Page 46 of Hush 3: Hidden Family

“To the civilian world I can be the odd girl with no friends, no social skills, nothing more than a freakish talent, but in the underworld, I will be known to be as lethal as my family. As deadly as my husband.

“I am doing this because my mother was taken from me for this birthright. My husband has been taken from me over it. I almost lost you because of it.”

“But you don’t have to do this. How do you even know these things? I thought the point was to keep you innocent,” he says with a voice full of concern and protectiveness.

“I know these things because they have been spoken of in front of me as if I lack the ability to understand. I have ears. I understand.

“Uri is also probably the only one who doesn’t coddle me. He has answered my questions when I ask. If you’re not going to help me, I will go to him,” I say in frustration.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t help. I just thought … Never mind. I will do as you ask.”

“Thank you. Would you like to talk about your compensation? I’m willing to pay you twenty-five percent of each transaction.”

He chuckles and shakes his head. “This will be on me. Come, let’s go for a run.”

Micheal

“I’m growing tired of these games.” I seethe as I hold this bastard by his ankles over the edge of the rooftop of one of Uri’s nightclubs.

Knowing Uri would be here tonight, I entered the club through the back so I wouldn’t be seen. It’s a good thing I did. I found this motherfucker slipping something into the food the kitchen had prepared to send up to Uri’s office.

Everyone was too busy to notice his sneaky ass, but I caught him and followed him out as he went to deliver the tray. Now we are here. I would send him back to his boss with missing hands and a cut-out tongue, but he has seen us both.

Uri heard the commotion outside his office and stepped out. The look of realization on this asshole’s face sealed his death. All I want to know is who sent him.

“My boss is Jacques Dubois. A call came in from someone he owed a favor. Italian accent.

“He asked us to kill the man they call Hush for two million dollars. Jacques refused the job. I called the number back to accept it. That was a lot of money to turn down,” he chokes out.

“Too bad you won’t get to spend a dime,” I snarl and release him.

“Fuck, Michael. Have you lost your bloody mind?” Uri bites out.

“I dropped him in the alley. I couldn’t leave him alive. I will have him cleaned up before anyone notices.”

“You are becoming unhinged. Your work is beginning to look more like mine.”

“That isn’t much of a problem, is it? Shouldn’t we be uniform?”

He growls and gives me a look of exasperation. I shrug and dust my hands off. I did what needed to be done.

“Don’t get cheeky with me, you arrogant brat.” He pauses to take a breath and pinch the bridge of his nose. “I think it’s time for you to take some time off.

“You’ve been under a lot of pressure. Let things cool down a bit and then you can get back to it. Killing dodgy bastards like that filthy fucker can wait.”

“I’m fine,” I grunt.

Swiftly, he moves to get in my face. He glares into my eyes, making my inch of height over him disappear. In this moment there is no doubt I’m the little brother.

However, I don’t look away or cower. He’s not expecting me to either. Uri demands respect, but he is also willing to give it. I know I have earned his respect, which is why I listen.

“You will take a fucking break. Deal with your shit. Clear your head. We are not to get sloppy now. Do you understand me?”

He is right. I have been becoming unhinged as of late. I’m sexually frustrated, I keep having dreams about Symphony, and there seems to be no end in sight of this bullshit with Leonardo.

The Locatellis have enough power to give us the green light. They are strong enough to handle a war if it comes to it. I grind my teeth at the thought because even I know that all could lead to uncalculated disaster.

“I hear you.”

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