Page 10 of The Sicilian Brotherhood I

“Nothing.”

She looked away from me and I pointed to the worn plaid couch.

“Sit,” I commanded.

The fire crackled in the background and she rubbed her arms with her hands as she sank into the couch. I tossed her a fleece blanket. What the hell was she thinking running out into the cold in only that? She wouldn't make it ten miles without freezing to death.

She obliged, wrapping the blanket around her skinny walnut colored shoulders. She squeezed her thighs together, fiddling with her thumbs nervously in her lap. I watched her, squirming like a trapped animal.

“Stop fidgeting,” I commanded.

“If you didn’t have that gun on your waist maybe I could.”

“I’m not going to hurt you —”

“If I talk,” she interrupted.

“Yes,” I replied, clearing my throat, “If you talk.”

She didn't hesitate as much as I'd expected before blurting it out.

“I know where Franco stashed your Pink Star diamond.”

I’d questioned enough thugs and gangsters and civilians to know when someone was lying. Dahlia wasn’t, but I had to make sure that she knew, just in case. She'd been too forthcoming with the information.

Perhaps that wasn't too surprising considering the man she'd ended up with.

“Tell me where it is," I growled, sinking into the chair across from her and staring at her intently, hunting for signs of deception.

She scoffed, “So you can kill me right here?”

“I won’t kill you.”

She was smart. Too smart. For a woman who’d spent so much time around an idiot like Franco, I was surprised.

“Good,” she said.

I cleared my throat, “I’m not going to let you go either.”

She stared back at me, still terrified.

“Don’t worry,” I replied, “I won’t let anything happen to you. We’ll meet up with the rest of my men and we’ll get the diamond.”

She nodded.

“You still look frightened.”

“Can you blame me?”

I grunted in response. I didn’t have time to worry about her. That douche bag of an ex of hers had something that belonged to me. As usual, his girl sung like a canary the second she was under threat.

That’s why you couldn’t trust women — any of them. I’d never had a woman come so close to the brotherhood and give her a chance to screw us.

“You need to get to bed.”

“I’m already up.”

I scowled, “It’s not up for debate. Get some rest. I’ll get you at sunrise.”

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