Page 34 of Red Retaliation
“He’s fucked Bennett’s dockets? Jesus!” Del sits back in the chair and pulls his hand down over his face. “So, as far as Slater’s concerned, when orifwe eventually noticed the deficit, we’d add two and two together and, with what Slater gives us himself, reach the conclusion Bennett’s on the take.”
“Clearly, Slater thinks us too stupid to think past his setup,” I hiss, barely able to articulate my words that a fuckingbean counter- the firm’s accountant, has the nous and bottle to rip us off, as well as set up another man. It’s a bitter pill to swallow.
“It’s a good job you went through that shredding pile,” Del mutters, still openly shocked.
“Had the van not been late picking it up, it would have gone off by now. We’d be none the wiser, and an innocent man - a trusted, loyal man - would have lost his life!”
“What are you going to do?”
Del already knows Slater will die. It’s just how and when. “He’ll be dealt with, trust me, but I need to sort this shit with the Galvatores and Bristonis first.”
As expected, the silence in the room is heavy. As well as dumping this unexpected issue with the bean counter, I haven’t yetexplained why I abandoned the retaliation on the Bristonis and Galvatores last night. I wasn’t in the frame of mind to discuss anything further after making that decision - not with Del, not with my brothers and certainly not with Arianna.
But in addition to letting Del know about Slater, the reasoning behind thatotherissue is why I’ve summoned him here this morning for this meeting.Alone.
And I know he’ll like what I’m about to say next even less.
CHAPTER
22
Red
IKNEW DEL WOULDN’T LIKE what I had to say, and I was right. But it’s what will happen.
Taking my glass, I walk back to my desk and sit down. I take a long drink of whiskey. The burn at the back of my throat reminds me I’m still alive. I then place the glass down, keeping my eye contact with Del fixed and unwavering. He still hasn’t said anything about my decision, but he will.
Anytime now.
The moment I spoke of what my next move would be, his surprise morphed into shock. He’d been getting his head around the shit with Slater, and I turned up the heat big time.
I saw his disappointment, and it’s still present. Del doesn’t understand, but hewillbecause it’s the perfect solution.
Rubbing his hand over his chin, Del lets out a long sigh. “I know you’re cut up about Steve,” he says. “We all are, butthis?” He shakes his head. “Fucking hell, Red! It’s crazy!”
I fold my arms over my chest and lean back into my leather chair. “There’s no better way to destroy both of those firms than this. Not only will it fuck Emiliano Galvatore up beyond anything, it will also expose the Bristonis as the liars and cunts they are.”
Pulling the old newspaper out of the top drawer of my desk, I tap my pen on the article about Roberto Bristoni’s “sudden heart attack” and Arianna’s “secret” retreat. “Don’t you see? My idea is perfect!”
“But marrying the girl?” Del looks at the ceiling in despair. “Yes, itwill achieve what you’ve just outlined - I get that, but what about the fallout? And I don’t just mean from the Bristonis and Galvatores.”
My eyes narrow. “As you know, my brothers don’t run this firm, and neither do they runme. Liam’s only still here because I need the numbers now Steve is no longer with us.”
And that grated like a fucking bed of nails.
I pick up my drink. “Arianna asked for my help, and she’ll get it, but only in a way that benefitsus. She came to me because I hate her family and the Bristonis enough to help. That’s true, but...” My face breaks into a bitter smile. “The stakes have upped since she made the situation worse, so regardless of your opinion of this right now, itwillresult in our favor.”
Del stares at me like I came down on the last branch. I take another swig of my whiskey. “Think about it - what better way to rub their faces in the shit and push the point home that we call the shots, than by taking Arianna as my wife?” I shrug. “I should point out it will be name only - no more, so let’s see how they shoulder that mindfuck. I want the wedding done and dusted as soon as possible.”
Del holds his hands up. “Okay, okay, I kind of understand it, but what about you? As the head of a firm, I know there’s sacrifice involved, but fuck’s sake, tying yourself into a fake marriage with an enemy? That’s hardcore!”
I grin. “Maybe, but it will work, therefore it’s worth it.” My grin hides my real thoughts - the ones I will never share. Part of my reasoning, which I haven’t explained to Del, is that this is about more than causing the Bristonis and Galvatores shit. It’s the perfect punishment forme.
What better way to pay for my guilt of bringing Lorna into our lives to kill my parents than condemning myself to a marriage with a woman who I despise, yet equally want, but will never allow myself to have?
It will be hell and no more than I deserve. It’s no more than Arianna deserves either, for having Galvatore blood inside her veins.
It’s the purgatory I crave, and that craving is getting stronger. The ultimate punishment.
