Page 67 of Mercy in Betrayal

“My son would be very upset about what you just did.”

I walk back toward the old man and take a seat across from him, sitting on the edge of the chair. “The day I begin to care about Luca Marzano’s feelings is the day that I give up my seat.”

With a shaky hand, Vitto points to the oxygen tank that’s beside his left leg. “I cannot smoke.” His words are half growled. “You know this.”

I smile before withdrawing my weapon. Since Tom led me in, I wasn’t frisked. I was counting on Tom being here to get my weapon past security; that’s why I rang him to see exactly where he was.

“You will smoke one.” I lean back in the chair and keep my gun on him.

Vitto doesn’t appear afraid at all to have a gun pointed at him; in fact, he just seems irritated. “What are you up to? My men are right in the hallway.”

I nod and pretend to ponder on that. This seems to satisfy Vitto; his shoulders relax.

“You are right.” I don’t lower my gun but move it a bit closer. “But my bullets are faster than any of your men.”

He shifts in his chair and shakes his head with annoyance. “What’s this nonsense—”

“You can’t think of anything you have done wrong?” I ask, giving him this moment to admit to killing Francis.

“I’ve done a lot of wrongs, but to you, Enzo…. no.”

I grin, but it’s vicious. “Francis.”

He smiles like this is one big joke. “Your own father put Francis in that ring.”

I nod. “I’m aware. You were complicit, though, and my father isn’t alive to receive his justice.” I pause. “But you are. How does it feel, Marzano? To pay for the sins of someone else?”

Vitto shakes his head. He’s ready to speak again, but his time for talking is over.

“That’s what Francis did. And your son. You asked your own son and my brother to pay for your sins.” I let that sink in. “Your own son,” I repeat, and he glances at the door. “What are you going to do, shout for help?”

“If you take that shot, you will die, just like your brother,” he taunts, his voice feeble.

“That’s the difference between you and me. I’m willing to die for my family, as my brother did all those years ago. I wondered why his killer was never found, but it all makes sense now. Luca was on the path to becoming an Untouchable.” I get up and keep my gun on him as I retrieve the cigarettes and lighter from his desk. I bring them back, and Vitto glances at them before wetting his lips.

“He was too valuable to this organization, deemed more valuable than my sister’s twin.”

He doesn’t say anything; the truth is clear on his face.

“Tonight, the bill gets paid.” I extend the cigarettes and lighter. “Light it up, Marzano.”

He doesn’t move or reach for my gift.

I cock the gun in my other hand.

With shaky fingers, he takes the cigarettes and lighter from me. His hands tremble as he takes the plastic off the pack; he removes one cigarette and stares at it.

His gaze meets mine as he raises it to his now dry lips.

“Go ahead,” I urge. “At least you’ll die doing this one thing you love.”

It takes a few attempts from the tremble in his hands to get the flint to ignite, but it finally does, and the red embers glow on the cigarette. He inhales a puff and blows smoke out. At first, nothing happens, but then the ember of the cigarette catches the stream of oxygen going into Vitto’s nostrils.

His eyes widen as the flames violently expand. I watch as he reaches out a hand toward me like I might stop this, but it’s too late; the flames follow the stream of his oxygen all the way to the tank, and I move as the tank explodes.

Vittto’s screams are instant, beautiful, and terrifying.

I stand back and put my weapon away as fire engulfs the bookshelves behind him and spreads to the desk. Everything catches fire while Vitto continues to scream; he’s trying to stand but tumbles to the ground. I cover my mouth against the smoke that fills the room rapidly.

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