Page 31 of Desperate Vows

“Not yet.”

Dimitris walked to his jacket which was slung over a chair, pulled a cigarette out, and lit it. “I figured you’d want to persuade him.”

“You figured right.” I took a swing, and I didn’t stop until I was sure he’d been properly tenderized. My knuckles were battered and bruised from repeated contact with bones and teeth.

Folding my arms over my chest, I stared at him and waited. I didn’t have to say anything. He knew what I wanted.

The only sound was my brother's inhaling and exhaling, his smoking punctuated by heavy breathing from the guy I had worked over. He began squirming, tugging on the restraints that kept him tied to the chair. He was grunting, groaning, and straining.

“I’m not talking.” He panted. “There are people scarier than you’ll ever be.”

“That’s one hell of a hasty judgment to make when you haven’t been here all that long.” I shot back. The guy didn’t realize I was ambidextrous and I didn’t mind having matching knuckles.

I walked to the chair where Dimitris had his coat, grabbed the one next to it, and spun it around so that I was sitting with my arms over the back. “You have my word that if you talk, I’ll let you go.”

He curled his split lip. “Yeah, and then Smokey Joe over there sinks one in my back as I’m leaving.”

“No, he won’t. You’ll walk out of here.”

I paused, giving him a minute to think. He shook his head and then mumbled something inaudible.

“Who.” I barked.

The guy shook his head again. “He’ll kill me.”

“You’re right. Which means you’re dead either way, so you might as well tell me.”

We just sat there in silence, letting him stew. I had time and patience. Well, more time than patience, but I wanted to know who tried to take Claire. I could protect her better if I knew who it was.

He grunted. “Moretti. Says Franklin screwed him over, and he’s taking what was promised.”

“Is the girl all that was promised?” I wondered if Franklin was pitting us against the Italians. They had a bigger family and a cavalry if they needed it, provided by other families.

“Something about a fund or something. I don’t know. I was just told to grab the girl while her daddy was away.”

“Franklin was set up?”

He shrugged and looked away, but the answer was clear. That was why he flew to New York at the last minute. The guy swung his head and looked at me. “They know it’s you.”

“They know it’s me… what?”

“Don’t be stupid with me. You’re the one hitting the families.” He narrowed his eyes. “You might as well kill me. There’s no telling what Marco Moretti will do to me.”

“Why do you think I was going to let you walk out of here?”

“You said you were going to.”

“Yeah, because I knew he’d take care of you for me.” I smiled.

His eyes were wide with realization. “No. Listen. I’ll do anything. Marco and Franklin were supposed to be forming an alliance, but something happened. Something with Emil.” He talked faster. “Next thing I know, Emil is dead, and Marco is out for Franklin’s blood. That’s everything. All I know.”

I sat back, thoroughly confused. This was a chessboard that’d been knocked over, and I was trying to figure out where the pieces were. “Untie him and let him go.”

“No.” The guy fought against the restraints again.

Thea caught my eye from the edge of the entrance to the warehouse. I gave a slight nod. I was doing the kindest thing I could for Antonio because he was right. If Marco got him, he could drag his death out who knew how long. Thea would make it quick and painless. I knew I said I’d let him go, but he was a dead man walking, and this was a mercy killing.

Dimitris pulled out his knife, slashed the ropes, and yanked Antonio up. “Get out.”

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