His eyes go wide, finally understanding the gravity of the situation that he is in, and stammers, “I-I-I’m telling you that is what I’m doing. I’m new here and got myself turned around.”
Holding up two fingers, clicking my tongue, I shake my head. “That makes two. You have only one more chance. Don’t waste it being a dumbass.”
His shoulders fall in complete defeat. “I fucked up.”
I stand there just looking at the man with a blank stare. He isn’t wrong. He has fucked up, and there is no way out or anyone who can save him at this point. The only option that he has at this point is whether his death is slow and unbelievably painful or if it’s quick.
“I was desperate and needed money. What the guy was offering was just way too much to fucking turn down.” He starts pacing back and forth in the small office, just rambling.
“The reason you did what you did doesn’t fucking matter to me. What matters to me iswhopaid you andwhatthey damn well paid you for,” I snap, cutting off the flow of information.
He stops in his tracks, eyes darting side to side once again, looking for a place to run to. Done with the conversation and truly not in the mood for this shit, I pull my gun out and fire a shot in one smooth motion. The man hits the floor, holding his knee and screaming as red seeps through his fingers onto the floor. I hear people start running in my direction because of thesound. Making sure I’m not standing in the way of the door or a gun coming through it, I wait for my men to flood the room. When the door is opens and they see me standing there glaring at the man at my feet, they stop short.
My right-hand man looks up at me with eyebrows raised. “Vito, why did you shoot the new guy?”
The man on the floor has finally stopped screaming and is looking up at Bryce with eyes so wide they might just fall out of his damn head.
Looking over at Bryce, I cock an eyebrow. “New guy, you say? Is he one of yours?”
Bryce glares down at the man. “Nope, not mine.”
“Well, seems like we’ve got more problems than just this one. Bryce, get him up and placed in the workroom. While you're at it, find me his boss. I have questions that need answers and, unlucky for these poor bastards, I’m in the mood to take things nice and slow.”
“Please, please, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. Just please don’t,” the man begs.
“Bryce shut him up,” I snap, pulling my vibrating phone from my pocket.
I look at who is calling, and my chest goes tight instantly. “The only reason you’re supposed to be calling me is if something has happened to Loretta, and for your sake that better not be the case.”
“Something has happened,” he states quickly. “Loretta is fine. She’s shaken up some but seems fine.”
“Where?” I snap, making my way toward the door. “Bryce, get everything set up and ready for when I’m done dealing with this situation.”
“You’ve got it, boss,” he calls at my back. I storm through the barn to the waiting four-wheeler.
I clear the miles between the barn and the main house in less time than ever before. Sliding to a stop beside my SUV, I kill the engine and jump into my SUV, peeling down the driveway at breakneck speed. My tires squeal as I get out onto the road. The sound of someone yelling finally breaks through my haze. Placing my phone back to my ear, I’m finally able to hear what he is trying to tell me.
“Where?” I bite out, sharp and fast, cutting him off.
“The diner,” is all I allow him to say before I hang up the phone, pushing my SUV to its max.
A drive that would normally take me between thirty-five and forty minutes only takes me fifteen. As I’m making the turn onto the road the diner is on, my heart nearly slams out of my chest when I see police lights, firetrucks, and even an ambulance. I skid to a stop in the parking lot, slamming my SUV into park at the same time I throw my door open. I march across the lot toward the circle of vehicles and people. When I get to the line of officers, I look around and take in everything. What I find causes my blood pressure to skyrocket, and the need to kill bursts forward.
“Does someone want to tell me what the fuck is going on?” I snarl so low it’s as if the universe itself goes still with bated breath.
“Sir, you need to step back. This is a crime scene.” The young officer’s tone and words are like the crack of a whip.
I lock eyes with the man, making sure there is no chance he will miss what I have to say next. “I do not give a damn who you think you are. What I do know is that someone better tell me exactly what is going on here. If the moment comes that Imust ask a second time, there will be an entirely new department tomorrow.”
I watch in shock as he squares his shoulders, eyes narrowing on me. “I do not know who the hell you think you are, but—” His words are cut short when the captain calls out.
“Vito, what can I do for you tonight?” he asks, looking between the young officer and me.
“You can start by telling me what the fuck is going on here?” I call back, never looking away from the man in front of me.
“Some vandalism and a fire of an employee’s car. Nothing that should concern you gentlemen,” Captain states as he slaps me on the back.
I look at him out of the corner of my eye. “Who?”
