Page 22 of Blood Lust

“Stop, Antonio.”

He snapped his mouth shut.

“I know you gambled with my money, and I know you lost it. I’m not sure why you thought you’d get away with this.” I had eyes everywhere. The night before, Antonio had collected thepizzo—protection money—for the month. I’m sure he thought he would “borrow” it, come out ahead on his bets, and I would be none the wiser.

I stood up and straightened my already impeccably placed tie. Antonio visibly shrank. I turned to stare out at the view I’d so recently been admiring. Then I trailed my finger over the glass. “God, I love this city.” Glancing over at Antonio, I noticed the trail of sweat that ran down his cheek. He might have even trembled. “Don’t you love this city?”

“What do mean?”

“Tell me.” I braced my splayed fingertips on my desktop as I leaned slightly toward him. “Don’t you love this city?”

“Um, yes, sir. Yes, I do love this city.”

“Good, good. So would you like to continue to live in this city?”

“Um, well, yes. My home is here.”

“No. Do you want to continue tolivein this city?”

It was in that moment that Antonio understood what I was saying. His face went ashen, and his eyes bugged. If I wasn’t so pissed, I might’ve laughed.

“I don’t have the money… yet.”

“Yet? And how do you expect to get my money back?”

“I—”

“And don’t tell me you’re going to get lucky on the horses, because we both know your track record.”

“Gabriel. Please. Have mercy.”

I barked a laugh. “When have you ever know me to be merciful? I’m not your priest. I’m not Jesus Christ himself. Don’t ask for mercy from me.”

“But Gabriel, I can’t leave my daughter alone in this city. She has no one left except for me.”

“Your daughter?” He had my attention, and I could tell he knew he’d fucked up. I couldn’t believe I had forgotten he had a daughter. His mentioning her reminded me. She had a different last name from his, and he’d ended up with her after her mother died. If memory served, the girl had to be nearing twenty by now.

“Yes. My Alia. She’s only twenty-four. She’s been protected—sheltered from all of this. She doesn’t understand the dangers that lurk here.”

Hmm, more time had passed than I realized.

“Dangers? Like… me?”

“No! Not you. I meant in general,” he stammered.

“See, this is where you’re wrong. Because Iamthe danger in this city. Have I ever given you the impression that I tolerate being lied to?”

“No.”

“Stolen from?”

“No.”

“Then why did you think it was okay to use my money to make your bets?”

“Well, Boss, I thought it was a sure thing,” he began.

“I’ll tell you what… show me a picture of this daughter of yours.”

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