Mobster's Bones (Mobster #5) Read Free

out into the night air, pulling it in deeply to my lungs—trying to get rid of the suffocating feeling that plagues me daily.
    What the hell is wrong with me?
     

Chapter 2
     

Troy 
     
    “Hi,” Vito says.
    “Hi? All you can say is hi? You just fucking grabbed me, put a bag over my head, and scared the shit out of me.” My eyes search the room. “Where’s Jake?”
    “Where you left him?”
    I run my fingers through my hair, catching a glimpse of my watch, frustrated. I try to calm my speeding heart.
    “What did you do that for?”
    “Because it’s fun.”
    “You are so messed up! Did you fuck with the elevator too?”
    “Yup.” Vito walks around my small dorm room. He opens my mini-fridge and takes a can of beer, popping the top. He sits down in my desk chair, relaxing like we’ve been friends for years and he is just stopping by for a visit.
    Vito is a scary-ass dude. He has that kind of tough presence that can’t be taught. You either have it or you don’t. That is why he makes a great enforcer for the Delisi family in New Jersey. I wouldn’t have even known him if it hadn’t been for my friend Megan falling in love with a mobster.
    Today, two years later, I’ve got a mobster, Vito Rossi, drinking my beer stash and hanging out like we’re frat brothers. I run my hand over my chin, my beard stubble a rough reminder of my need for a shave. I reach into my fridge and grab a beer. I sit on the end of my bed, sinking down.
    “What are you doing here?” I take a long swig of the cold amber liquid, waiting for an answer.
    “I need a favor.” A smug grin crosses his face.
    “No. No, no, no, no, no, no!” I ramble on, knowing exactly what favor means in his fucked-up world. “At no point have I ever solicited to be indoctrinated into the mob. Nope. Haven’t. You take care of Megan and her sister, Erin. I am grateful. I did a favor for you last year. One and done. No more. No favors, ain’t gonna happen, nuh-uh! I’m halfway done with school, and I have no intention of becoming a missing person.”
    “You don’t even know what the favor is.”
    “I don’t have to know what it is; I know who it is coming from. You or Delisi.”
    “Okay, fine, I need your help.”
    “What could I possibly help you with?”
    “It sounds better than favor.”
    “Oh, shit,” I mutter and gulp down the rest of my beer, needing another one immediately. Anything he asks for, whether a favor or help, is not good.
    Knock, knock…
    I rise off the bed to answer the door, my heart slamming in my chest again at the knuckles rapping. Vito throws his hand out to stop me.
    “Ask who it is,” he orders in a growling whisper. I narrow my eyes at him.
    “Who is it?” I call out through the solid wood in front of me.
    “Uh, Troy, It’s me.”
    I whisper, “It’s a girl I fool around with.” I tip my wrist to check my watch. “She’s right on time.”
    Vito’s face curls down into a yeah right scowl, not believing me. The entire rest of the conversation is in fast whispers.
    “I do,” I mouth. He points to the door, letting me know to take care of this. I take a step closer to the slab of wood separating Celia from me and the scary-ass mobster next to me.
    “Hey, Celia, I’m kind of busy right now, can you come back another time?”
    Vito smacks me, startling me.
    “What?” I mouth.
    “She’s gonna think you’re with another girl. That ain’t fuckin’ right.”
    “We’re not exclusive,” I say.
    Vito rolls his eyes.
    The sweet musical voice carries through my door again. “Um, Jake is on the floor out here. Can you help me get him to his room?”
    “I’ll take care of it,” I call back. “Thanks.”
    “Oh. Okay.” She pauses, hesitant. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
    “I’ll call you,” I shoot back, letting her know that I’m not blowing her off.
    Vito mutters to me, “Chooch.”
    We wait a few minutes listening at the door. Vito motions for me to crack it open. I look down the hallway