Page 8 of Pretty Plaything
Troy might have expected someone might try something like this, and he knew his attacker wouldn’t know any better.
He probably has some arrangement with his friends to take care of everything in case something happens to him. Guys like him don’t get into stuff like this without a backup plan.
I send the recipe to my team. They’ll tell me if it’s real or not.
While I wait, Troy’s shoulders become more and more slumped, and he stares at the floor, resigned to his fate.
He’s probably thinking about all the things he should’ve done differently, but it’s too late for regrets now.
My phone vibrates.
The recipe is good.
“Listen, Troy. This is how things will go,” I say.
In all the other situations, I would’ve just killed him, but it’s not my goal to piss off the Lionettis.
Instead, I’ll let Troy and his family go, and they’ll be under my protection. I’ll make it look like Troy picked me as the best buyer.
It might not all be about money. Maybe Troy just has different ideals and doesn’t want to give everything to the most powerful person out there.
The Lionettis had better believe my story.
Chapter 4
IT’S ALMOST DAWN WHENI get to the graveyard.
“I’ll find out what happened,” I say as I look at the graves of my father and my four brothers.
It’s impossible not to think about the day they died.
My memories are as crisp as ever, even if they don’t help me solve the mystery.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Just follow our cars,” my brother said. “Father is about to strike a very good business deal, and he wants us with him.”
