Chapter Fifty-Two
I hit the red button on my phone for the millionth time, focusing on the road ahead.
“Dr. Patel better be your fucking mistress, or you’ll have some explaining to do about all the phone calls you refuse to answer.” Achilles lit himself a cigarette in the seat next to me.
Dr. Patel wasn’t happy I skipped my therapy visit today. Well, he’d have to deal. I had more pressing matters to tend to.
The growing list of assholes blowing up my phone also included Dylan, Calla, Sadie, and Alix. They all presumably tried to get ahold of Gia with no success.
“He’s far too obsessed with his wife for a mistress.
” Tierney had the audacity to chip in to the conversation from her place wedged between Enzo and Luca in the back seat.
She examined her long fingernails with her hands perched in her lap, wrists zip-tied tightly.
“It’s probably his shrink. I’m guessing he has at least two on the payroll. ”
She was good.
I regarded her coolly through the rearview mirror. She’d been running her mouth like it was training for a marathon since she got into my vehicle. Just like Gia, she didn’t let big men in expensive suits intimidate her, even those with a habit of killing people.
Tierney pouted, stretching her long legs and crossing her ankles. “Or maybe you’re in search of a mistress? I could use a sugar daddy.”
“No, thanks,” I hissed out. “Your idea of sugar is probably rat poison.”
The men in the car laughed.
“You know, I never really understood why men join the Mafia of their own accord. It’s so…childish.”
Achilles looked like he’d prefer a lobotomy over listening to her, shaking his head and taking a long drag of his cigarette.
Tierney continued, undeterred. “If you want to do a bunch of terrible things for your own profit, why not become a politician? There’s less of a chance you’d spend time behind bars if you get caught.”
“There’s a very good chance I’ll hurl you right out the fucking window and off the bridge if you don’t zip it,” Achilles announced.
“Speaking of fucking, a little birdie told me Achilles had a thing with Enzo’s sweetheart to get back at him for a failed mission.” Tierney swiveled her head to Enzo, arching a speculative brow. “But you don’t seem too broken about it. Wonder why that is?”
Enzo stiffened beside her, flattening his lips. “What do you want me to do, cry into a pillow?”
Tierney was in on a secret. And Enzo was obviously shitting bricks, not wanting her to spill it out.
“I did him a favor,” Achilles said coolly. “Any woman willing to open her legs for her longtime boyfriend’s brother is not worth putting a ring on.”
“Nice mental gymnastics.” Tierney gave him a thumbs-up, her wrists chafing together. “Are you also this flexible in bed?”
Achilles twisted toward Luca. “Permission to cut off one of her fingers?” he inquired dryly. “The bitch is having way too much fun in our captivity.”
“And you care because?” Luca sneered.
“She’s ruining my reputation. Not to mention my fucking eardrums.”
Luca glanced at his Cartier. “Just ten more minutes, and she’ll be back to being Callaghan’s problem. Along with the others he created for himself.”
“I wouldn’t mind parting ways with just one finger if it saves your fragile ego.” Tierney twirled a scarlet lock of hair around her finger.
“Oh, but I’ll make sure it’s the one you use to get yourself off.” Achilles showed her his teeth.
This made Tierney blush, which I assumed was a world fucking record.
“ Anyway ,” Tierney singsonged, recovering quickly. “I personally wouldn’t forgive a sibling for screwing my partner, but that’s just me.”
“One more word,” Achilles said slowly as I zipped over the bridge crossing into New Jersey, “and I will harm you, piccola fiamma. It’s in Tate’s best interest that you arrive unharmed, but I couldn’t give two shits about what condition you’ll be in.”
Dipshit just gave her a nickname.
I hoped we were close, because at this rate, they’d be having babies in my back seat before we got there.
Dr. Patel called again. His sixth time. The call went to voicemail. Then all was quiet for half a second. I groaned, relishing the momentary silence.
Achilles’s shoulders unknotted, and he reached to turn on the radio. “18 and Life” by Skid Row blasted through the speakers.
“Did you know…” Tierney shoved herself between Achilles and me, looking between us with a smirk. “This song is inspired by guitarist Dave Sabo’s brother, Rick, who didn’t kill anyone, but his life was changed forever when he came back from the Vietnam Wa—”
Achilles grabbed ahold of the steering wheel, jolting it sharply toward the shoulder of the road.
The car skidded and screeched. I pumped the brake lightly so as not to throw us all off the bridge.
It swiveled a couple times anyway, careening with momentum.
The scent of burned rubber singed my nostrils.
Tierney let out a piercing cry. Luca muttered an exasperated “for fuck’s sake,” and I contemplated killing all these assholes right after I secured Gia.
The Escalade stopped an inch away from the metal framing the concrete. Smoke erupted from the engine, curling skyward. “Fuck.” I slammed my fist against the steering wheel. I didn’t want to be late because the evil twin from hell decided to rile up American Psycho over here.
Achilles threw his door open, strode outside, opened the back door, and plucked Tierney out as though she weighed nothing.
He tossed her over his shoulder savagely, breezing his way to the edge of the bridge and flinging her kicking and thrashing body out over the barrier.
For a moment, my heart stopped inside my chest. I couldn’t give half a shit about Tierney’s life, but she was my currency to get my wife back.
I unbuckled and threw my door open.
Luca clamped a hand over my shoulder from behind. “Trust the process, Blackthorn.”
“He threw her into the fucking Hudson.” And now I had to jump in and retrieve the mouthy bitch.
“No, he didn’t.”
Sure enough, I noticed Achilles was leaning over the edge, holding Tierney by the…
“He’s sustaining her by her heel .” I punched the steering wheel again. “Goddammit.”
“It’s a good heel. Those Jimmy Choos are sturdy as fuck,” Enzo mumbled.
Luca threw him a look.
“Or so I heard.” Enzo raised his palms innocently.
“He just wanted to look up her skirt,” Luca reassured me. “She’s probably wet from the foreplay, and he’s taunting her for it.”
“Why would he do that?”
“This is his idea of flirting.”
These people were far too messed up, even by my standards.
Achilles and Tierney seemed to be doing some negotiations.
He seemed calm, and shockingly, from what I could tell, so was she.
The entire ordeal took no more than five minutes before he tugged her back up, hurling her across the asphalt.
She fell flat on her ass. Rather than help her up, Achilles walked briskly back to the car, slipped into the passenger seat, and slammed the door.
“Problem solved.” He wiped his palms.
Tierney steadied herself on her heels, limping to the car.
“What’d you tell her?” Luca drawled.
“It’s a secret.” Achilles smirked.
Tierney got back inside.
She didn’t say a word for the rest of the journey.
Ten minutes later, we were standing on a cliff overlooking the Hudson River.
The wind whipped at my face. Tierney wasn’t wearing a jacket, and although I would have liked nothing more than to toss her off the cliff, I wanted her in pristine condition when her brother arrived.
Her lips were a little blue, her eyes pink-rimmed.
“Here,” I barked, tearing off my peacoat. “Cover yourself.” I handed it to her.
Tierney took my coat without saying thank you and stomped over to the edge on those impossible heels, no doubt to piss everyone off.
“Stay close to us.” My tone bore no room for argument.
Ignoring me, she balanced herself on one leg, peering down the cliff. She still hadn’t uttered one word since Achilles almost flung her off the bridge.
I wasn’t in the mood for this bullshit.
“I’m not liable for the next thing I do if she doesn’t listen.” I pointed at her, turning to the Ferrante brothers.
“Tierney,” Achilles barked. “Get the fuck back here.”
She stopped twirling along the pebbles, shooting him a murderous look. She didn’t move.
“ Sit .” He pointed at the ground. “Or we’re gonna have a problem.”
“I’m not your bitch.” She finally opened her mouth. “So don’t treat me like a dog. If you want me to come over, say please and say it nicely. If you make it convincing enough, I just might meet you halfway.”
“Being my bitch is an accomplishment too prestigious for you to reach,” Achilles drawled. “Come here now, or I’ll make good on my threat on the bridge.”
I had no idea what they were talking about, and fuck if I gave a shit.
I just wanted my wife. Luckily, the sound of tires rolling over pebbles assaulted my ears.
Callaghan was almost here. The Ferrante soldiers who drove behind us were also strategically scattered along the route. They alerted Luca they were coming.
“Oh, look.” Tierney raised her zip-tied wrists, checking an imaginary watch. “If it isn’t I-don’t-give-a-shite o’clo—” Then she purposefully threw herself right off the cliff, the fucking banshee that she was.
I pounced toward her, but Achilles was quicker. He leapt through the air, reaching her just in time, and yanked her back in record speed. Tierney fell on her face and knees, laughing at the two panting men above her.
Crazy obviously ran in the family. I hoped they weren’t going to reproduce.
I was about to stop Achilles from kicking her in the gut—he looked like he was about to—when an armored Mercedes-Benz AMG G 63 parked next to my Escalade. First, two Callaghan soldiers came out. Following them was Tiernan…and Gia .