Page 41 of Enemies in Ruin

I know I need to calm down quickly. I want to reach across and snap his neck. My mind jumps back into the arena. The screams of the crowd, the taste of blood in my mouth, the softness of the white sand below my feet. As I spun, each face meshed into one until they all looked like one.

Him.My father.

My throat aches. I swear I can feel Francis’s neck in the vise of my arm, and I’m squeezing the life out of him as a cry rips from my throat.

I blink rapidly, and the memory disappears. The agent is looking concerned, and I know I need to get a grip.

“What other news do you have?” I ask.

He opens his jacket and shifts in his seat like he’s trying to throw off the murderous waves that still emanate from me.

“I’m backed into a corner like a fucking dog. Everything that I had learned about how these gangs work has gone out the window. They are more organized than they have ever been. This Geno guy is good at inspiring people to do greater things.” He says Geno’s name like he has some respect for him. Is that who ordered my agent to kill Carina? Could the web of all this be so tangled?

No, Geno couldn’t be working with the agent, too.

“Greater things?” I try to stay focused on this situation.

“An NYC without the Families.”

I slump back in the chair at that stupid statement. “The cartel, the Irish mob, the French mob, the CIA, the FBI…all of them have tried to take down the Five. It has never worked. It never will work. We’re too strong, too organized.” I want to tell him how ridiculous it all sounds, that Geno must be smoking some pretty strong stuff.

“You are right. That’s what everyone says. They are untouchable. They know that. Everyone knows that.”

I don’t say anything, as I can see he isn’t finished.

“But with that kind of certainty comes complacency. They are too comfortable on their thrones. A threat is almost laughable to them.”

He makes a very valid point. No one should ever get comfortable in this profession. The minute you do, someone dies. Haven’t we all been taught that lesson over and over again?

The agent exhales loudly before running his hand across his face. “Over the next few days, I’m going to be pulled off the job. I’m not sure if we can meet again.” He stares at me and waits for my response, but I’m still seething from his attempt on Carina’s life and the information that Geno is causing so much damage.

“If anyone ever finds out we have been meeting…” His worry is plain on his face.

How I’d love to hang him out to dry after what he just attempted, but in doing so, I’d be airing my own laundry. “No one knows,” I say, outwardly calm. Inwardly, I run scenarios. There’s a chance I can kill him, and his higher-ups wouldn’t link it to me.

“We don’t know what the fuck they know. Be careful out there.” He slides out of the chair.

“Hey.” I wait until he turns to look at me again. “Who gave the kill order?”

He shakes his head. “You know I can’t tell you that, Marzano.”

He waits as one of my men returns his gun before he leaves the small restaurant. I do know that. Whether the kill order came from one of the Five, or someone in the department, or someone else altogether, it wouldn’t be good if I knew. A war was sparked in the 1960s, and with the weapons we have now, if it was to happen again, we could wipe each other out. It wouldn’t matter if you’re a Don, a Mafia prince or princess, or even someone like me, an Untouchable. No one would leave untouched. All the rules would go out the window, and with it, the bodies would pile so fucking high we wouldn’t be able to see beyond the carnage.

Still. I’ll find out who it was, and when I do, I’ll be glad to start stacking bodies.

I raise a hand for my men to follow as I leave the restaurant. Outside, the city looks calm, the normal undercurrent of movement ebbing and flowing. There is no sign of the impending war. But something like that doesn’t show its face until it’s too late. It explodes in a storm of blood and fury, and there’s nothing to do but fight your way out.

Don’t ever get comfortable.The reminder zings through my thoughts as I reach the car. One of my men uses a mirror to conduct a swift search of the undercarriage, then opens the back door for me. I wave them off and climb behind the wheel. Right now, I have no idea who to trust.

“You can follow. I’m riding alone.” I pull out from the curb.

I should go speak to my father, but I have no desire to tell him I’ve decided to break things off with Evie. I don’t think I had even consciously made the decision until just now, but it feels right, if life altering.

The phone rings, the sound shattering my thoughts. I’m ready to ignore it until I see Carina’s name flash up on the screen.

I answer. “How did you do? Did you find out anything?” I’m sure the homeless shelter will lead us to something.

“Yeah, I think I did.” She sounds distant, like she’s keeping her voice down but moving quickly.

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