Chapter 15 #2
Marco looks at me. “How’s that little present I gave you?”
I hate that filthy smile. “She’s fine,” I say. My heart seems to beat slower, and my blood chills.
Marco laughs loudly. “Fine?” He shakes his head with disbelief. “That girl is more than fine, Gio. She’s fucking gorgeous. You got lucky with this one.”
“Yes,” I grunt.
“Make any progress? I’d be interested in seeing.”
I don’t respond right away. I don’t want him seeing. I know I have to, but I don’t want to admit it.
“In fact, we were just talking about the Rossi slave. We’re going to need to see how she’s doing real soon.
” A sick smile snakes across his lips as he suggests, “Maybe a little video? Your father told us about the tapes.” I turn to look at my father, that rat fuck. He should keep his goddamn mouth shut.
“We’re very grateful for the opportunity,” my father quickly says, that sniveling shit. “Gio here is working very hard on the girl. Right, Gio?”
“Of course,” I say.
“Not too hard, I hope,” Marco says. “You have a more important job to do.”
This is the moment, then. I can practically feel my father ready to talk about his plan, ready to try and convince these impatient, stupid Romanos that killing some old lady would do any good for anyone.
I can’t let him have this moment. “I have an idea about that,” I say quickly.
My father looks at me, surprised. Marco smiles. “Go on,” he says.
“Toni’s well-guarded,” I say slowly, the idea forming as I speak. “He’s clearly the next in line for the Rossi throne, and his power is increasing every day. But what if we didn’t kill him?”
Marco cocks his head at me, and my father scoffs. “Killing him is the job,” my father points out.
I hold a hand up to him. “Wait. Hear me out.”
“Okay,” Marco says. “What are you thinking?”
“There's another man in the Rossi family that’s just as important as Toni.”
Recognition sparks in Marco’s face. “The Don,” he says.
“The Don,” I agree. Visions of Grace’s scarred skin flash before my eyes. Yes, the Don. I’m going to kill that piece of shit. I’ll make it slow for her if I can.
“He’s weak,” my father says. “He’s on the way out.”
“Maybe,” I say. “But he’s still the Don. I think we can get to him more easily.”
My father’s clearly pissed. He’s probably barely holding back his anger, but that’s fine with me. He’s the one that wanted to play these stupid fucking games.
There's no way we can really get to the Don right now though. It’s possible of course, but not the way things currently stand. This is more about buying us some extra time from the Romanos to figure shit out and to plan a solid hit.
Besides, as far as I’m concerned, the Don is already dead.
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but his death is coming.
I'll be the one standing over him holding a smoking gun for what he did to my princess.
If Marco decides to shift the target to the Don, then that'll be killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.
“Very interesting,” Marco says.
“We can get to him,” I say, half-lying. “He goes out with protection, but he still goes out. Toni never goes fucking anywhere. If the Don goes into the open, I can take him.”
“He has guards,” my father says. “That’s a suicide mission.”
“Not for a highly skilled sniper, it isn’t,” I say, staring back at him, daring him.
I can see the rage flash on his face, but he quickly gets it under control.
“Everything okay between you two?” Marco asks casually.
“Great,” my father says, looking back to Marco. “Listen, I have a different plan.”
“No,” Marco says, interrupting him. “That’s okay. I like this. I would love to see the Don dead. Toni will have to come out of hiding to take over the Rossi familia duties if the Don is killed, and then we can take him, too.”
“That’s right,” I say, encouraging his line of thought.
“Good,” Marco says, nodding. “Very good. I’ll take this to my Don, but I know he’ll be pleased.” Marco stands and slides out of the booth. I get up next, followed by my father. “Bruno, I’ll be in contact soon.”
Marco shakes my father’s hand. “Thank you, Marco,” my father says.
Marco looks at me. “And you, good job today,” he says. He shakes my hand and holds it tight. “Enjoy the girl while you can. And don’t take too long.”
I stare back and nod, but don’t say a word. I don’t trust myself to speak.
Marco releases my hand. I follow my father back through the diner and out into the parking lot. My mind is full of anger at that Marco prick, but my father suddenly whirls on me.
“What the fuck was that?” he asks.
I don’t stop walking. “An alternative to your awful plan,” I say.
“We didn’t discuss that. You didn’t want to kill any of them, and now you’re trying to go after their Don?” I can hear the jealousy and anger in his voice.
“That’s right,” I say.
“You’re going to get yourself killed,” my father calls after me as I walk away from him.
“I doubt it,” I say softly to myself. I climb into my truck, start the engine, and pull out of the parking lot.
I’m already thinking about my princess as I hurry back home to her.
Don’t take too long. Marco’s words echo in my head.
I need to speed this up with her. I bang my fist on the steering wheel and curse.
I hate that they have anything to do with her.
But if they want to see something, I can make it happen.
I have to. I can’t let them take her away from me.