Page 63 of Madness & Mercy
“I said eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“I don’t care.”
He slouches back in the chair, arms crossed. “What is this, prison cafeteria hour?”
“No,” I say, dragging the tray toward him. “It’s me making sure you don’t pass out the second we get to the docks because your stubborn ass hasn’t eaten in two days.”
He exhales hard through his nose. The kind of breath that usually comes before a punch.
“I told you to eat,” I say, softer now. But not kinder. “And you will. Every bite. Right here. In front of me.”
He gives me this look, somewhere between pure hate and challenge.
Then, finally, he grabs the fork. Stabs a piece of egg like he’s murdering it.
Each bite is tense. Slow. Forced.
And I watch. Not because I need to.
Because Iwantto.
It’s the first time he’s followed an order without chains or a knife pressed to his throat. And somehow that makes it worse for him.
Andbetterfor me.
He finishes the last bite, tosses the fork down with a clatter, and glares at me through his lashes.
“There,” he mutters. “Happy?”
I flash a lazy, satisfied smile. “Ecstatic.”
I turn towards the door.
“Gear up. We leave in twenty. And Julian?”
He looks up at me.
“If I have to come back for you, don’t bother getting dressed.”
CHAPTER 10 – THE PIER
JULIAN
Fucker.
The guard’s already waiting in the hall, eyes blank like always, like he didn’t just hear the argument—or whatever that was—inside. He doesn’t say a word, just turns and starts walking.
I follow, fists clenched.
Back in the suite, I toss my briefcase on the bed and rip open the closet, muttering curses under my breath. Most of the stuff hanging inside looks like it came straight off a Milan runway—suits, tailored jackets, leather, shirts with collars so stiff they could double as knives.
Real subtle, Vitale…
“Jesus, does he own anything that isn’t made to be seen?” I hiss, shoving hangers aside. Everything screamslook at me, which is great when you’re a mafia kingpin, not so much when you’re tailing a possible enemy through the docks in broad daylight.
Eventually I settle on something basic enough: dark jeans, black tee, leather jacket. It’ll have to do.
