Page 133 of Clean Slade
I slowed down as we approached the neglected house. The front was lined with black cars.
“Keep driving,” Asher said, and that was exactly what I did.
The place was surrounded. Two suited men with guns stood by the fenced entrance while another two stood in front of the door. More men were dotted around the street, and who knew how many more were inside.
“What are they all doing here? Why would he bring them all here if he’s planning on blowing them up?” It didn’t make sense. Unless…
“He’s not taking any chances,” Asher said exactly what was on my mind. “He’s lost his mind.”
His men were armed and dangerous, but they weren’t there to keep people out. They were there to deliver justice. They were there to witness what happened to those who betrayed Tony Ferraro.
“He must be planning on bringing Salieri here,” I said.
“I hope Wyatt is bringing the armory with him,” I said.
“Oh, he is. Don’t worry.”
I looked in the rearview mirror at the long country road and the isolated house Grams had cleaned up—on the inside—to perfection to satisfy her granddaughter’s and her own standards. And as I imagined them huddled next to each other, watching little Mei Mei turn into a red panda, something bitter and nasty settled in my chest.
Hang on, Mac. We’re coming. We’re coming, sweetheart.
Wyatt turned up half an hour later, only it felt like an eternity to me. Joey and Donovan came with him, but before we did anything—before we coulddoanything—we waited. We had to wait for Parker and Maddox to get in position outside King’s house.
While we waited, I turned my attention back to the security feed where King, Nino, and their father stood in a circle, quietly staring at each other.
“So that’s him, huh? The infamous Tony Ferraro?” Donovan asked, also watching my screen.
I nodded.
Donovan brought his hand up to my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
“Hey, don’t worry. It’ll be okay. We’ll handle this like we handle everything,” he said.
Like we handle everything.
Why didn’t that fill me with the confidence it used to?
“It…it just hits different when…” I started but had to stop to take a deep breath or risk drowning in my thoughts.
“When it happens to someone you care about? Yeah, I can imagine. But don’t worry. The A-Team is here. And soon, Maddox and Parker will get to King too, and we’ll strike.”
I looked at my teammate and attempted to smile in appreciation, but I had no idea what actually happened because I’d lost control of my facial muscles. I was slowly losing control over my entire body. It wouldn’t be long before I collapsed, and I doubted anything could get me back on my feet.
I returned my attention to the video feed. “You’ve got less than fifteen minutes. Your friend better show.” Tony looked at his wristwatch and then his son.
“He’s not my friend.How many times can I tell you?”
“I guess we’ll see.If he turns up, you have nothing to worry about.If he doesn’t…”
His voice was so awful, so poisonous. It made me sick.
“Are you so eager to blow up your granddaughter and your mother?Wasn’t killing your father enough?Who’s next?Are we next?Is Nino?When will it stop?When will it be enough?” I could hear the crack in King’s voice. The desperation. The hopelessness.
“When my family stops betraying me,” Tony answered as if that was an excuse for what he had done or was threatening to do.
“Your family betrays you because they can’t trust you.Because you’re unhinged.”
Wyatt stared at the ground as he listened to the conversation, but no one said anything. How could they? What could they say that would make this all better?
