Page 75 of DeLucas After Dark

“You, okay?” Nico asks, and I know he’s asking about my mental state.

It’s no secret that the darkness comes to claim me at times. The last time that happened was when my last wife was murdered.

“Yeah,” I reply.

Fuck! I know Piper’s parents are probably ready to take her home and as far from me as possible.

“Two dead on the left side of the house, by your men, and I left one dead in the front,” Larry, Mila’s father, reports as he joins us.

“Something’s not right, big bro,” Nico says.

“I know. Five men? That’s all they sent to take us out?” I ask.

“The other men are searching the grounds now for anyone else, but they’ve reported in on their walkie-talkies, and they haven’t found anyone.”

I kneel beside the man who Nico’s foot is on. I recognize him, but I’m not sure who he is.

“Who the fuck sent you?”

“I don’t need anyone to send me to avenge the wrong that’s been done to my family.”

“Your family?”

“The Colombos.”

“How did you find out about this weekend?”

“Lovely in-laws, huh? Once we heard about a family event, it was just about keeping an eye on you from there.”

“My in-laws?” Then it clicks. “The waiter from the restaurant.”

“What restaurant?” Nico asks.

“Where I had brunch with Piper’s parents. Who the fuck are you?”

“Claudio Colombo!” He spits.

“You fuckers, just don’t quit!”

“You’ll pay for killing my uncle Alberto and my cousins!” he sneers.

I put one of my guns away.

“What unlucky bastard had the nerve to bring you into the world?”

“Ezio Bruno!” he sneers.

“Well, today’s his lucky day. He’s no longer strapped with the fuckup he made over two decades ago.”

I stand and aim my gun at his head. Nico jumps back as I release the trigger and watch the bullet tear into the back of Ezio’s head, splashing brain matter and blood everywhere.

I remove the handkerchief from the pocket of my tux and wipe away the remnants on my face.

“Fuck! I paid three grand for these shoes!” Nico growls.

I glance at the red suede shoes and shake my head. “Shouldn’t have.”

“Get Pietro Colombo on the line,” I order Nico.

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