Page 20 of Saved By A God
I tap a finger against the folder. “What does the family get in return?”
Mark quickly answers, “Priority staffing on every project.”
Narrowing my eyes, I mutter, “We already get that.”
Mark shifts in his chair and shoots the other two men a look before he says, “Guaranteed approval of overtime requests.”
Getting annoyed, I tilt my head.
Michael quickly leans forward and adds, “You’ll get advance notice before any labor action. We’ll keep our political friends and labor contacts backing your projects, and if any worker complaints pop up, we’ll handle them quietly before they turn into a problem.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere,” I mutter.
Construction projects can lose millions if the wrong people decide to create problems.
“No inspectors sniffing where they don’t belong, and permits move faster,” I demand while meeting their gazes.
One by one, they nod in agreement, then I say, “Ten percent.”
Mark immediately shakes his head. “You’re killing us. Fifteen.”
I stick to my guns. “Ten.”
He lets out a sigh. “Thirteen and a half.”
Picking up my tumbler, I take a sip. “Eleven.”
The three officials exchange glances, then Mark extends his hand. “You have a deal.”
Sure I do. Eleven is what they wanted. They always come in high, knowing I’ll talk them down.
Rising to my feet, I shake their hands, and just like that, another year is settled without any blood being spilled. It’s because the Cosa Nostra ultimately signs the checks and keeps thousands employed.
Everyone of them knows exactly how much more profitable cooperation is than finding out what happens when the family doesn’t get what it wants.
“Always a pleasure doing business with you,” Mark says with a wide grin on his face.
I don’t bother returning the smile and say, “Until next year.”
Walking out of the restaurant, I pull my phone from my pocket and glance at my schedule before deciding to swing past my parents’ place to check on them.
I hardly notice Ciro and Nathan, who follow me around like shadows on Christiano’s insistence. I told them that if they get in my way and delay me, I’ll shoot them, so they always hang back.
I only tolerate the men for Christiano’s peace of mind. I trained twice as hard as my older brother, knowing it would be my job to keep him in the seat of power, so I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.
As soon as I get into my Mustang and switch on the engine, a message appears on the dashboard screen.
I SEE U.
The next instant, a song blasts over the speakers.WarriorsfromLeague of Legends.
Rosie likes to hack into my car and do things like this. I’ll never admit it to a living soul, but I fucking love every message and song she sends me.
I let the music play while I drive to my parents’ house in Manhattan, and parking in my usual spot, I switch off the engine and get out.
The front door opens, and Mom smiles lovingly at me. “Hi.”
Even though she’s in her fifties, she looks more like our older sister than our mother. I got Mom’s eyes and smile, but the rest of me is from Dad.
