Page 4 of Cruelest Contract
Tye drops his shovel and grins, sensing a challenge. “In that case, stand up and take your beating, shithead.”
I swipe the shovel off the ground and savagely scoop up a heap of human remains that have been burned to a crisp. “No souvenirs. Now quit clowning around before I get pissed off and knock your heads together.”
Tye starts cackling. “Our captain sure gets testy without his morning coffee.” He plunks his ass down with a grunt, having decided the best way to help out is to take it easy and watch the rest of us sweat.
Arguing with him isn’t worth my time. It’s been a long night and this chore needs to get finished. We’re a two hour ride backto the ranch and I dislike the way the clouds are thickening overhead.
Getty seems like he’s considering whether he should push my buttons by taking a time out beside Tye. One look at my face convinces him this wouldn’t be a good choice. Very wise, considering how much he’s already busted my balls in the last twenty-four hours.
“I’ll deal with this,” Getty says to Fort and holds his hand out. “You get the horses ready to go. You’re better at it.”
Fortunato recognizes reason when he hears it. It’s one of his best traits. He silently hands over the short-handled shovel and heads for the trees where four sturdy ranch horses are tied up.
Getty is a solid worker once he digs in and decides to be useful. An uncommonly warm spring now works in our favor. The ground is nicely thawed and soft. In no time we’ve got the pile of bones and ash buried, gold tooth and all.
Now that the work is done, Tye finally climbs to his feet. He spits on the dirt and then cracks up with laughter. I swear, he’ll be laughing as he wheezes out his dying breath.
He’s next in line after me but it’s not easy to picture him being in charge of anything. A few seasons in the NHL, where he averaged two fights per game and won the prize for league penalties, has convinced people he carries a chip on his shoulder.
I know my brother better than they do. Tiberius Tempesta doesn’t care about proving a damn thing to anyone. He fights because he likes to fight and that’s as deep as his reasons get.
The exception comes when it’s time to defend the family. Then he shifts to raging bull mode.
“Maybe we should say a few words for the dearly departed,” Tye says and punctuates the comment with a loud belch.
“Think I’ll give him a more appropriate sendoff.” Getty opens his jeans and aims a stream of piss.
My brothers, charming as princes.
I shake my head but don’t say a word while Getty waters the earth.
“Ready to ride,” Fort calls and smoothly heaves himself into a saddle.
Without looking back, I follow my brothers to the horses, leaving the fresh grave behind. Once we ride out of here, its location will be forever lost.
There might be someone out there who will always wonder what happened to this man, but all signs indicate the world is better off now that he’s no longer in it.
However, with this piece of unpleasant business handled, I’ve got one more on my agenda.
Tye has already climbed into a saddle and Getty has one foot in a stirrup when I grab the back of his shirt and give it a hard yank. He stumbles, caught off guard and sputtering. I move right in to seize a handful of thick flannel fabric and get right in his face.
“What’s the rule, Gaetano?”
He tries to throw me off. Can’t. Scowls. “Fuck your lessons, Julian. I’m too old for that shit.”
“And that attitude is exactly why you still need some guidance. Answer the question.”
He’s seething but not foolish enough to take a swing. “That piece of shit was a traitor.”
“I know it.”
“Haven’t we always said there’s nothing worse?”
“Sure. And he got what he deserved. But we might have squeezed some useful information out of him before you opened his throat.”
My brother rolls his eyes. “The fucker was a lowly hired gun. Not theconsigliereof the Chicago mob.”
“Not the point. This time all you did was give some lousy spy a few minutes less on this earth. But next time your tantrum might provoke more than my temper. Every time you lash out you’re acting for us all. Remember that.”
