Page 74 of Memphis

“I tried to stop ‘em, but they were too quick.”

“I know, but you tried and that’s more than most would do.”

“I shoulda done more.”

“No, Louie,” I interrupted. “You took a bullet for him. Hell, you took two and still tried to save him.”

“I didn’t want him to die.”

I reached out and gently placed a hand on Louie’s shoulder. “None of us did, but we’re gonna find the guys who did this and make them pay for what they’ve done.”

“It was the Paulette boys.”

“Who?”

“They’s hang out over at Macomb’s bar on Sixth.” He inhaled a pained breath before he wheezed, “I see ‘em there when I do my rounds.”

“You sure it’s the same guys?”

“Yes, sir.” He nodded. “I watched ‘em when one of them ran up on the curb and dented that front fender.”

“You got the names of these assholes?”

“Nah, man. I did my best to steer clear from those guys. They’s nothing but trouble.”

“You’re a smart man for that, but don’t you worry. We’ll find them and set things straight.” I gave his shoulder a light squeeze. “You hang in there, and if you need anything, you just let us know.”

“Thanks, boss.”

I gave him a nod, then quickly headed back to the conference room to let the others know about my conversation with Louie. While I hated that we’d lost Nix and that Louie was wounded, I felt a rush knowing that we were closing in on the guys who’d hurt them.

We would find them, and we would have our vengeance.

And when it was all said and done, everyone in a hundred-mile radius would be reminded of one important fact—You don’t fuck with Fury.

Antonia

I hadn’t planned to stay.

I was just going to have dinner with my father and head back to my apartment, but I just didn’t have the heart to leave him there alone. He’d refused to admit it, but I knew something was going on with him. Besides, it had been months since I’d been at home, and it was like old times being there with him.

We watched a little TV and had a late-night bowl of ice cream, and when I could no longer keep my eyes open, I went up to my room and crashed for the night. The next morning, I awoke later than I planned and didn’t have time to go back to my apartment to get dressed. So, I grabbed some old slacks and a button-down from my closet and rushed to the bathroom for a quick shower.

Once I was out, I got dressed, slipped my phone in my back pocket, then raced downstairs for some coffee. As I walked past Dad’s room, I couldn’t help but notice that only one side of the bed had been slept in. I’d really hoped that Wes had been mistaken about Kay leaving Dad, but clearly, that wasn’t the case.

My heart felt heavy as I continued downstairs and into the kitchen. I poured myself a cup of coffee and took a sip, hopingit might help shake the uneasy feeling that had settled over me. When it stuck with me, I decided to make a bite of breakfast and started over to the fridge. I was just about to open the door when I heard Dad talking to someone in his office, and right away, I could tell something felt off. I stepped into the hall and put my ear towards the door, trying to see if I could hear what was being said.

There was an edge to the stranger’s tone—a coldness that made my skin crawl. I couldn’t make out what either of them was saying, but the way each spoke was unnerving, especially the stranger. His tone was too calm, too measured like he was trying to keep his composure.

Suddenly, the office door flew open, and I heard the stranger say, “I’m done playing games with you, Carmine.”

A man stepped out, and his mere presence seemed to suck the air out of the hallway. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and he was wearing an expensive black-on-black suit and tie. His dark hair was slicked back, revealing his dark and piercing eyes. And when he spotted me, his lips curled into a slow, sinister smile that made my blood run cold.

"Well, well, well... Who do we have here?”

“Nobody,” Dad clipped.

“Clearly, it’s somebody,” he sneered. “And she’s quite beautiful.”

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