Chapter 2 #2
Okay, so I guess we aren’t going to talk about the fact that he has access to my browsing history.
I suppose having an encrypted burner phone for all official business deals is a good thing.
I don’t need anyone gaining access to my targets or hits.
If Alessandro wants to snoop into my porn preferences, then that’s fine with me.
“Let’s just say Skylar is a beautiful fantasy.
Something that would never happen. The thought of doing all those filthy things he does to his costars really gets me going.
” Skylar is known in the industry for being a strict top who likes to fuck twinks.
But even so, the man is borderline pretty with his tan skin, large brown eyes, and lean figure.
I always watch his videos while imagining that it’s me doing the fucking, as I pound him into the mattress.
I shake my head, ridding the images from my mind. I don’t need to give my body an excuse to get hard like it always does when I imagine Skylar King under me. “Now, are we here to discuss my sex preferences, or kill a man?”
The smile drops from Alessandro’s face. “I want him dead, Jericho. I would prefer you to get me our money too, but I mostly just want my sister back.”
“Do you have confirmation that she isn’t hurt, aside from the black eye?” I ask, lowering my voice to a whisper.
“Yes, for now. Her phone is off, but she has a tracker embedded in her that Franko doesn’t know about.
It will alert us if her vitals drop or if she dies.
My sister is smart. She managed to convince Franko to allow her to write me a letter.
Franko probably agreed, hoping it would get us off his back.
The guy’s a fool. My sister told me everything I need to know. ”
“Can I see the letter?”
“Sure.” Alessandro reaches inside his suit jacket before handing me a folded piece of paper.
Smoothing it out, I study the elegant handwriting.
I don’t know her handwriting from a hole in the wall, but there was a time in the military I dabbled with the art of graphology.
Studying and analyzing the personality and emotional state of a person through handwriting used to be fascinating.
The enjoyment faded upon my realization that getting paid to kill evil people was far more rewarding.
“Her pen strokes are even and light. There’s nothing erratic about it, indicating stress as if she were forced to write this.
” Heavy pressure of the pen or jumbled letters and words could tell me that this letter might not be her own words, but as far as I can tell, this letter was written with care.
My dearest brother,
I’m safe. You’re probably trying to blow up my phone with your annoying texts, but I’m writing to you to say that I lost my phone.
I’m on vacation with my boyfriend and will be gone for at least two weeks.
Can you please take care of Fluffy for me?
You know how feral he can get when he’s not with me.
If you can’t take care of him, please find someone else who can.
Fluffy needs to be fed, and given lots of pets and a bath, if possible.
I won’t be able to watch our movie marathon of Chucky or Friday the 13th this month, but just know that I’m thinking of you.
I love you.
Always,
Sienna
“This isn’t just a letter about her dog, is it?”
Alessandro nods. “See, this is why I hire you. It’s obviously coded. It says she’s with Franko, but she’s safe. If Sienna had mentioned feeling sick, it would have meant that we needed to hurry, and that she might die here.”
Smart.
“And the rest of the letter?”
“She doesn’t own a dog named Fluffy. The letter translates that he is abusive and needs a way to escape. She wants him dead, preferably by drowning, but that isn’t necessary.”
I reread the letter and smile at the creativity. “What’s the reference to the movie marathon about?”
“Something is happening on the 13th. It’s probably our best shot at rescuing her. I need you to track my sister and save her. Get her away from that bastard.”
A sense of purpose zaps through me, something that has been missing from my life.
It’s been a long time since I’ve taken on a hit that wasn’t just about killing the target.
How long have I just been going through the motions and taking hit after hit?
I don’t even give myself time to enjoy my money.
And naturally, this excitement is fueled by a job where more is on the line.
Not only am I saving Sienna, my friend’s sister, but I’m risking my life more than usual.
If I fuck this up, I’ll have the Mafia after me.
“Please, Jericho. You’re the only man I trust to save my sister.” Alessandro slides the file my way. “I prefer Franko to suffer, but my priority is getting my sister back. Family first.”
My current personal target is a man named Charlie Forman, a pedo and rapist who I’ve been stalking for about two weeks now.
The disgusting man needs to be put down, but thanks to his fancy corporate job, he’s currently out of town.
And according to the tracking I’ve placed on his phone, way too busy to hurt anyone else.
Luckily, I’m a man of infinite patience, and absolute control.
I’ve been biding my time until he returns, giving me enough of a gap to save Sienna before returning to my special plans with Charlie.
I nod. “I’ll do it.” Alessandro has given me permission to hurt this asshole.
Even though I don’t need it, it excites me to know that I can get my rocks off by getting violent with the abusive piece of shit.
The Director has crossed a line by stealing the heiress of a mafia family and hurting her.
Not only does The Director owe the mafia a lot of money, but he has to pay for what he’s done.
My mission is clear: save the heiress, then kill the target.
My phone pings with a new notification. I glance down to see that Alessandro has already wired me half the money.
“I just emailed you a secure link to my sister’s tracking device.
Start following her movements as soon as you can.
If you find a better opportunity to take Franko out, do it.
There’s no need to wait until Friday. Once my father catches wind of this, he’ll send out his own hit, and you’ll have competition. ”
I stand, buttoning my suit jacket as I move. “I’m eager to start. Don’t worry, friend. I’ll get her back for you.”
“It doesn’t matter who is in the way, just kill the man. And as I said, if the opportunity arises, make him suffer.”
“Heard. Just keep in mind, Alessandro, if Friday really is my only opening, I’m getting your sister.
I’m not sure I can get your money back,” I say, wanting him to understand my primary focus.
“Money aside, I vow to find a way to make it painful. If it were up to me, I’d torture every last rapist out there. ”
A wicked look crosses Alessandro’s face. “Me too, my friend. Me too.”
The thirteenth comes quicker than I anticipated, and unfortunately, I haven’t found a single opportunity to swoop in for a kill.
The rumors that The Director is a hard man to find weren’t a lie.
If it wasn’t for the secret device embedded under Sienna’s skin, I don’t think it would’ve been possible.
At least not this quickly. To ensure I’m still on Sienna’s trail, I check the moving dot on my phone’s map.
Up ahead, Franko’s SUV slows before turning into the parking lot of a renowned upscale restaurant.
I’m three cars behind, and I curse as I approach.
There are signs stating that this is a private event.
With the exception of Franko’s car, there are only a few vehicles in the parking lot as well; employees, if I had to guess.
“Fuck.” I grip the steering wheel tightly. If I were to park here, my car would stand out next to the others. I continue driving, going past the restaurant and down the street. Instead of parking on the road, I circle back around the block and pull into the lot just before The Gilded Cage.
Freeing my phone from its holder, I silence it and switch over to my Bluetooth earpiece before calling Alessandro.
“You can speak freely,” Alessandro says in a casual tone. Despite his calm demeanor, I know he’s fully alert. This is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.
“Franko and your sister are dining at a place called The Gilded Cage on the East Side. I’m guessing he booked the entire place for their date, judging by the signs and lack of cars in the lot.”
“No shit.” Alessandro snickers. “Finally, some good fucking luck.”
“How so?”
“We own the place. I’m pulling up access to the security cameras now.”
“Well, fuck me.” I chuckle. “That is good luck.”
A grateful sigh comes through the phone. “Okay, we have eyes on my sister and the Director. He only has two men with him. One standing guard, and the other monitoring the area for threats. Franko is either really foolish or incredibly brave to show his face on our turf.”
“That, or I get the impression your sister is even smarter than we realize. Something tells me she picked this place herself and convinced Franko to book it.”
Alessandro laughs softly. “Yeah, that sounds like my Sienna. Too good for the rest of us. Too smart for this family.” Sorrow laces his voice. “One simple mistake, and now this fucker has my baby sister.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get her. By any chance, can you send me the blueprints or layout of the restaurant? I need to know where the security cameras are.”
“Sure, but I can do you one better,” he says. “I can cut the feed. You’ll be free to do what you want.”