Page 110 of A Breath of Life
“Ace is a coward,” I spat. “Why doesn’t he come out here and face me himself? Why send a lackey?”
The Consigliere stepped forward, crouching to retrieve the card. “You’re not listening, Mr. Krause. We’re discussing something of vital importance. Under the circumstances, I suggest you pay close attention.” He displayed the card inches from my face. The monogrammed skull taunted me.
“A mark of death,” he repeated. “Do you understand? In the event that someone displeases Ace, they are brought to his office to rectify the problem. Sometimes, as is his generous nature, Ace grants a person some leeway. In most cases, that means more time to pay a debt or fulfill a promise. It is always a final warning. Clarence entered into an agreement with Ace. He didn’t fulfill his end of the bargain. He was given an extension. Clarence missed the deadline. He visited Ace again,pleading for leniency and requesting more time. How many chances do you think a man should get?”
The Consigliere waited as though expecting a response. I gave him none. The wordsA mark of deathrang through my head over and over, and all I could think wasWhere’s Tallus, where’s Tallus, where’s Tallus?
“I feel like you’re not paying attention.” The Consigliere motioned to the Bishop.
“I am.”
The Bishop turned to his case of instruments. I snuck a glance, but the Consigliere continued talking, distracting me from whatever the Bishop was doing.
“It was determined long before Clarence returned to grovel that he would be awarded no further chances. Upon his arrival that evening, Ace granted him an audience, listened to his excuses, and had one of his men officially mark him.”
The Consigliere wagged the card in my face. “Any man who carries this card will not live to tell of it. Do you understand? I can’t be clearer on the matter.”
“Where’s Tallus?” I asked again.
Again, he ignored me. “On a rare occasion, like in your case, Mr. Krause.” He tapped the card on my knee. “It is given with a different purpose. Death is deferred, provided that you comply with the demands placed on you at the time of the exchange. The sniper has you in his sight, but the order for him to pull the trigger must come from above. Tell me. What were the demands made to you the night we first met?”
“Where’s Tallus? Answer me that. I’m not playing this game with you.”
“Oh, I assure you, Mr. Krause. This is no game.” He glanced at the Bishop and nodded.
The Bishop approached, carrying pliers and what looked like an intricate letter opener. He gracefully spun the latter in a flowing dance over his fingers, displaying its sleek lines almost gleefully. The handle was made of light-colored wood. The blade shone rich black under the overhead lights.
“Do you like it? Ebony and maple. Special order.” He used the pliers to tilt my chin, so I looked at him and not the blade. “I believe my friend asked you a question.”
I shifted my gaze to the Consigliere, whose brow remained cocked in anticipation.
“I… I was asked to deliver Clarence to Ace.”
The Consigliere rolled his hand. “And?”
“I was told not to tell anyone and to message the number I was given when I found him.”
The Consigliere sighed. “That’s not what I was looking for.”
Before I registered what was happening, the Bishop snagged one of my numb fingers with the pliers, pinching it at the last knuckle before wedging the tip of the letter opener under the nail far enough that an ungodly sting of pain shot up my finger.
Hissing and growling, I tried to pull away, but with my hands and feet bound and his firm grip crushing the digit in the tool’s pinchers, I couldn’t.
“Hurts already, doesn’t it. I haven’t even shoved it in yet. Believe me, Mr. Krause. It’s an ugly thing to have a sharp object stabbed under a nail.” The Bishop smirked. “I hate doing it, but it’s usually effective with people who are too stubborn to talk. I suggest you cooperate.”
“You’re a fucking sadist.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
“Last chance, Mr. Krause,” the Consigliere said. “Focus. I’m seeking the important details surrounding the card itself. What were your instructions?”
I stared from the threat to my nail to the man waiting for an answer. I’d endured all kinds of torture growing up. My father’s creativity knew no bounds. He had shown no mercy, but this wasn’t something I had experienced, nor did I want to.
“You told me to keep the card on me at all times or else you would hurt one of my loved ones.”
The Bishop and his daunting threat stepped back with a smile, returning to his trunk of treasures to replace his tools, but my heart didn’t calm.
The Consigliere moved into my space again, crouching to be at eye level. “Correct. Those were the terms given to you. Yet you broke that one simple rule. It’s unfortunate, Mr. Krause. Honestly, I’d love to understand why you would leave the mark of death on a man you supposedly love.”
