Chapter 6
“Thanks guys, you can leave us.” Lorenzo curtly nodded towards Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee next to me, before catching my gaze.
“Arturo Ramos, welcome.” How the fuck did he know my name? “I bet you’re wondering how I know that, right?” A smile cracked his lips as he leaned forwards over the desk. Smug bellend.
“Listen, old man, I think you’ve got the wrong bloke. All I came here for is a quiet drink before I headed home, that’s all. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way.” His jaw stiffened as he strummed his fingers on the desk.
“Carry on with the old man comments, and I’ll gut you from navel to chin. Am I making myself clear?” He leaned back in his chair as a sinister expression crept over his face.
“Fair enough,” I exhaled. His darkened eyes searched my impassive face. Probably for a sign of weakness, but, like everyone else, he found none. “There a reason you dragged me up here or did you just want to admire me up close?”
“I saw you had a slight… altercation downstairs, and I wanted to check on the situation to clarify there was nothing behind it.” He stood from his seat and pressed his palms flat on the desk, his eyes never leaving mine. “I don’t tolerate shit like that here.”
Ugh, fuck’s sake.
“What, you mean that clumsy, two-left feet chick who spilt my drink on me? Nah, I wouldn’t worry.
I put her in her place. Let me guess, she stormed up here to tattle on me and you’re about to give me a slap on the wrists.
That about the size of it?” He was doing a damn good job of hiding it, but I could tell that I was irritating him.
Not just by my tone but also by the way I carried myself.
The thing most people didn’t realise was, when you’ve got very little to live for, it becomes difficult to worry or even give a shit about anything.
“She did nothing of the sort. I saw everything unfold on the many feeds I have in here.” He rounded his desk before parking his ass on top of it. “So, tell me, Arturo Ramos, why pick my bar tonight? You seem to be far from home.”
“Look, mate, I don’t know what your problem is, but if you must know I only came for a drink, alright?
Paid using the same payment that lines your pocket I might add.
And the drink was to celebrate a job well done.
” I lit a cigarette much to his clear disapproval.
“Oh, and if it’ll help you sleep better, the job was my final hit. ”
“Ah, yes, the famous assassin, forgive me for not rolling out the red carpet. My staff weren’t anticipating you coming,” the sarcastic bastard cackled. I whistled between my teeth before replying.
“Aw, you got your henchmen to run a background check on me? I’m flattered. Nice to have a fan. But why should I give a fuck? I ain’t got nothin’ to hide from someone like you. You’ve probably wracked up a number similar to myself. Or are they all just a blur?”
“I remember every single one, as a matter of fact. And I enjoyed them all. Something tells me, you love killing as much as I do.” I gave him a toothy grin as his words sunk in.
“I’m not gonna lie, I don’t believe there are many pleasures that could beat bein’ someone’s end.
” I took a deep drag on my cigarette before exhaling a cloud in his face.
“I consider it a fuckin’ privilege.” It was true.
I enjoyed my work. But it barely took the edge off.
No, the life I really wanted to take was top-tier.
And just the thought of it made my chest tighten with rage.
But all in good time, Arturo.
Good things came to those who waited, and I planned to wait until the perfect moment.
“For the record, Ramos,” Lorenzo folded his arms and gave me a fierce stare, “I didn’t call you up here to feed your ego. No, I have a proposition for you. If it’s something you’d be willing to discuss.”
“Business I’m guessing? I’m all ears, old man.” I mocked as I slid into a leather chair by the desk, flicking my lighter against my leg. This time, there wasn’t an ounce of anger or irritation from Lorenzo, only a sly smile.
“Good. How would you feel about coming to work for me?”
I always found the first shower after a kill to be the most elite, as if it could wash away the sin that seeped into your veins with every passing second.
As the hot water tumbled down my shoulders, I yet again thought back to Lorenzo Ricci’s proposition.
I had mulled it over the whole ride home without coming to a conclusion.
I wouldn’t have said yes to him on the spot, and he knew that just as well as I did.
I had, however, agreed to visit him at his family home tomorrow to discuss terms. No matter how great everything sounded, a big part of me wasn’t ready to make a decision that would send me spiralling back into a world I never wanted to re-enter.
But if I was being totally honest with myself, the thing that was really plaguing my mind had nothing to do with Lorenzo’s job offer and everything to do with a certain sassy brunette.
Her.
I slammed the side of my fist against the damp tiles as I replayed her voice in my head.
Annoyingly, her sweet yet spicy perfume had fully embedded itself into my memory and was making everything south of my waist stir.
Shutting the water off, I rushed out of the shower and heaved in breaths.
No matter how hard I tried to rid myself of the image of her hot, wet, and naked, I just couldn't. My fingers still tingled from where they had touched her.
I could practically feel that silky skin sliding against mine, knowing all too well those no-bullshit blues of hers would stare right into me.
What was it about this chick that had me in a brain fog?
The rest of the night was spent tossing and turning. The sheets tangling around my body. But this time it was the haunted memory of one of my final conversations with my mum I couldn’t seem to shake.
“I am so proud of you,” my mother cupped my face before pulling me into her warm embrace.
“Gracias, Ma.” I cleared my throat as the emotions threatened to pull me under.
“And I know if your papa were here, I know he would be too…”
“Ma, you must know… I only did it because we needed the money. I was so scared for him, for you ? —”
“Arturo, no matter how bad life gets, don’t ever pull away from the good. You are a good boy. Promise me, it is over.”
“I promise.” I whispered, shame filling my heart.
The way the fear and panic in her eyes melted away, and the pride and gratitude replaced it.
And then just six weeks later, I lost her. She was ripped away from me in the worst possible way.
Sweat ran down my back in streams as the memory faded.
Cursing, I kicked off the sheets and ran my hands through my hair before dropping to the ground to do some push-ups.
The irony was, I’d convinced myself I’d done it for her and only her.
But the day she died I realised I’d been kidding myself and the last pure piece of my soul died with her.
I had vowed every day since then that no matter what it took I would aim for a better life and never re-enter a Hamilton’s home again.
It had taken many gruelling years but—so long as I was careful—I’d made enough money to live a quiet life just the way she’d always wanted me to.
Aside from assassination, in the early days I’d been the books man.
I could count numbers like no-one’s business but I’d kept this particular skill to myself over the years.
It wouldn't be too hard to freelance myself out for a few particular clients who wanted to keep their accounts looking squeaky clean.
But then again, none of that would pay me as well as Lorenzo would.
I wasn’t a complete idiot. I knew I would be a fool not to accept his offer, but did I really want to be that close to a family again?
Then again… It was easy cash. I mean, how hard could it be?
Yeah, it meant looking after Lorenzo’s precious daughter, who likely spent more time spending her daddy’s money than running on a treadmill, but the job was simple. ..
All I had to do was train her to take her father’s place whilst keeping my hands to myself.
As if I needed a warning. Joke would be on him. I had no desire to fuck Lorenzo Ricci’s only daughter. If I accepted his offer, it’d be a job and nothing more. A job I could do with my eyes shut. With a sigh of relief, I leant back against my bed, sweat dripping down my back and nodded to myself.
Isabella Ricci, you’re in for a rude awakening.
Saturday, 31st March, 8:45am
The next afternoon, I arrived at the biggest mansion I’d ever seen.
The Hamiltons’ mansion had nothing on this.
My bike came to a halt on the gravel, and I switched off the ignition.
I didn’t need to look up to know someone was waiting for me at the front door.
I hooked my helmet onto the handle bar and glanced up to meet the gaze of one of the men from last night, the one with flaming red hair.
And, wow… he did not look happy to see me.
Good.
I held up my hand to offer an olive branch but he just sighed in annoyance.
“Keep starin’ at me like that, and your face will get stuck that way.” I scoffed.
“You always this pleasant, or just when you’re flirting?” he asked, scowling, as he folded his arms.
“Why, you lookin’ for a date?” I winked.
“What the fuck did you just say to me?” Ah, there we go.
Smirking with satisfaction, I caught his gaze and said, “Take it easy, mate… You’ll pop a vein if you ain’t careful.”
“Keep pushing, kid, and I’ll throw your ass into the lake?—”