Page 62 of Stabby Little

She shakes her head. "My calculus take-home exam is due Friday night. I flunked Calc freshman year and I need to ace this test."

"What about Saturday?" This is the kill shot. I need her to say yes. "That's the last day I can see you."

"My cousin Tiffy's wedding is Saturday." Crystal brings her hand to her chin. "Although…"

"What?"

"I could take you. It's a closed affair, but my family won't mind. They think I spend too much time with my uncle anyway. They'll be relieved to see me with a boy my age."

I shake my head. "I'm not a fan of weddings."

"Please." Crystal takes my hand. "It'll be fun. There'll be Italian food, dancing, and expensive gift bags. We don't have to stay for the whole thing. Just for the ceremony. Then we can sneak out."

I stare dead into Crystal's eyes. "Will you make it worth my while?"

She furrows her brow. "What do you mean?"

I take her hand in mine and bring it to my thigh. "You know what I'm saying. I'm not spending the entire day at your cousin's wedding unless we can spend some quality time together after. It won't be worth it."

Crystal licks her lower lip. "Yes."

20

GRANT

Saturday, May 30th

Wedding day.It's finally here.

I adjust my cufflinks as I step out of Michael's limousine and place my hand on Jagger's shoulder. "Are you ready?"

Jagger removes his sunglasses. "Yes."

"We need as much information as we can on the Diavolo family." My fingers curl into fists. "Every member of the clan will be here. Take note of everything you hear."

"I'll keep my eyes and ears open." Jagger lowers his voice so Michael's limo driver who transported us to Anton's house can't hear us. "I have a recorder in my pocket in case we stumble across pertinent information."

"Smart. Be sure to destroy it if anyone catches you."

"I wouldn't be so fucking stupid to let anyone know I have it." Jagger's eyes turn to slits. "I know what Michael does to malefactors. He'll hang me out to dry without giving me a chance to explain myself."

"Be safe."

After bidding farewell to the limo driver, I motion for Jagger to follow me into Anton's house. In all my years of working for Michael, I've never actually stepped foot in his brother's home. It seems crazy because I'm one of Michael's top hitmen and you'd think he'd invite me to family gatherings.

That's not the case. Michael's house is the only one I've entered. I assume that if I were on Anton's payroll, I would've been here before. But I'm not. I need to make sure I don't fuck anything up so Anton doesn't kick me out.

I walk up the cobblestone walkway and stop in front of the front door. It's a large, mahogany door with a brass doorknocker in the shape of a skull. I lift my fist to tap the doorknocker, but before I make a noise, a butler cracks it open and beckons me inside.

"Grant. Jagger." The butler bows. "Anton said you'd be arriving. It's a pleasure."

"The pleasure is mine." I slip a hundred dollar bill out of my suit coat pocket and drop it in his palm. "Take this and remember to keep this venue safe today. We don't want outsiders getting in."

"Anton handled that." The butler's voice drops a level. "He has shooters perched on every corner of his mansion. No stranger will get within one-hundred yards unless they're accompanied by a member of the family."

Jagger's jaw ticks. "That's what we like to hear. We must keep Tiffy and her husband safe at all costs."

"Follow me." The butler locks the front door behind us and guides us down a dark hallway.

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