Sold to the Capo-Chapter 42: I OWN THIS CITY

VINCENZO’S POV

"I’m telling you, Enzo, I didn’t touch that girl," Carmine’s voice was smooth, but there was a flicker of irritation in his eyes. He leaned back in the chair, his fingers tapping against the leather armrest, too calm for someone in his position.

I wasn’t fooled. My stare was laser-focused on the man, cold and piercing. "I didn’t say you touched her, Carmine. I said you killed her. You’re the one person who came to mind when I thought about the location. Don’t play me like this is some coincidence."

Carmine smiled again, the kind of smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "I told you before, Vincenzo. I have no idea what you’re talking about."

I remained silent for a long moment, the weight of my gaze never leaving Carmine’s face. My patience was wearing thin. I didn’t care if Carmine was a Don. If he had anything to do with the death of that girl, he would pay.

I had confirmed that she was among the people missing from Gamma’s Haven, and now it seemed whoever it was that planned out the attack was teasing me.

"You’re the only one in this town dealing in the skin business," I pressed, my voice calm but heavy with meaning. "You know that forest like the back of your hand. You go there for business with your dealers. And now I’m asking you again... did you have her killed?"

Carmine shrugged, the most infuriatingly nonchalant gesture. "I’ve heard the rumors, Vincenzo. But you know how it goes. People talk. I have a business to run. I don’t need to be involved in every little thing that goes wrong in the city. I was in Maine when it happened. You can’t just waltz into my property like you own it."

"Wrong answer. I own this shitty city and all of you are beneath me, remember your place," I hissed.

"Are we though? Or are the rumors of you losing control of your own empire a ruse?"

My jaw clenched, but I didn’t let my frustration show. Instead, I glanced at Salvatore, who stood with arms crossed by the door. Salvatore was always quick to act when patience ran out.

Without a word, Salvatore stepped forward, his eyes never leaving Carmine’s men. They were scattered around the room, hovering just outside my direct line of sight, clearly uncomfortable. One man, a large brute who had been standing by the window, shifted uneasily.

Before anyone could react, Salvatore pulled out his gun and fired a single shot into the air.

The man by the window froze, eyes wide with shock. Salvatore didn’t even flinch.

"Tell me, Carmine," I said, my voice still smooth, "how long do you think your men are going to stand there while you keep lying to me?"

Carmine’s face remained impassive, but his men shifted uncomfortably. His eyes flicked briefly to his underlings, calculating, before returning to me. "I don’t know what you think you’re going to get out of this, Vincenzo. You know I don’t care for these theatrics."

My voice dropped an octave. "You might not care for theatrics, Carmine, but you’ll care when I make it personal."

And just like that, Salvatore aimed his gun at another one of Carmine’s men—this time the one nearest to the door. Before anyone could protest, Salvatore fired a clean shot. The man crumpled to the floor, a grunt escaping his lips.

Carmine’s smile wavered, but he quickly masked it with a calm expression. He wasn’t worried about his men. He was calculating how much longer this would go on, how long I would keep this up.

"Are you done, or are you just getting started?" Carmine asked, his tone suddenly sharper.

I didn’t respond. I only gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod.

Salvatore looked back at me, his impatience bubbling up. "We’re wasting time, Vincenzo. He’s not going to talk."

I was about to speak when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

My brow furrowed as I pulled it out, glancing down at the screen. Several debit alerts popped up at once. My eyes widened.

Debit Alert: $543.99 – Carson’s Home Books

Debit Alert: $200.00 – Carson’s Home Books

Debit Alert: $99.99 – Carson’s Home Books

Debit Alert: $99.99 – Carson’s Home Books

Holy shit.

My pulse quickened. The numbers kept adding up. The total was mounting higher with each new alert. My heart pounded in my chest as I skimmed through the notifications. The charges were coming from Carson’s Home Books. A bookstore?

Carmine seemed to notice my hesitation and frowned. "Finally realize that you’ve got the wrong guy?"

I pocketed my phone immediately. "Barely."

"I heard about Jules," Carmine suddenly said.

"Everyone has heard about him," I said, dryly as I stood up, nodding to Salvatore who pocketed his gun, a bored look on his face.

"You’re losing control of your empire. Not gonna be long before the wolves ravage it down," Carmine grinned at me.

I smirked. "Yeah but before that..." I pulled out a gun and without looking, I fired two clean shots and two of his men dropped. "Make sure you know what you’re going against."

With that, Salvatore and I walked out of the mansion that looked like something straight out of a book.

"He’s not wrong, you know?" Salvatore said under his breath as we got to the cars.

I opened the door and looked at him. "I know. That’s why I have to resolve my personal shit."

Salvatore grabbed his helmet off his bike and tilted his head at me. "What now? You know I have a week left and I have to return."

"Right now I need you to meet Ravolo and try to find out if my father knows anything about it," I said, igniting the engine of my car while he hopped on his bike, adjusting his helmet before gripping the handlebars.

"You could do that yourself."

"Ravolo hates my guts and I would pretty much end up killing him if I met him again," I huffed.

"Everyone hates you," Salvatore reminded me before he zoomed off, his engine roaring.

I frowned at his retreating figure. "Yeah. Everyone does," I muttered, doing a quick swerve before driving off.

Now I wasn’t just sure if that was a flex or something bad in more ways than one.