Page 41 of Assassin's Obsession

"In the alley, boss." Freddy groans, realizing before Stefano starts yelling that wasn't what the capo meant. "In the head. Gino's not coming home tonight."

I expect an explosion, but there are several long seconds of tense silence. I don't know about Freddy, but I can hear Stefano's absolute rage coming through loud and clear in it.

Then Stefano says, "Let me talk to Derian."

Freddy looks around like he's hoping for some kind of deliverance, but there's nothing but the drizzle of Fall rain.

"He can hear you, Mr. Bianchi. I got you on speaker."

The Italian that erupts out of my sperm donor's mouth is too vicious to be anything but a lot of cursing.

"They told me I had to," Freddy whines.

Stefano's Italian is voluble.

"I know who my boss is, but…"

I don't know why Freddy isn't replying in Italian, but at least I'm getting his half of the conversation.

Maybe he understands the language, but is crap at speaking it. I'm that way with Polish because of my mom.

"In the alley behind Pitiful Princess," Freddy says in response to a question from Stefano.

Derian frowns during Stefano's next barked Italian then says, "That won't be necessary Mr. Bianchi. We'll take care of the body."

Stefano speaks again furiously.

"Take it up with Death if you want to give him a proper burial." Derian doesn't sound worried that Mario killed someone who worked for the capo.

"Qual è il nome del ballerino?" Stefano asks without addressing Derian's words.

I recognize enough words with my rudimentary Italian to know what he just asked.What is the name of the woman?

"My name is Kathleen Brigliano," I say with unexpected emotion in my voice. They are the first words I have ever spoken to my sperm donor. "You knew my mother as Bonbon."

I don't bother giving him her legal name because I doubt he ever cared enough to find out what it was. She was the stripper he fucked, not the love of his life.

Does he even know mine?

I don't know if the fact I carry his blood will carry any weight with him. But right now,Ineed him to know that his goons threatened his daughter's life and thatIknow whoheis.

Tonight, my father ordered my death. And now he knows that I know he did that. He might not have known it was me he so cavalierly consigned to an early grave, but it's still true. And that matters.

"Bianchi knows your mom?" Mario asks like he knows there's something more to it than what I have said.

"He knew her. She died when I was ten."

"I'm sorry for your loss." Mario's words ring with unexpected sincerity.

"Thank you."

"I didn't…I don't…" The mafia capo's voice is uncertain, his words saying nothing, even if he's speaking English now.

He might not know my name, but he knows I exist. Mommy told him.

Looking directly at Freddy, I say, "Your boss is my sperm donor."

I might behissecret, but my existence is notmysecret to keep.

---