Page 9 of The Sicilian Brotherhood I

The floorboards didn’t betray me and I quietly worked the lock, wiping my sweaty hands off on my pants every few minutes until I’d jimmied the lock open and I was free…

I tiptoed down the hallway without making a sound. The stairs would be a bigger challenge. Using the railing, I descended step by step, trying to make my body as weightless as possible and testing each board before I got to the bottom. I rushed to the back door that I’d noticed past the kitchen. The door was wide open with only a screen door closed. I pushed the handle down slowly and it opened.

This had been too easy. I stepped one barefoot outside, recoiling as my feet froze against the concrete.

It was cold enough that we had to be far north. Probably Pennsylvania by the looks of the farmhouses. I stepped outside and started running towards the main road. I ran across the backyard but before I could reach the main road, I felt a firm grip on my arm.

“Ow!” I screamed, but my assailant held me tighter and yanked me backward.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Giacomo growled.

“Let go of me!” I yelled.

He grabbed me closer to him now and pressed his hand over my mouth.

“Stop screaming,” he growled, “And give me one good reason why I should let you live.”

He removed his hand from my mouth but continued to hold me. I trembled and he kept me pinned to him with one arm while he reached for the gun in his holster.

“I’m serious…” he growled.

Giac

She trembled in my grasp, afraid that I’d actually pull the trigger. I’d had men in her position before who’d reacted less bravely. Sure, she was terrified, any normal person would be, but she kept a cool head.

“I know the location of something you want,” she said.

I dropped her to the ground, keeping my gun out in case she tried to run.

“Now we’re getting somewhere.”

“If I run, you’ll really shoot?”

“Don’t try me.”

She scoffed, “You’ll probably kill me anyway.”

“Enough talking. What do you know.”

I replaced the gun in the holster on my jeans. I’d expected her to make a run for it but the truth was if I hadn’t stepped out for a smoke and a late night think, she would have gotten away with it.

“It’s cold,” she mumbled.

I smirked, “You thought you could run away barefoot?”

She glowered and I chuckled.

“Fine,” I replied, “Let’s head inside.”

I phrased it as if she had a choice. She didn't.

We stepped inside and she glanced furtively up the stairs.

“Is Raimondo asleep?” She asked.

I wrinkled my nose.

“Yes,” I replied, “Why?”

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