“No,” Mickey repeated. He searched Rufus’ face, and he didn’t like what he saw. “I think he’s lying…”
The back door suddenly burst open and in walked Cold and Jerry. They were both dirty and exhausted, and Cold did not look very happy. His disgruntled gaze fell on Mickey, and the depth of rage in those icy eyes made Mickey retreat a few steps away.
“Boss!” Mickey exclaimed. “You’re—”
“Mr. Tamerlane,” Cold said, “would you like to explain why you took it upon yourself to violently murder Salvatore Luchesi in the middle of a crowded street without orders?”
“Oh. Right. That.”
Chapter 21
“Explain yourself,” Cold demanded.
Jerry said something in French.
Cold gestured for him to go ahead, but his eyes did not leave Mickey.
“I was packing up from the fire, and I saw Salvatore.” Mickey didn’t see any point in lying. He heard footsteps behind him and saw Alistair was joining them now. “I didn’t want him to get away again, so I went after him.”
“Even though you had orders to return to the safe house?” Cold scowled.
“Yes, Boss. I didn’t know when I’d get another chance to—”
“I promised you revenge when the time was right. The authorities are still looking for you and Roger from the shootout at the church. Duncan as well.”
“Me?” Duncan squeaked.
“It was your car, stupid,” Mickey mumbled.
“Focus!” Cold snapped angrily. “We are in the middle of a war, in case you’ve forgotten. Tonight was not the right time.”
“That’s rich, seeing as how you also took it upon yourself to kill Marco,” Alistair pointed out. Jerry was walking by with a drink for Cold, and Alistair took it. “If you hadn’t run off to catch Marco, Rufus would have been able to warn you in advance about the raid, and everyone would have made it here safely.”
“Are you questioning my decisions?”
“Yes,” Alistair replied fearlessly.
Cold was furious, and he was visibly struggling to control his temper.
“Tell me,” Alistair went on, pausing to sip the drink, “why did you need Rufus to help you clean up?” He nodded at the blood on the front of Cold’s shirt. “I’m assuming that’s not yours, which means you probably left a lovely trail for the police to follow.”
“Oh, they’ll never find poor Marco,” Rufus promised. “And please, it was my pleasure to help. I just love—”
“Shut up,” Alistair warned. “You’ll speak only when spoken to.”
Rufus cleared his throat and cowered.
Jerry came back with another drink, and he walked very purposefully around Alistair to deliver this one to Cold.
“It’s over,” Cold said shortly. He chugged the liquor back with a hiss. “If they do happen to discover Marco’s body, it won’t be for some time. I have time to plan—”
“A plan you wouldn’t have needed if you had stopped to think!” Alistair suddenly roared, hurling his glass at the ground. “All of your precious planning in the trash because you couldn’t fuckin’ wait!”
Everyone froze, and it was so quiet Mickey could hear one of the broken pieces of the glass still tittering where it had landed beneath the table.
“You’re an idiot!” Alistair raged on. “You have risked that boy’s life for your own selfish revenge!”
“Judge Hutchinson was stalling,” Cold replied in a deathly calm tone. “I thought I had time.”
