Page 36 of Twisted Lies

He nods, not appearing convinced. Maybe he’s more intelligent than I initially thought.

“How are you alive?” he asks.

My grin turns sinister. “What matters is that I did live. As long as you support me, so will I you. Don’t underestimate me again. I won’t be forgiving again.” Standing, I look at him as if he is a bug under my shoe. “It’s good to see you. You can keep that file for your records. I have copies.” With that, I take a piece of candy from the dish on his desk and walk out. One down, two to go. Logan Regio already knows Claire and I are alive, so I don’t get the joy of seeing the shock on his face. I’ll just have to listen to how Claire tells her story.

* * *

My visit with Nikola Costa goes much the same as it did with Daniel Ferrari.Once I reach Gian Marino, he’s expecting me, having already heard from the others.

He greets me at his office door. “Elijah. I heard to expect you. You look good for a dead man. Come. Come in,” he says, waving me forward, a large grin on his face. I always liked Gian the best. He has something about him that makes you forget what he truly is. I’m not sure if it’s his humor or something else. I’ve always thought that makes him the most dangerous. “You remember Luca, my son, of course,” he says. His son stands and walks toward me, his hand outstretched.

Luca is a carbon copy of his father in appearance, just younger. Both have the same facial features. The main difference is that Luca’s nose has been broken one too many times and hasn’t healed fully from the last break. Even with that, no one would confuse them for something other than father and son. Both have dark hair and brown eyes. Gian once had two sons and two daughters. I heard his younger son, Luigi, was killed at a meet gone wrong last year. Luca is the only one still alive.

“Of course. Good to see you.”

“I’m assuming you brought some information we don’t want to be released,” Gian states, moving to sit. “Give it to Luca. We’ll take a look later. No reason to ruin our first meeting in years with work and blackmail.”

“We’d hate to ruin the moment,” I reply.

“Yes. Yes. Tell me, what have you been doing to keep yourself busy?” he asks, clasping his fingers together and placing them on his desk.

“This and that,” I answer, not wanting to give any information away too soon. It will all come to light, just not right now.

“How’s Claire?” he asks, unconcerned with my earlier response.

“You don’t want to meet her in a dark alley. She’s not as forgiving as I am.”

“Not much has changed then. Rebecca?” he asks.

For a moment, I debate what I want to say. It’s best she stays dead till I figure out what to do with her. I have no way of knowing if I can get her back to the fold or if she even wants to come home.

“She’s dead,” I growl, and Gian nods.

“Just Claire and you. I must say that’s a twist of fate. Rebecca was the….ah…good one, for lack of a better term.”

“Yes. She was. She was kind. She didn’t deserve what happened.” Rebecca deserved so much better. Once I regain my power, I’ll find her. I’ll make it better if I can, but I think it’s too late. She hates us, and I can’t blame her. We made her what she is, and she might be the death of me. It would be fitting.

“Have you seen Logan yet?”

“He’s next on my list,” I lie. There is no need to see him, but Gian doesn’t need to know.

“Well, I guess all I can say is it’s good to have you back in the fold. Your father and I were good friends, if you remember.” As if that changes anything.

“I remember. I remember everything,” I state, more of a promise to myself to make them all pay. It may take years, but they will all suffer.

“Should we get dinner to celebrate your return?” he asks, as if I’m here visiting for the weekend and not blackmailing him, or at the very least returning from the dead.

“No. I have others I need to catch up with, but I’m happy we were able to come to such a quick agreement,” I state, standing.

“Of course. But Elijah, you do remember the old ways, correct?” What is the old man talking about now? “To take the position, you will need a wife.”

“What?” The word escapes. For the first time in years, I’m genuinely shocked.

“Yes. There is a list of things that need to be completed in order to have your initiation. Including having a wife. Your father would have gone over it all with you when your time came closer, but with his untimely death, I can understand why you’re not aware.” He pulls a book from his desk and holds it out toward me. I rip it from his hands. There is a list of what appears to be requirements, and below a list of names going back generations. Flipping to the end, I see familiar names, including my father’s. The book appears to be old and well used. The binding is coming off at the sides and the leather on the front cover is starting to fade. But I recognize the symbol of the Five Families on the front.

Gian continues, “We all have a copy—five books for Five Families. I’m sure your father’s is still around somewhere. Last he told me, he didn’t keep it in the house.” Flipping back to the first page, I read the rules.

First kill.-That was a while ago. Check.

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