Page 73 of Tortured Hearts
“Isn’t it always?” Catching the card between my fingers, I flip it and flash the ace of spades, a slow smirk tugging at my lips. “After all, IamTorch.”
We stand there, soaking in the final moments of peace, our minds heavy with “what-ifs” when a pair of headlights rush through the iron gates leading to the estate.
“Our guest of honor is early,” Anton mutters. “Now what?”
“We get in position and wait.” I tuck the card back into my jacket. “Don’t fuck up.”
There’s no margin for error. One mistake brings our house of cards crashing down.
He gives me a final nod. “Don’t die.”
We both know that’s a promise I can’t make. Saying nothing, I leave him standing by the window when my phone vibrates, Owen’s response flashing across the screen.
What blood binds only death breaks.
The lit match I’ve waited for.
I close the office door behind me. As expected, a small desk light flickers on, and in the center of the shadows sits the root of all evil, smoking a cigar, a half-empty bottle of whiskey sitting in front of him along with two glasses.
Instead of heading toward the chairs in front of his desk, I stroll toward the window and lean against the frame. “You’re back early. Meeting not go as planned?”
“It seems two of my best men met with an unfortunate end tonight in Hackensack.” My father puffs the cigar while kicking his feet up on his desk.
“Is that right?”
Trapping the cigar between his fingers, he motions it toward me. “Someone attached C4 to their SUV and blew them straight to Hell. Amazingly, the restaurant you and Anton visited remains unscathed.”
I stare at him, a satisfied smile on my lips. “I admit, attempting to frame me for another fire was creative, especially since the owner is Victoria’s uncle.” I silently count to five so I won’t pull my gun and shoot him in the face. “Nice touch sending me on a run to ensure my face was on camerafootage.”
“Your psychiatrist isn’t the only one intrigued by the human mind. Our professions aren’t that different.” He widens his arms in an elaborate gesture. “Both treat people like rats in a maze. While she leads hers to the exit, I let mine slam into the same wall before sealing it off and watching them die. Which maze do you think you ended up in?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
He gives me a bored look. “If you’re alluding to the untimely demise of my duplicitous informant, you can save your breath. I’m well aware Henry is probably a pile of gelatinous sludge by now.”
I’m sure he is. The fucking puppet master knew exactly which strings to pull to make me dance. But I want to see where this is going to go. “What would give you that idea?”
“Who do you think gave him a key to Dr. Brennan’s room?” His smirk chips a dent in my stoic mask. “History may not repeat itself, but it always rhymes. You have a sick obsession with being every woman’s knight in bloodstained armor, Gianni. It’s embarrassing how easily pussy controls your brain.”
I clench my fist, maintaining restraint in knowing that Teflon ego is about to shatter. “I knew what I was doing by taking Saddler out. He was a loose end you needed to cut. Who better to provoke into doing it than the unhinged mafia heir who pulled a gun on him in front of half a dozen Providence firefighters, am I right?”
“You were always your own worst enemy.” Clenching his teeth around his Cuban, he fills both glasses to the rim, then pushes one across the wood. “Here, have a drink.”
“I’ll pass. I have rules against ingesting poison.”
He lifts his glass with one hand, pulling his cigar from between his lips with the other. “If I had any interest in killing you myself, five bullets would’ve ripped through your skull upon arrivalat my club.”
The asshole is so fucking arrogant he doesn’t even notice he revealed his whole plan.
“All this for revenge.”
“Notjustrevenge. This is about tying up loose ends. Unlike you, I think ahead.”
That’s where you’re wrong.
“You’ll have to forgive me for not sharing this love of vague bullshit you and your late protégé seem to have.”
He chuckles. “Let’s just say nothing you do can counteract the storm coming your way. Strike a match and blow my entire entourage to Hell. I don’t care. It’ll only strengthen my case and damn yours more.”
