Page 39 of Maid For The Mafia Informant

“The plant-”

He growls, interrupting me. “Which one?”

“Uh, I dunno, some red and yellow thing,” I tell him, wondering what the fuck that has to do with anything.

He sighs bitterly, and it’s a full minute before he even has the composure to talk.

“I’ll handle this, Slade. Just stay put, don’t fucking move and for god’s sake, don’t touch that plant and shut the fucking greenhouse will ya?”

The line goes dead and instead of relieved, I feel more confused than ever.

A few minutes pass and I start to feel anger again, it’s stabilizing.

Empowering.

I stand up, tall and ready, feeling every fiber of my body tense and ready for not just action but revenge.

The time for trying to deal with De Falco peacefully is over. I’ll never be the one to put him in a cage, not after what he’s done.

I need to set things right the only way they can be.

An eye for an eye.

That’s the De Falco way.

That’s the mafia way.

I go through the parts of the house I can access one more time, this time opening every drawer and cupboard, checking every panel for a false bottom.

It doesn’t take me long to uncover what I want.

Enough small arms and ammunition to maybe even take on the De Falco family, but I just need one gun, one bullet.

The sound of a chopper overhead brings me to my senses. I stare at the gun and the box of ammo.

I’ve never hurt anyone in my life. Am I gonna start today?

I really don’t know yet, but I tuck it all away in my backpack and make my way outside, pulling the door shut behind me.

The chopper is out front, right by the door and I lower myself and try to make my way through the dust and debris it’s throwing up, making my way to the small door that’s open on one side.

I’ve never been in a helicopter before, and this one obviously wasn’t built for the comfort of a six foot five man either.

It’s empty in the back but I find a headset and put it on while the door silently closes, and I feel my stomach lurch as the ground beneath us suddenly disappears.

The headset crackles and I can hear some radio chatter I’m certain isn’t intended for me.

“Three choppers? Well… Looks like we got him just in time, patch me through- oh!”

There’s some silence but I recognize one of the voices.

“You caught the right bird, Slade. Congratulations, pity I didn’t have time to have someone collect my plant but never mind. I’ll make sure De Falco pays for what he’s done… and I don’t just mean your girlfriend.”

Enrico!

“But I thought-” I start to say, but he cuts me off.

“I can’t chat Slade. I’m a little tied up myself at the minute, plus I think we’re about even in the favors stakes. This chopper will take you to safety, or to the warehouse where Sophie is… which would you prefer?”

I growl in answer, not liking Enrico’s sudden attempts at humor.

“I thought so,” he says seriously.

“I just heard that Partridge and his feds have almost landed, but there was another chopper too… trying to get you before we did,” he muses, the radio dropping out though and I can barely hear him.

“De Falco,” I deduce aloud, shaking my head and feeling sick with rage all over again.

“Correct. Good luck, Slade. You’ll need it from here on out,” Enrico says. I have a million questions, but the radio crackles again before going silent. I can’t see the pilot and I try asking him something through the headset, but it’s been switched off.

The chopper flies for what feels like all night but is really just over an hour before landing.

The door slides open and I step out onto a rooftop, shielding my eyes again before it takes off.

Once it’s quiet, I wonder if Enrico was right.

Maybe his nice guy act was just that, since losing his plant and having his villa exposed to the feds he might’ve hung me out to dry.

I crouch behind some air conditioning vents, fishing in my back pack for the gun.

I think it’s loaded.

I’ve never done the gun thing before, seen plenty but never had or even used one before but it should be enough for now.

I make my way to the edge of the rooftop, looking down.

I recognize the streetscape instantly.

This is the safe house building, where I was being kept by Partridge.

The sound of cars and a large van grab my attention, and I can see, even from up here that there’s a bit of a motorcade at the entrance.

I strain to see in the dark, but once the van opens, I can see three people being led out with sacks over their head.

I’d know Sophie’s curves from space, and I almost shout out as soon as I see her, but as quickly as I see them, they disappear into the building and the cars, van, all move away quickly but quietly.

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