Page 49 of A Beautiful Crime

Rounding my office desk I cross over to my large bookcase with a hidden gun cabinet on the backside. It opens with my thumbprint and I retrieve my STACCATO C2 DPO Tactical 9mm Pistol.

Making sure I have a round fully loaded and that the safety is on I then place it in my gun holster.

One thing a Don must always carry is a gun.

You can never be too careful.

After all the failed assignation attempts and impromptu torture sessions I’m called to I always have my trusted gun on my personnel.

Even in Church.

Rico follows one step behind as I make my way to my personal elevator that only allows access to my penthouse suite and personal garage.

I apply my thumbprint and then a retinal scan. Only three other men are granted this access as their thumbprint and retinas are in the security system.

Rico, Pietro and Gino.

The day I find they betray me there will be more than just a bullet in their head.

As the elevator doors open Rico stands on the other side. He nods his head in goodbye and I do the same.

The elevator doors open once it has descended and I am greeted by a joyous yet maniacal Pietro. He stands by the handful of vehicles I have at this location, particularly more towards the newest Maserati I had custom made and in special order.

“No.”

His face falls like a kid who has been denied candy. “You really know how to kill a man’s fun.”

Fucking children. I swear, between him and Gino, I work with children.

“We are going to St. Peter’s Cemetery, Pietro.”

He raises his brow. “Your point?”

“I honestly thought that would explain itself.”

“We can’t ride in style even for the dead?”

I simply shake my head at him. “Pietro, has anyone ever told you that you must hold a decorum of modesty?”

“Of course,” he puffs and then adds with a wink, “when the situation calls for it.”

As I said, I work with fucking children. “This situation calls for it. Carina will be there.”

“We’re going to St. Peter’s Cemetery for Carina and not to visit your papa?”

I try to hide my exasperation but I’m sure he can sense it. “Do I need to repeat myself?”

“It’s your ass that will be haunted by the old man, not me.” Unfolding his arms he then goes towards one of my more tame automobiles. Still luxurious but not as flashy.

I meet him, throwing over the keys for him to drive. As I open the passenger door I say to him, “The dead can’t haunt you, Pietro. They’re dead.”

He shakes his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. Even the living can haunt you, Constantine. Carina already does.”

I have no chance to rebuttal him as he slides in the car and starts the engine. And even if I did it would be a weak argument.

But I’m not as sure if Carina haunts me or if it’s just my mad obsession.

Maybe the line between the two is not as sharp as I once believed.

---