Page 112 of The Devil's Pawn

His eyelids glide shut as his features twist in pain. “Your brother there?”

“Yep. Here, Runo.”

“Hey, Dad.” The boy sounds maybe a few years older than his sister.

“Hey, buddy. I want you two to behave, okay? When I’m not there, you’re the man of the house, and you’ve gotta act like it. Help your mom and your sister. Make me proud like you always do.”

“Okay. I will. By the way, can we get burgers and fries after my baseball game tomorrow night?”

His tears quietly fall past his face and onto his lap.

“Yeah, sure, kid. Whatever you want. I love you so much. You and your sister have been the best thing me and your mother ever did.”

“I love you too, Dad. I’ll see you tonight. Georgia wants to draw with me, so I have to go.”

“Yeah, uh…okay.” He swallows hard, trying to keep his voice level. “Love you all.”

“Bye, Dad.”

Then the line cuts off and his sobbing comes louder as his head bows.

Enzo lifts his gun, aiming it at Anthony’s head, but my brother’s eyes are on mine and mine are on his.

“How old are your kids?” I ask.

“Georgia is four and Runo is almost eight.” He pulls his face up to me. “They’re good kids. Nothing like me. I don’t want them caught up in this life. We’ve done what we can to get them away from it.”

I glance at Enzo again, my mind fighting with what we should do and what I want to do. My brother can easily read my mind with just a look.

“You serious?” Enzo implores.

“I don’t know.” I shrug, completely warped with indecision.

“What?” Anthony’s focus darts from me to Enzo. “Please, don’t hurt my family!”

“We don’t hurt innocent kids.” My glare lands at him. “That’s what you and your people do.”

“I swear I wasn’t involved. I’m a piece of shit for not helping them. I know that. But if it meant protecting my own kids, then I had to do what I needed to. I’m sorry if you can’t understand that. But if it wasn’t for my babies, I’d get those kids out myself. I have my limits.”

There was a time when I’d never have considered letting a member of our enemy go, but fuck, I’m getting soft. Maybe it’s loving Raquel. Maybe it’s remembering the bond we had as a family. But the next thing I know, I’m using the knife in my hand and cutting off the binds at his wrists.

“What are you doin’?” His brows hunch over as his lips flutter in confusion.

“We’re giving you a second chance. Don’t make us regret it.”

“You…you’re letting me go?” he cries, falling onto the ground with his palms connected in prayer. “Thank you. Oh, God, thank you.”

“You have to get your family and get the hell out of New York. I don’t care where you go, but if I were you, I’d run and hope they can’t find you.”

I have a feeling that if they suspect we let him live, they’ll know he talked, and it’ll be lights out for everyone in his family.

“I swear. I’ll be gone. I’ll call my wife now, and we’ll leave immediately.”

He rises to his feet, wiping at the tears on his cheeks, interlaced with the blood from the cut on his face.

“Thank you for this. You’re honorable men. If there’s anything you ever need, I will help you.”

“We don’t need your help,” I say, handing him his cell. “Go. Now. Before we change our minds.”

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