“Awe.I should feel special that you remember my name.”
“I try to do that with the people I’m going to kill.”
“Such big words for someone so tiny.”
I snort.“This coming from a pussy who can’t even come after me himself.Do you always send someone to do your dirty work?Afraid that you won’t make it out alive if you come after me?It’s probably wise, really.”
“You’ll see me when it’s time.I’m having too much fun playing with you in the meantime.It’s too bad my men missed that old bastard.I might have to pay him a visit and finish the job myself.Send him to hislover,” he sneers the last word.
As I listen to Frankie’s bullshit, I manage to let Malice know that Frankie is on the line.He’s got Cypher on his phone, but he holds his hand up, palm out, to indicate Cypher said there’s five minutes before he can do anything.
Fuck.
I nod and then do what I can to keep Frankie on the phone.“What’s wrong, little guy?Does it mess with your sensitive little fee fees to know that two men can love each other happily?No one love you enough?You’re jealous, is that it?”
“Fuck you,” Frankie screams.
“I’ve thought about it.That’s going to be a no from me.I like your wife’s pussy too much.I’m thinking about how long it’ll be before she’s swollen with another of my kids.What do you think?Probably less than six months, if I’m honest.”
Frankie’s harsh breathing grates against my ear as his rage builds.“I’m going to kill you.Then I’m going to fuck her on top of your dead body before loaning her out to whoever wants a taste.When she’s all used up, I’m going to slit her throat and fuck her while the life is draining out of her broken body.Because here’s the thing,brother.If I can’t have her, neither willyou.Tell Cypher he’s close, but not close enough.I’ll be seeing you soon, Apollonos.”
“Fuck.Cypher says he didn’t have enough time,” Malice says in apology.
“Is he still on the phone?”I ask, my voice empty as I play Frankie’s words through my mind.
There are so many things that niggle at the back of my mind after our conversation.
“Still here, Prez,” Cypher says.
“You didn’t get anything?”
“No, sir.Whoever he’s working with is fucking good.I’m sorry.”
I blow out a heavy breath, rubbing the back at my neck as I gaze around at the citizens working hard to help get this place ready.I jerk my head toward the office in the back, and Malice follows, letting Cypher know we’re going somewhere a little more secure.
When we get in there, I lean back against the desk as I dig through Frankie’s words.“Did you focus your search on my parents and the church?”
“Yeah.I haven’t had anything come back yet, but I’ve given our guy on the dark web a few more parameters.”
“Is there an ETA on the information?”
“That’s not how they work.You know this shit takes as long as it takes.We have to be careful when we go into some systems.We want as little trail as possible left behind so nothing comes back to any of us.”
“Heard.He knows my birth name.It could be a given since he’s married to Birdie, but my gut warns me that isn’t how.I think we’re heading in the right direction with my past.I don’t know, brother.I don’t know how or why, but there’s a twisting in my gut.”
“Fuck.”
“Yeah,” I say heavily.
It’s building in the air.Zaps of electricity warning us of the impending storm.I’ve never been scared of them.There’s something to be said for standing in the middle of one.When the rain falls in sheets so dense you can barely make out the shape of your hand in front of you.The way the vortex winds whip your hair around your face so harshly, the strands bite your skin.When streaks of lightning brighten the dark sky and thunder creates a boom so deep, you feel it tightening your chest.
It’s the fear that keeps you alive.
It’s knowing that with one bolt, your life could potentially be over.
Just like the kiss of a bullet to the heart.
Chapter Thirty-Two
