Chapter 3

"Thirty million. That's all?"

Everyone in the slaughterhouse, Marcella included, went still for a moment. Then the place erupted in laughter.

"You think we're talking about fucking arcade tokens? You say it like it's nothing. Trying to show off in front of Mr. Leoni?"

"Gian, I'll say it right here.

"If you can produce thirty million, I will kneel right here on a livestream and lick the blood off her shoes!"

I ignored his screeching and took out an encrypted military phone.

"It's me.

"Lock down every port and shipping route the Leoni family has. I want them gone from the East Coast by dawn."

"Yes, Don."

The woman on the line sounded calm and efficient, but then she hesitated.

"It's just... Don, shutting down the Leoni family's business will affect several other families.

"And to wipe them out completely, the council still needs to assign the necessary resources.

"Full deployment will take about three hours."

"Three hours?"

I frowned.

"Yes. It's to make sure they're wiped out for good. We'll move as fast as we can."

"Understood."

After I fell silent, Isaac laughed so hard he cried.

"What's wrong, big shot? Show's over?

"Just like that sugar mama of yours. All talk, and nothing when it counts?"

He mimicked my voice in a pinched, mocking tone.

"Lock down the Leoni family. Why not call galactic headquarters and have them send over some cosmic energy while you're at it?

"I'm in a good mood today. I'll give you your three hours. Let's see what trick you pull."

He dropped into one of the cleaner chairs, crossed his legs, took out his phone, and smugly made a few calls.

Within 10 minutes, Marcella's uncle and aunt were led in, flustered and out of breath.

The moment her aunt saw me, she pointed and shrieked as if she had seen a ghost.

"You're a jinx! You've got some nerve showing your face here again! If it weren't for you five years ago, the Franco family would never have crossed the Leoni family!"

Then she caught the thugs' eyes, changed her tune at once, and started shoving Marcella toward Isaac.

"Marcella, Mr. Leoni is willing to take you. That's better than you deserve. Why aren't you over there apologizing to him?"

Her uncle stepped up and jabbed a finger in my face.

"The Franco family threw you out years ago, and now you dare come back and stir up trouble? Do you want to see us all dumped in the Hudson?"

Then he turned to Isaac with a fawning smile.

"Mr. Leoni, please don't waste your time on a man like him. He's not worth another word from you.

"Marcella's just stubborn. We're her family. We'll make sure she learns to behave."

Isaac sat there and twisted the knife with a smile.

"This loser just made a call. Says he can produce thirty million within the hour."

Her uncle and aunt thought I'd lost my mind. They turned to me as if I were an idiot.

Before they could say another word, I took an old metal badge from my jacket pocket and tossed it on the floor.

"A global lockdown takes three hours. But take this badge and ask around."

I nudged the badge with the toe of my boot.

"Ask whether it's enough to buy the Leoni family 10 times over."