Page 50 of Assassin's Obsession

My witness to the mob's crimes status just keeps getting more and more pronounced.

Derian shakes his head. "Don't take that bet, Miz Candi. You'll lose your fifty."

Despite the conditions in the alley, I don't doubt Derian's words.

"No bet," I mutter.

More bright headlights illuminate the alley, and I whip my head around to see a car pull to a stop close to the front bumper of the SUV.

Freddy leaves the headlights glowing when he jumps out of the car.

I'm not surprised when Derian barks, "Turn off the lights and leave the car running."

Freddy obeys without arguing. When he comes around the back of the SUV, Mario repeats his offer of a bet to the younger made man.

Freddy stares at him and laughs. "I'll take that bet. This alley is full of crap and without the Merc's headlights it's too dark."

"To be that young and naïve again," Derian says with fake sorrow.

Mario turns on a high-powered pen light and walks forward in a straight line without looking to the left or right.

Five seconds later, he bends down and picks something up, then holds it open palm out toward Freddy. "Got it."

"Impossible!" Freddy squawks. "No way is that your bullet."

Mario shines his penlight onto his palm, where a smashed piece of metal gleams dully. "I know my bullet trajectories."

"Gross," I mutter. "There's blood and brain matter on that."

I can't believe he just picked it up like that doesn't matter.

Who am I kidding? These guys probably touch brain matter and blood on a regular basis. But it's still gross.

At least he's wearing gloves.

Mario shrugs. "If I left it behind, Death would cut off my hand just for being stupid."

"You realize it's not normal to talk about your boss cutting off people's hands, don't you?" I snark, squirming in my seat in silent protest.

Mario shrugs. "It is for us."

"Yeah, I don't envy you working for Death. " Freddy sounds entirely sincere in that sentiment.

"Open your trunk," Derian orders my father's soldier.

Looking relieved, Freddy is quick to obey. "Thanks for letting me take Gino back to the boss."

"You're taking him and your bad debtor over there to The Box."

"The Box?" Freddy asks with alarm. "Why?"

"Because our boss said to and unless you want to get on his bad side, you'll listen to him."

"But Mr. Bianchi will kill me."

"Nah. He already lost one guy tonight," Mario says consolingly. "He's not going to fire you."

"There's a lot he can do to me to make me regret disobeying him," Freddy replies.

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