Page 88 of Red Retaliation
“Christ!” I throw the note on my desk.
Liam eyes the note and folds his arms over his chest. “It’s got to be the Bristonis.”
“That heart... Is it human?” Oscar eyes the organ in the box.
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” I mutter. “Has Bristoni struck already?” I’ve already put my hand in this fucking box once, so a second time won’t matter. Shoving my hand back in, I pull out the heart. “Are our men accounted for?”
“Yes, they’re all intact.”
I turn the heart over in my hand, blood dripping from one of the severed veins. Inspecting it, anger overtakes my exhaustion. “Whoever’s done this made a bad job of removing it, but no, it’s not human. It’s an animal - probably a pig. But it’s a definite warning and a fucking stark one at that!”
“Exactly how long are we sitting on this, Red? I know the plan was to wait until Bristoni strikes, but this is getting stupid.” Liam stares at me intently, as does Del. Oscar is more transfixed with the heart in my hand.
I chuck the heart back in the box and wipe my bloodied hand down my suit trousers. They’re in need of a wash anyway, as am I. “Look at the note: ‘Cat / Mouse. Which are you?’ That reads to me like they’re winding us up to strike first.”
“Then it’s fucking working!” Liam spits. “I’m sick of this shit. We need to finish the bastard. Galvatore too. We shouldn’t have procrastinatedin dealing with them.”
My eyes narrow. Liam meansIprocrastinated. I’m well aware thatIturned the van around the night of Steve’s murder, but there’s something about this that isn’t sitting right. “Has it crossed anyone’s mind that by us striking first, we could walk into a trap? By sending this sort of bullshit, it’s obvious what they want us to do.”
“But is it?” Del frowns. “We all think - even Keith - that we need to act. It’s clear something will kick off before long.”
“Hear, hear!” Liam bangs his hand on the desk.
“Last time I looked, Keith nor any of you run this firm,” I roar. “Where is he anyway?”
“I sent him to do a stock check on weapons in case you wanted to call a strike,” Del admits sheepishly.
I spontaneously combust with fury. “I’ll let everyone know whether we fucking strike or whether we wait and not before.” I glare at everyone and I’m just about to unleash a full diatribe when my desk phone rings. “Bateman. What? No... no, it’snotfucking convenient. Tell Mr Galvatore I’ll be in touch after the weekend. Yes... yes, that’s correct. We have an event today, and there’s no time to meet with him.”
Slamming the phone down, I ignore the pairs of eyes staring at me. No one needs to tell me that Galvatore calling to “chase our agreement” the morning after his alleged ex-business partner delivers another warning isn’t a little too convenient.
I’m going for a shower and hope Arianna has gone elsewhere in this bloody building. Standing up, I snatch my jacket from the back of the chair. “It’s business as usual. We run the event as planned and offload Slater.”
Stopping, I turn as I reach my office door. “After that’s done, wewillstrike Bristoni and Galvatore, whether they expect us to or not.”
I don’t know if I’m right and we’ll walk headlong into a trap, but I’m fucked if I’ll sit here waiting. I’ve had enough. I’ll take my frustrations out on my enemies, and Arianna will have to accept that her darling daddy is a lying cunt who’s still tight with Edoardo Bristoni. Because of this, they’ll be dealt with equally.
CHAPTER
64
Arianna
SIPPING MY WINE, I smile in the right places, as well as looking suitably interested in the small talk and gracious comments given to my “husband” for his generosity.
Whoever these “second tier” staff are, I have no idea, but this afternoon’s work event has now morphed into a lavish dinner with an endless supply of drinks for these men, along with their partners or wives.
I turn my glass around by the stem, thankful the dinner is over. After last night, I’m careful to alternate wine with tonic water, not wanting a repeat of what happened, however enjoyable it was.
Red made it clear we must adhere to the rules, and although I’d have happily broken them last night, I’ll never be so careless to allow that to happen again.
I squirm, his thigh too close to mine. The occasional brush of his hand to keep up appearances doesn’t help either. Even the waft of his scent burns me with heat, a continuing reminder of his mouth between my legs... Something that was not completed, leaving me with a nagging, unfulfilled ache urging me to reach the place I’d headed towards. The unresolved frustration never far away with my continuing heightened sense of arousal.
It’s not something I can dwell on. Instead, I pull myself together and play the inevitable part my decision to marry Red has landed me with.
Red holds a bottle of wine up. “No, thank you.” I force a smile in his direction. He’s making the right public gestures showcasing our “happy marriage”, but there’s coldness in his eyes - the opposite of last night.
Whatever I’d been fooled into starting to believe, Redmond Batemandoes not want me - just what our association brings, I’ll do well to remember that the next time I fantasize about what his massive cock can do, judging on his expertise with his mouth.
