CHAPTER 48 - RED
CHAPTER
Red
“THAT’S GOOD TO KNOW.” I can’t stop the smile from spreading over my face. “Thanks for letting me know. Huh? Oh...” I glance at my watch. “Yeah, they should be there any time now, if not already finished with the job. No, I haven’t heard. Yes... I’ll be in shortly.”
Ending the call to Cal, I return to Arianna and Maria, my good mood subduing at the prospect of putting up with more of Maria’s self-obsession and little-girl-lost routine. It’s not particularly charitable of me, but the woman’s naivety is getting on my nerves. She’s hard fucking work.
Arianna turns as I enter the room, the heat behind her eyes for me never failing to send blood straight to my groin.
“You look pleased with yourself,” she smiles. “I take it your brothers have done what was planned?”
“And what was that? What plan?” Maria’s neediness prickles my nerve endings.
Ignoring her, I focus only on the Galvatore sister who makes my heart beat. “I haven’t had confirmation yet. That was Cal on the phone. It seems your dad already has a problem.”
“What problem? Is he okay? Is...” Maria sits forward in the chair, but Arianna raises her hand.
“Shhh, Maria! No one can hear themselves think!”
I try not to laugh as Maria’s bottom lip sticks out petulantly like a spoiled child. “It seems your Papà’s men are already losing faith.” This time I can’t stop a smile breaking across my face. “Word’s out that we paid him a visit last night, and people are questioning his ability.”
Arianna frowns. “What, because he didn’t throw us out?”
“Maybe.” I shrug. “That and the wedding cancellation. Or maybe they don’t like Matteo throwing his weight about. They know something’s adrift. Whatever the reason, it’s good.”
“Is it?” Maria snaps. “What’s good about ruining someone who has nothing to do with what Matteo’s doing?”
I’m about to answer Maria, probably not too politely, when my mobile buzzing again stops me. Oscar or Liam finally?
My brows furrow at what is on my screen:
[Message Received - Unknown Number]
With a sinking feeling, I open the message.
[Unknown Number - 10:41 26 Nov]
Think u r clever?
Wrong again Bateman.
Deliver Arianna and Maria or u r are all finished.
Arianna reads my face like no one else. “What is it?”
“Your brother.” I pass her the phone and she tries to hide the text from Maria, but that chick has eyes everywhere.
“Oh, my God!” Maria shrieks. “Does that mean he’s coming for us now?”
“No, it does not!” I snatch the phone off the table as it rings again. “What the fuck do y... Oh! Liam! No... I thought it was... It doesn’t matter. Is the job done?”
“What does he mean, Arianna? What job? I have a right to know.”
Turning my back to block out Maria’s incessant squawking, I focus on what my brother is saying. “Okay, so... Right... Understood. Ask Cal about the latest when you get back. No, no, it’s good news. Yep, okay.”
Ending the call, I speak directly to Arianna. “Liam’s on the way back to the Scorpio. Oscar’s delivering the ‘message’ as we speak.”
She nods, fully aware of what I’m saying between the lines.
“Why are you blocking me from knowing what’s going on?” Maria stands up. “I’m not a child!”
“Then stop fucking acting like one!” I bark, my temper frayed.
“Red...”
“No, Arianna. She’s getting on my wick.” I turn to Maria.
“Okay, you want to know, then here you are. I’ve had three cups of tea this morning, my socks are black, my brother’s on his way back to my casino and my other brother is about to shoot one of your father’s gophers through the head for no apparent reason, aside from ‘you take one of mine, I take one of yours’.
Oh, and I’m tired because I’ve been fucking my wife all night. Happy now? Any more questions?”
I should feel bad as the color drains from Maria’s face, but I don’t. She asked, and therefore she shall receive. Arianna, however, is not quite so impressed with my reasoning, and I suspect she’s about to tell me so when my phone buzzes again, I’m glad.
Saved by the bell twice, I think, chuckling to myself. This will be Oscar letting me know that he’s...
[Message Received - Unknown Number]
A spindly thread of apprehension worms its way inside me.
[Unknown Number - 10:45 26 Nov]
Think carefully Bateman.
Tit 4 tat is a bad move.
My sniper has ur brother in his sights right now.
XL25 0XB
Tick Tock
“Fuck!” Pulling Oscar’s contact details up, I press the call button, my fingers slick with sweat.
It rings once, twice, three times. Come on!
“Yeah, it’s me... Yes, I know. Forget that for now, just stick to the main road. Where are you? Okay... I’ll send men to intercept and flank you as a precaution. What? Yeah, Matteo. I don’t know if it’s kosher or not, but he reckons he’s got a sniper on you.”
Hearing her intake of breath, I glance at Arianna. “Yeah, he’s quoted your BMW reg plate. When? Just this second. Go straight to the Scorpio. I’ll head there now. We must group and strike straightaway.”
I end the call and hastily tap out messages to Cal and Liam. Liam is carrying and will be the closest, so can go back on himself quickly to cover Oscar. Cal can send a shooter on a motorbike to intercept too.
“Oh God!” Maria’s outburst is so loud I almost drop my phone. “There’ll be death everywhere.” She bursts into loud, uncontrolled sobs. “I can’t cope with this! I want to go home! I want things to be normal.”
“Yeah, well, they’re not.” I meet eyes with Arianna as she attempts to comfort her sister. “I need to go to the Scorpio.”
“We’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” Nothing is fine about Maria’s meltdown, and nothing is fine about that cunt, Matteo, threatening my brother with a sniper, however true it is.
“Yes, so go!” Getting out of the seat, Arianna stretches up on tiptoe and presses her lips against mine. “Just be safe, okay? Come back to me.”
“I have no intention of doing anything else,” I murmur, knowing that hell will freeze over before I choose to be away from this woman any longer than necessary.