Page 341 of Vicious Saint
“You better fucking believe I have a choice because Carlo’s death? It’s on all of you.”
The words are spit with the utmost confidence, regardless of how guilty I feel knowing Carlo died in his sole effort to protect me.
Guilty, not stupid.
Because even though I’ve been out of the loop, it doesn’t take a mastermind to realize the car bomb planted by the Ivanovs was in revenge for Carlo killing one of their men.
An eye for an eye.
I’ve watched enough movies to know it’s Mafia 101.
Along with collateral damage.
A.K.A. would’ve been me if my necklace didn’t break.
“Like it or not, Hendrix, we’re all in this together,” Vic adds for her, sincere, but with enough firmness to piss me off even more. “Matteo here,” he gestures a hand to the guy with the gift, who’s effortless dissociation tells me it’s most definitely not from him, “is a professional who works very close with Dante Salvini, and has a lot of…experiencein the field.”
Vic’s Catholic way of saying experience killing other mobsters.
“Dante Salvini, huh?” I give Saint a “I promise not to commit homicide” nod, then move around him to face Vic. “You know…it’s funny how in all the months I’ve been researching the Salvinis, not once did I get a hit on the head of the family. Or his dead, psychotic brother Luca. It’s almost as if, I don’t know, information about them has poofed from the internet.”
The accusation in my tone does the trick to rattle my oh, so secretive stepdad. Even my oh, so newly secretive mother and aunt.
“You’ve been looking into them?” Mom asks with subtle alarm in her voice.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t?”
She swallows. “I mean…we told you not to.”
My restraint on being harsh to my mother must’ve died with Carlo, because through a bitter laugh, I respond with, “Jesus, it’s almost as if you’ve been too wrapped up in royal corrupt dick to remember who your daughter is.”
Auntie mouths off something, but gets drowned out quickly by Vic. “That’s enough, Hendrix!” he yells, as if having any right. Which Saint must agree with because he takes a warning step toward his dad.
“Yell at her again, and I’ll paint the floor red with your new friend.” The tail end of Saint’s threat comes with a nasty glare at Matteo, resulting in the guy flashing a gun at his waist.
Saint’s close reference to Vicious, whether intentional or not, isn’t lost on Vic. Or me, for that matter. Same goes for Halo around his knuckles,andthe actual gun he’s flashing back at Matteo.
I sneak a glance at it, trying to hide my confusion about where it came from, then decide the best course of action for everyone’s safety is to wrap up this Western-style stare down.
Straightening my posture, I turn my best authoritative voice on for Matteo. “Tell Dante Salvini his services are not required.” My eyes slice to the other three. “Because unless any of you can figure out how to bring Carlo back from the dead, I won’t be leaving the mansion until I’m fucking ready.”
Even though it’s useless, I let them stew for a bit, and when no bright ideas pop into their heads, I shoot out, “Good. It’s settled, then. I’m staying put.” With a tilt of my chin to Matteo, I snap, “Andyouare getting permanently the fuck out of my house.”
Vic implores the guy not to leave, my mother too, but Matteo doesn’t so much as glance at them…and, in a shocking turn of events, he strides over to me.
“As you wish,” Matteo declares, holding out the box. “But first, a gift.” I stare up at him, speechless, unable to move as he follows up with, “Just foryou.”
The emphasis on “you” comes as a crystal-clear shot for everyone else in the room. Making it known there’ll be consequences if anyone tries to interfere.
I retrieve the box from Matteo. Then, once I’ve managed a full grip, he turns on his heels and walks out the door.
The silence is loud between all of us, but grows deafening when I slide my gaze to Mom, Vic, and Auntie, who seem annoyed, but not surprised Matteo listened to me instead of them.
Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock.
The clock on the wall proceeds to taunt me.
