad.” She really wanted to go to her bedroom.

“Elle
, please?” The look on her dad’s face made it to where she couldn’t refuse.

“O
kay, Dad. Want me to roll you in?” Elle smiled as big as she could. When her dad nodded, she grabbed the handlebars of his wheelchair and rolled him through the living room and into the kitchen where she put him at the table.

“Here
, let me make you a plate.” She went to the fridge and pulled out the leftovers, making him a plate of fried chicken and mashed potatoes. She heated it up in the microwave and then set it in front of him with a fork.

“I
’m sorry about today, Elle. Last night was miserable for me. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I took some of my pain pills. I’ve been out of it all day.” He sat, picking at his food.

“It
’s okay, Dad. I know this whole thing has been hard on you these last few years.” Elle really did understand. Losing the ability to walk is something she would never have been able to deal with.

“
It’s no excuse to be drugged out of my mind. I promise I will try to be better.” He looked her in the eyes. He needed her to believe him this time.

Every few months
, he would get like this. The aches and mental pain would break him down, make him swallow those pills.

“I know you will
, Dad.” Elle touched his hand. She really did want to believe him.

Her dad picked up
the chicken leg and took a big bite.
Oh, gosh.

“You sure you
’re not hungry, Elle? You look like you haven’t eaten in days.” He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand.

I think I’m going to hurl.

“I’m not very hungry
. I think I’m becoming a vegetarian.” Elle got up from the table; she had to get out of there. “Night, Dad.”

“Goodnight
, Elle-bell.”

If Elle
wasn’t about to throw up at what she had seen that night, she would have been happy. She loved her father more than anyone and hated when he decided to become someone else, even if it was just a day.
It used to be months.

When Elle finally made it to her room, she threw off her uniform and got into her pajamas. She
lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

What the hell
just happened?
Elle had no clue what to do.

Call the cops?
She knew
no amount of cops could save her from that man. She would have to go into Witness Protection, and he would still probably find her.

Skip town?
Then that meant no protection for Chloe.

Nope. Tell my parents?
She knew that just brought her back to her parents calling the cops or skipping town.

So
, clearly, my only option is pretending it didn’t happen. Well, at least until he finds me. Who is he?

She needed to find out who he was so she could at least see him coming. Elle d
ecided to replay what had happened that night. It was hard for her to do since the only thing she could remember was the sound of the gun going off.

Then a word started to stick out in her mind
—Boss.
She remembered the least-scary man had called him boss.
Boss?
Then another memory struck her mind.
The big boss gave you a job. You don’t have a fucking choice.
The crazed man had been scared for his life. He had known his fate hours before. A grown man had been scared to death of him.
The big boss, job, no choice.

Holy shit
, I just watched someone get whacked!

Elle had heard the rumors and stories ever since she
had been born in Kansas City about it being one of the mob capitals of the United States. She thought the stuff was for the movies, though; that they really were just rumors.

She forced her eyes shut and pictured the bo
ss. She saw an older, dark-haired, handsome man wearing a suit.

Oh
, God, they even wear suits.

Elle knew she had just met the mob boss of Kansas
City; that he was the real deal, whacking and all.

I am so fucked.

* * *

Elle
sat in English the next morning, barely listening to Mr. Evans when he addressed the class. With everything that had happened last night, she had forgotten to finish her essay. The whole morning had actually been a blur; she couldn’t even quite remember how the hell she’d ended up here.

“Elle, Elle
, Elle?” Elle looked up at Mr. Evans.

“Uh-huh?” Elle was lost today
as well.

“Do you have your e
ssay to turn into me?”

Elle felt everyone staring at her. She was sure this would just add to her bullying.

“My essay? No, sorry.” Elle watched Mr. Evans walk on to the next student.

W
hen Mr. Evans walked up to the front of the classroom, she noticed an empty seat where Cassandra had sat yesterday. She looked around the room, wondering if she’d decided to move.

Hmm
, no Cassandra?

She took that as a blessing
since she had never missed a school day. Not ever. If a girl like her missed a day, she felt as if she had missed a year of her life. Cassandra had to be in everyone’s business, thus missing a day meant missing something potentially good.

Elle still felt like eyes were watching her
. She looked around the room again; she couldn’t find anyone sticking out, though. It wasn’t like she was a particular point of interest, especially when Mr. Evans had laid out a strict no-bullying policy in his classroom.

Elle heard the bell ring and looked at the clock.

Gosh, next class already?

She
and Chloe packed up their things and started heading for the door.

“Elle
, can I speak to you for a second?”

Elle looked at Chloe and hoped she understood
to stay put.

She walked over to Mr. Evans
’ desk. “Yes?”

“You don’t strike me as the type to fail at turning in assignments.”

“I think I caught a stomach bug last night. I actually did the first half of the assignment before work, and by the time I got home, I was too sick to finish. I apologize.” Elle hoped he believed her. It was honestly the truth, minus the bloody details.

“That’s okay
. I wasn’t actually going to grade them. It was just meant to see where each student actually stood in English. I will take it that you are at least average, since you hope to write as a profession.” By his statement, Elle could tell he believed she was telling the truth. He was too good at sifting through truths and lies.

W
ell, ninety-nine percent of teenagers do lie about why they don’t have their homework.

“Thank you
, Mr. Evans. I appreciate it.” Elle thought he really was a nice guy. No teacher had done what he had done for her and Chloe.

At the thought of Chloe,
Elle looked back to see if she was there. She wasn’t.
Dang, why would she do that?

It was time for Elle to leave
. She headed for the door.

“Don’t let it happen again
, Elle.” Elle didn’t care about his parting words. She went out the door and went straight for Pre-Cal.

Her
butt better have made it to class.

Rushing too fast,
Elle felt someone run into her. She had been so worried about Chloe she had forgotten to check who was in the hall to ruin her day.

As Elle felt
arms around her waist, steadying her, she had to look up to see who was about to blame her for hitting them.
Nero. Great, of all people.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean
—”

“Why are you apologizing?”
Not once had he ever acknowledged her for her whole high school career, let alone spoken a word to her. What’s more, right then his arms were still holding her waist. She also realized, up close, his voice was deep. She didn’t like being this close to him; she tried to back up, but he wouldn’t let her go.

“Tell me why you apologized
, and I’ll let you go.”

She looked up at him, afraid he might hurt her at first
, but his face showed no maliciousness. He merely looked genuinely curious. She really didn’t know what to say; partly because she didn’t know why she had apologized, and the other part of her was thrown off at his handsome face and deep voice.

“
I-I don’t know why I said sorry. It was instinct, I guess.” She spoke to his chest; she couldn’t look at him this close and speak directly to him.

She felt his arms drop after a few seconds
and swore that, before he let her go, his hands made a bigger, deeper impression. She looked up at him again. He had really green eyes. She had never seen natural green eyes before.

“Do me a favor and don’t apologize to anyone who doesn’t deserve an apology. Got it?”
He demanded an answer from her.

She didn’t like demands. “Don’t I deserve an apology
, then?”

Nero
smiled and took a step toward her. “I’m
not
sorry.”

Elle
stared at Nero.

I
s this real?

She
hadn’t realized the bell had gone off and no one was roaming the halls. By the time she did, she began to feel uncomfortable. She didn’t like the way Nero was making her feel.

“I better get to class.” Elle needed to make sure Chloe
had made it there okay.

She
walked away quickly, far too uncomfortable. Moreover, she felt Nero watching her, making her even more self-conscious.

“Watch where you’re walking next time.” She didn’t have to turn around to see he was smiling.

She reached
Pre-Cal and was relieved to find Chloe.
She is not going to believe that Nero freaking Caruso talked to me.