Page 114 of Vicious Heir

Vittorio: That’s not the plan, boss. You need backup.

Adriano: I’m tired of waiting.

Vittorio: I’m sending Luca.

Adriano: Good luck with that.

I reach the house and slip around the side. There aren’t any lights that I can see—except when I reach the back, there’s one glowing, probably in the living room. Just a single lamp near one of the windows.

The fucker’s in there. I know it.

Which leaves me a choice. I can try to slip through nice and quiet, but I don’t think that’ll work. If I’m not perfect, he’s going to catch me before I can get the drop on him, and that’ll probably end with a bullet in my head.

I’ve never been the sneaky type, anyway.

Which means there’s only one other option.

I step up to the back door, shoot the top bolt three times, shoot the bottom handle twice, then kick the thing in.

Lucky for me, the wood splinters, cracks, and buckles. It slams inward, hammering against the hallway wall, as I storm in with my gun raised.

Inside is a nice single-family home. The walls are bare, like nobody lives here, though. Nothing in the first room, nothing in the second. The hall opens into a living area. There’s a couch, a TV, and some empty wine bottles on the floor.

Bastard’s here. No doubt in my mind.

I take a breath and stand very quiet, listening.

But there’s nothing.

“I know you’re in here, Demir,” I call out since he’s got to know I’m here by now. “Let’s make this easy. Lie down on your face and put your hands behind your head.”

No response.

Well, I figured I’d try.

I storm into the kitchen, gun raised, heart racing. It’s empty except for some dirty dishes on the counter and a big pasta poton the stove. I clear the first floor, try the basement door, find it locked, and slowly creep up the stairs.

“Far enough,” Demir yells when I get to the top landing.

I pause, still on the stairs. “Don’t tell me you’re all alone up there, Demir. I thought you had security.”

“They’re off putting out fires. Fucking literally.” His voice is coming from the room at the far end of the hall. I crouch lower, but I don’t peek my head all the way up just yet. “Don’t tell me you came without backup.”

“Didn’t think I’d need any. Just me and you, Demir.”

“How’s my future wife? Are you keeping her warm for me? Please, Adriano, don’t use her up just yet. Don’t stretch out that pretty little pussy.”

I grind my jaw. He’s trying to get a reaction, and I’m struggling not to give it to him. I want to storm up there and shove the barrel of my gun into his filthy fucking mouth for having the gall to talk about my wife that way.

Instead, I stay where I am, still listening, trying to get a better sense of his position.

“You know, Demir, all this could’ve been avoided. You let your pride get in the way of business.”

“I’m only trying to take what’s rightfully mine.”

“The girl married me. But you just had to let your ego drag you around by the balls.”

He snarls and I realize he’s closer than I thought. I throw myself forward, slamming onto the floor on my shoulder. A jolt of pain flares through me, but there he is, sneaking into thecloser bedroom. He turns in shock, raising his gun, but too slow. I squeeze off two shots and hit him in the leg, knocking him sideways.

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