Page 13 of Sinful Sacrifice

We park a block away from the third casino building site. I exit the minivan I carjacked an hour ago and throw on a black hooded sweatshirt.

Julian and Emilio join my side, each of them holding gas cans.

My father appears behind them, removing two sets of matches from his shirt pocket. When he offers me one, I shake my head, holding up my own.

I’d never show up for an arson job without a healthy supply of matches.

A full moon floats above us as we stroll toward a poorly lit site. Their only security measure is two men sitting in a beat-up pickup truck. As we grow closer, I notice one is sleeping, and the other is focused on an iPad.

Emilio and my father creep to the truck while Julian follows me toward the newly framed building. He drenches it with gas. I strike a match, smiling at the glowing brightness around the flame. Just as I’m about to toss it, I notice the truck light up in flames from the corner of my eye. A man rolls out, his clothes on fire, and screams before collapsing.

I tsk and shake my head.

It didn’t have to come down to this.

We tried to reason with the Popovs.

Even proposed a very generous amount of money for them to stay out of New York. But they played too many games—sending shoppers to Lucky Kings, trying to recruit our employees—and became a headache.

I don’t mitigate headaches.

I fucking kill them.

A rush of energy courses through my veins as I toss the match, watching the fire consume the structure.

Damn, being in power feels good.

I swat mosquitoes away as we make our way back to where we parked. Julian pours the remainder of the gasoline on the minivan, and my father lights it on fire. Luis, one of our men, is stationed three streets over, waiting for us.

“You headed back to the casino?” I ask my father.

He shakes his head, running his fingers through his short black hair. “Your mother bribed me to come home by making her plum cake.” He nudges me with his elbow. “Your grandparents and sister will be there. Stop by if you’re free.”

“If not tonight, I’ll come by tomorrow.”

He nods and slaps me on the back. “Love you, son.”

Then, he does the same with Julian.

Luis drives us to the casino, and I beeline straight to my office. Antonio asked me to gather paperwork and then drop it off at the hospital for him. Amara, his daughter, is there, recovering from a tonsillectomy.

An hour later, I’m headed out the door.

First stop, hospital.

Second, Pippa’s.

I stop when my phone rings, and Julian’s name flashes on the screen.

He’s screaming when I answer.

I listen to him, digest every word that’s a knife to the heart.

My body loses all strength as I drop the phone and collapse to my knees.

5

Cleanup of humiliation in aisle five, please.

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