Page 28 of Bastard Prince
“You fuckin’ cunt!” Enzo snarled, lunging for her. I moved quickly, placing myself between them, my back to Enzo. His body stopped but his mouth didn’t. “Who the fuck do you think you are? Coming here, to my town, and speaking to me like that? I will fuck you up so bad, even your dental records won’t be enough to identify you, you rank bitch.”
“My, my,” Caroline tisked, shaking her head. “Threatening a Federal Agent? That’s a big leap for a small-time loan shark and mid-level pussy peddler, Enzo. Be careful you don’t trip on your own ambition.”
“I don’t care who the fuck you are. This is my town, lady, and if you think you’re gonna come here and step to me, you better think again. Because, believe me; I will fuck youallthe way up.”
Shit. He was so fucking hot when he was all growly. I tried—and failed—to hide a shiver before I took a breath and faced the mega bitch again.
“I know you think this ball busting routine is impressive, but I have better things to be doing with my evening than standing here watching you whip your dick out, Agent Anderson.” I smiled at the anger that burned in her eyes. “So how about you tell me why you have followed me all the way across the country if it’s not because you’re halfway in love with me?”
“I’m here,” she stated, straightening her standard issue federal agent blazer and attempting some measure of composure, “because you are a person of interest in a homicide.”
“I haven’t killed anyone.”Recently,I added silently. “I have been away from New York for a couple of weeks, but you knew that already. I have no involvement with anything that’s going on there.”
“Oh, this isn’t a New York case. I’m talking about the murder that occurred yesterday, right here in Las Vegas.”
I frowned. “I still have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, feeling Enzo tense beside me. I hoped he wasn’t involved either, mostly because if he was, I would end up feeling rather left out.
“So you don’t know anything about the death of Jerry Lebowitz?”
My jaw dropped. “Jerry?” I asked, my voice breathy.
“That stupid fuck finally had his bullshit catch up with him, hey?” was Enzo’s helpful contribution.
I shot him a scowl before turning to Caroline again. “No. I don’t know anything about that. I haven’t seen Jerry since—”
“Thursday night, where several witnesses report hearing you threaten him.”
Now I was really pissed. People had been talking, saying things about Enzo’s dealings that they had no business saying.
The first rule of Fight Cluband all that.
“What, exactly, are you implying, Agent Anderson?”
“Just that it’s awfully interesting that you threaten a man that you’re going to cut his eye out, and not even a week later, he turns up dead, exactly the way you said it would happen.”
God fucking damn it. The pirate emoji.DB in the 101.
It made perfect sense now that I had all the information.
Sway was going to have to either use more actual words, or I was going to have to spend a lot more time studying theUrbanDictionarywebsite.
“As unfortunate as it is for Mr. Lebowitz, I had nothing to do with his untimely demise. I spent most of last night shopping with a friend.”
“Can you prove that alibi?”
“I mean, we were at several popular Las Vegas establishments. I’m sure if you had their names, you could track down some security footage.”
Her bushy eyebrows tipped down at that information, likely hating that I was so quick to be able to provide her with my whereabouts. “We’ll see about that.”
I smiled condescendingly. “I assure you, I had absolutely no involvement in whatever Mr. Lebowitz had tangled himself up in. But, if you don’t believe me, feel free to head inside and talk it over with the mayor and his wife. We just spent a lovely evening together.”
It was a wonder her ears weren’t smoking, considering how red her face was. “You think you’re so fucking smart, don’t you? A mafia princess, daddy’s little girl, the pride and joy of the entire De Marco family.” She smirked, her lips twisting evilly. “But look at you now, hey? Exiled to the desert, forgotten and alone.” Caroline ran her gaze over my face, looking for the cracks she hoped her words would cause.
The thing was, it was working.
The loss of my family was a wound that I still felt, and this bitch knew it.
Stepping back slowly, she smiled callously. “Don’t leave town, Francesca. I am not done with you yet.” Then she turned and marched away, her old lady shoes muted against the concrete.
