Page 99 of Thrill Me (Dark Odyssey 3)

I can’t…

I keep seeing Vincent sitting on the kitchen floor with Sorcha. So much blood everywhere, their baby crying in the safe room.

It can’t happen again.

I look to Pa as his phone starts ringing. I’m on edge from the sound. I think that sometimes you can just tell when it’s going to be more shit. Since we’re already in the mouth of hell I’m sure that’s more bad news.

Pa answers it and tenses up as the person starts speaking. The vein on his neck bulges and the one on his forehead pops like it really will pop.

Pa stands, balls his fists and rams one into the wooden table.

“How fucking dare you call me, fucking cunt. You fucking bastard,” Pa snarls.

I’m on my feet at the sight. Gabe and Nick get up too.

I move closer to Pa and I’m fairly certain I hear laughter.

Then words.

Pa stills and places the phone on speaker, setting it down on the table.

There’s only been a handful of times in my life when I have witnessed Pa look helpless like this. The first time ever was when Charlotte was taken and the next, when Frankie was killed.

Now he looks like a man who’s been pushed to the edge.

“Saluton behalf of Syracuse as my people would say,” comes a voice from the phone.

I’ve never spoken to him before but I match the face and think of Stephanou. It has to be him.

The Fontaines are from Genoa and they don’t talk like that. They aren’t Sicilian like we are. This fucker is though.

“Stephanou Portaleu here. I trust you all received my messages,” he laughs like a psycho. “Years ago when your capo killed my wife, the love of my life, I spared you all. I only came for the guy who was at fault. The guy who took her from me. I showed compassion. This time is different. This time is way different and you’re all going to get it. You Giordanos. You the leaders who stand in the way of others. Your line Julian Giordano. You and your four sons. I will destroy you first and make you crazy with grief. Then kill you. I’m coming for you all. Plan all you want but I am death. You will not stop me.”

The line cuts giving us a chance to answer.

I don’t know what I would say though.

It was serious before but him calling Pa just took it to the next level.

You don’t just call up a mob boss and threaten to kill him and his family just like that, and not one like my father.

Stephanou did it because he can, so I take his threats very seriously.

* * *

We planand speak with our alliances.

Mainly Claudius and his crew

Having him is like having all of Chicago on our side. They’re strong. I just hope they’re strong enough.

We start our hunt for Stephanou. We hunt, out for blood and revenge. Vengeance.

We hunt and we come up with nothing.

It’s hours before I see my girl. It’s early the next morning before I see her.

My parents’ house is set in the style of Italy, with the balcony on the inside and out. Long hallways and corridors with art on the walls.

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