Page 26 of Tortured Hearts
“Gianni!” he demands. “I asked you a question.”
“Becca knows nothing,” I say between clenched teeth. “As for law enforcement, I’d have an easier time striking a deal with the Devil. Your mission to destroy Johnny Malone was a smashing success. My new arson and murder charges dropped my trade-in value to an all-time low. Thanks for that, by the way.”
He sits back in his seat with a smirk. “Payback is an ugly bitch, isn’t she?”
I watch as the mercurial bastard’s mood flipsagain. Something isn’t adding up. Obviously, he has someone in Providence doing his grunt work. Why not have him finish the job? Why let me cross state lines and risk someone discovering his betrayal?
I meet his glare. “Why am I still alive?”
It’s the opening he’s been waiting for.
“Because keeping you in the family is far more useful than spilling your blood.
Unbelievable.
“While intriguing, I’m going to have to pass.”
Ignoring the gun still pointed at his chest, he stands and walks a slow circle around me, swirling the liquid in his glass. “Is that because you think you have the feds in your back pocket, or should I say a couple of marshals?”
For the first time since forcing my way into his office, my mask slips.
“Don’t look so surprised,” he says, bracing his hand on the back of my chair. “I’m a puppet master, Gianni. From the moment one blonde walked into a restaurantuntil another walked into an office building, it’s always been my hand pulling the strings.” His focus shifts behind me, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Isn’t that right, Henry?”
Chapter Nine
GIANNI
In one smooth motion, I swing the Glock and switch targets. “You lying motherfucker.”
Henry tucks his hand in the pocket of his slacks as he strolls into the room. Gone is the dirty warehouse uniform pants. Instead, the rat bastard is in a tailored three-piece suit with a bright red power tie the same shade as his hair. “You should’ve trusted your instincts, Gianni. You knew something was off from the moment I took your keys in the parking lot.” Stopping next to me, he cocks his head. “You have a bad habit of underestimating me.”
A mistake that drew Becca right into the line of fire.
I grind my teeth “Are you even a real marshal?”
“Of course I am. Just one with a lucrative side venture.”
“What about Owen?”
“What about him? I told you he gottied upat his office. Youheard what you wanted to hear.”
He’s not wrong. My mind was so preoccupied with Becca that I ignored the underlying meaning. Owen wasn’t running late because he was busy; he was running late because he was bound and most likely already dead.
My father lets out a disgusted grunt. “It’s embarrassing how easily you abandoned the onlytesta di cazzowho had your back.”
“Maybe I played two dirty marshals until they turned on each other,” I strike back.
It’s complete bullshit, but I’m grasping at straws here.
“You think Owen had the balls to fuck the feds’ biggest case since Gotti?” Henry throws his head back and forces out a laugh. “That son of a bitch bled red, white, and blue. The only color I honor is green,” he says, jabbing a finger at his chest. “He had no clue we were protecting two different Marchesis.”
“I take it you were the reason the infamous FBI tapes got ‘lost.’”
“Obviously.” Pride blooms on his stupid, smug face. “Well, with a little help from a newly graduated FBI agent with a high libido and low self-esteem.”
I lower my gun and fold my arms across the back of the chair. “You’ve been a busy bee, haven’t you, Henry? In twelve short weeks, you got yourself assigned to my case, freed my father on a technicality, and framed me for two murders, as well as first-degree arson. I don’t know whether to kick your ass or shake your hand.”
“The higher-ups placed you in the heart of Marchesi territory,” he says, beaming as if he just blindsided me with information Owen revealed sixteen hours ago. “The family had to turn eyes on you, or people would realize Marcello?—”
