Page 148 of Assassin's Obsession

"Won't he cause trouble for Severu too?" I worry.

I don't want anyone coming for Angelo again.

"No. He wants to take the mafia in Sicily and Southern Italy into the twenty-first century. He wouldn't do anything to hasten his father's death, but he'll be relieved by it. He's already let Severu know that when he becomes godfather, he'll honor the old alliances."

The sound of a helicopter landing outside cuts off what I was going to say next.

"Time to go home."

"Good, I'm ready to see the back of this place."

"It won't be here to see tomorrow. The cleanup team will burn it to the ground."

"That's one way to destroy evidence."

Angelo keeps his arm around my shoulder as we head to the front door. "It's also a good way to get a message across. The owners of this property allowed Barone its use. If they were unwitting accomplices, losing the house will be their punishment."

"And if they're not?"

"Then Death will pay them a visit."

Chapter 40

ANGELO

Once we're on the helicopter, the pilot offers me and Candi a headset so we can talk and hear each other.

Usually, I wouldn't wear someone else's equipment. There's no way to know what the cleaning protocols are, but I want to be able to hear anythingmia amatewants to say.

I take the headsets and clean one with a disinfectant wipe before handing it to Candi and doing the same for my own.

"Is it really that loud?" she asks, her voice coming through clearly on the earphones.

"It can be." We could probably hold a conversation because the cabin is insulated for sound, but we'd still have to raise our voices to be heard.

The noise inside the cabin increases as we lift off.

Candi grimaces. "Oh, thatisloud."

"Like being at the club." Where you have to be within a couple of feet to hear another person speak.

"What was that loud music I heard on the phone when Queen Bitch called you?"

"I had Miceli send his music to the cabin sound system before I answered so the sounds of helicopter flight wouldn't be obvious."

"It worked. I thought you were at the club for a second and then I realized you were probably already on your way to me."

"I was." Her faith in me reminds me that she does not only see me as the monster, Death. "But you still decided to run."

"I told you why."

I don't mention how illogical her conclusion was because it was born of concern for me. "I don't want you taking risks like that."

"I don't like that you take risks either. I guess we'll both have to be careful."

"You didn't even have a weapon." I try not to allow the frustration I feel at that fact bleed into my voice.

"I had a stick, but I dropped it so I could run faster when I realized they had followed me into the forest." She plucks at the dark sweater she's wearing. "At least I had this. They didn't bring my coat when they kidnapped me."

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