Eugene was a wiry man, with the strength you wouldn’t assign to him or his frame—but he was an absolute psychopath. I knew that Johnny had suffered already, despite the orders being to leave that to me. I nodded at Eugene, who grinned sadistically as he pulled the silencer out of his pocket.
“Eugene here is just following orders, too. Good talking to you.”
I glared at him with disgust as I stood, commanding Eugene to make it quick, and as clean as possible.
The last thing I needed was blood all over the fucking walls again.
I climbed the stairs, my shoulders tense with anger.
Johnny had to pay for taking her.
Nothing was forgivable.
I understood that Lucia had suffered, but that had nothing to do with Gretchen.
I left the house, whistling as I skipped down the steps. The wind bit into me, icy fingers curling around my body as I jogged back to midtown. I checked my watch and smiled when I saw I hadn’t wasted too much time with him, I’d make my appointment in plenty of time.
Excellent.
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS LATER
“How are you doing cuz?” The voice drawled down the line as I rubbed my brow with irritation.
What does this little shit want now?
I tightened my jaw as I sighed, preparing myself for his bullshit.
“What the fuck are you calling me for?” I growled down the phone as he tutted, making me want to smash his face into next week.
Sadly, that was yet to be invented. As advanced as technology was, a punch couldn’t travel over the airwaves.
Pity.
“I’ve just had breakfast with our beautiful Gretchen, she’s like a fine wine, my man, she seems to get better with age. But I’m worried about her.”
I tightened my grip around the phone as I closed my eyes, regret filling my chest at the thought of him anywhere near her.
Our Gretchen?
“You better be lying,” I said through gritted teeth, my eyes scanning the airport for an update on my flight. They had delayed it by an hour, and I was getting restless.
Now I have this punk giving me grief.
“No, I mean this whole kidnapping shit,” he waited, enjoying every moment of proving what he knew.
Fuck.
“Keep away from her. Do you understand me?!” I muttered, my voice trembling with rage.
“But don’t you think it’s time you admitted I was right all those years ago? I’m better for her than you. She would have a simple life with me, marriage, pop out some babies—Fuck, I’d enjoy making those though—no kidnaps, no mob. Just a picket fence and warm apple pie.”
I pulled the phone away and almost snapped it as I ended the call, my vision blurred with anger as I dialled Gretchen’s number.
“Hey baby!” she sang down the phone as I tried to speak calmly.
“Why did you tell him, Gretchen?”
I heard her suck in her breath, and I knew then that she would never have told me about meeting him. My heart hurt, knowing she could betray me.
