Page 65 of Traitor

“Ronnie, you son of a bitch!”

I saw him slip out of a door down the hallway. “Impressive, to say the least.”

I watched him approach me as I leaned heavily against the wall, trying to prop up my aching body.

“Impressive, but foolish,” he hissed.

He went to punch me, but I caught his knuckles in my hand. I twisted his wrist and watched him wince in pain before I brought my free arm down against his wrist. I heard it snap before he howled in pain and dropped to his knees like the pansy he really was deep down inside. And after delivering a solid blow to his small, miniscule nutsack, I reached down and wrapped my arm around his neck.

Smiling as I listened to him choke on his own spit.

“You wanna know what I find to be the funniest part?” I asked.

He clawed at my clothed arm and gagged for air.

“No? Well, I’ll tell you: I think the funniest part of all this is that we both came for the same reason, but it looks like only one of us gets to fulfill it.”

“What?” he wheezed.

I pressed my lips against his ear. “You came to poison me, but I came to kill you, you filthy little bastard.”

And as I snapped his head to the left, listening as his spinal cord popped, I dropped his lifeless body to the ground. I stood to my own feet. I peered down into the man’s lifeless eyes and smiled to myself as my own blood dripped down my neck.

“No need for a truce when you’re dead,” I said with a chuckle.

But, as I took a step forward to go find Char, I heard clapping emanating behind me.

Before I turned around and saw Lorenzo emerge from the room stationed behind me.

26

Charlotte

As I stood aloneout on the back porch, the silence grew eerie. I looked around for someone—anyone—to be watching me. Or keeping tabs on me. Or generally reporting back to someone as to my whereabouts. But, I saw no one. I didn’t like the feeling of this situation one bit, but the chocolate and fruit tray sitting on the porch table kept calling my name. So, I walked over and poured myself a small glass of red wine before plucking a chocolate-covered espresso bean from its bowl.

Before a familiar voice sounded behind me. “I see you’re doing well.”

It took me a second to register the voice. I hadn’t heard it in so long that I almost thought I was dreaming. But, as I plopped the bean into my mouth and crunched down, I abandoned my wine in favor of turning around.

And saw my mother physically standing behind me.

“Wow,” I said.

She clapped her hands together. “I suppose that’s one way to put it.”

I shook my head. “I can’t even say I’m shocked anymore.”

She cocked her head. “Really? Wow. I rather thought you would’ve been shocked.”

“I found the documents in Lorenzo’s house while I was his captive. I know you’ve been working for him, and likely the entire Lucchese Family.”

Her eyes ran down my form. “And it looks as if you’ve become a slut for the mafia.”

I snorted. “A slut for the mafia? That’s rich, coming from someone like you. Your dirty little deeds have been much, much worse. At least I’m working with a man dedicated to the well-being of this island. You’re simply working for the man trying to destroy this place.”

She grinned. “Is that really what your time on this side of the world has led you to believe?”

I shrugged. “I was taught to believe evidence, and that’s exactly what the evidence shows.”

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