“No bet. And don’t think I’m not going to ask where you’ve been when we’re done here. If I had my way,youwould be in this chair andyourveins would be flooded with drugs. I don’t like being kept in the dark, Gio. You are starting to look as shady as Penelope and Lorenzo.”
He purses his lips and scowls at me. “Just because I want to maintain somewhat of a private life doesn’t mean I’m doing anything untoward.”
“Whoa, big word, bro, but it also doesn’t mean you’re not. Think carefully about this. It’s always been you and me, together, and that’s not happening at the moment. We really aren’t gelling.”
Before he can respond, Franz groans and rolls his head to the side, peering up at me. “You’re hot. Want to suck my dick?”
I hide a snort, but Gio’s face turns red and he backhands him. “What did you say to my sister?”
“I asked her if she would suck my cock. It’s not big, I’m sure she could do a really good job of it.” Franz is wide-eyed and sincere in his declaration.
I can’t stop the peel of laughter that rings out as Gio’s mouth drops open in surprise. “Oh my God. Can we send the Colombians a thank you fruit basket or something? This is awesome.”
“For fuck’s sake, let’s get on with it. I don’t need to hear him hit on you,” Gio grumbles, and I get control of myself.
Pulling up a chair, I turn it backwards and straddle it as I smile at Franz. I may not have to get bloody today after all.
“Did someone pay you to build the bomb that killed Stefano Russo?” I watch him think about it before he nods enthusiastically like a toddler.
“Yes, I got a nice chunk of cash for that job even after I paid that idiot to plant it.”
“And who was it?” I ask him, my fingers tightening over the back of the chair in anticipation. This is it.
He shrugs. “No idea. It was posted on an underground message board, and I took the job. I got an email with the details, and the money was wired into my account. The username was DTF, that’s all I can tell you.”
Gio grunts, and I look at him with a raised eyebrow. “What?”
“DTF. Down to Fuck,” he says wryly, and I roll my eyes.
“That definitely has to be a male. Only an idiotic man would use that as a username.” I turn back to Franz. “That’s it? You can’t tell meanythingelse. You didn’t meet them or anything? Talk to them on the phone or through text?”
Franz huffs. “Fuck no, people like that are scary.”
Gio swears and starts pacing the room. I can tell his anger is riding him. Surprisingly, unlike the first time we did this together, I’m the calm one. His hand twitches, needing to reach for his gun, so I quickly ask another question.
“What message board was it?”
“Hit and Run. It’s where anyone who is anyone posts their hits.” Well, okay then. That’s something I never thought I would hear.
“Excellent. Thank you, Franz, you have been a very good boy.” I lean forward and pat him on the leg.
“Does this mean you’ll suck my cock now?”
I wrinkle my nose as a bulge grows in his pants. Gio screams, pulls out his gun, and blows Franz’s brains out from behind. Brain matter splatters all over my face.
Screaming internally because I don’t want to get brain matter in my mouth, I run and grab the hose that’s on one wall, turn it on, and spray myself down.
“You fucking asshole!” I scream once my mouth is clean. “Now who is trigger happy? I wanted to hear him squeal.” I look down at myself and gag at the smell. “You couldn’t have waited until you were in front of him?”
When my eyes meet my brother’s, I stop screaming at him. I see the sadness and utter helplessness he feels over Dad’s death and instantly forgive him for covering me with a brain smoothie.
“Oh, Gio, don’t blame yourself. You aren’t to blame for Dad’s death. None of us are. We should have had people inspecting the cars. We will find who did this, and when we do, they will wish they got a death as quick as Franz’s.” I go to hug him, but he puts his hands up.
“Love you, sis, but this is Dior.” He points to his suit. “And I don’t want Franz all over it.”
“Well, I didn’t get a choice, and neither do you.” I tackle him, and he can do nothing but wrap his arms around me and hold me tight. I feel him shudder, and a small sob escapes his mouth as we stand there covered in Franz, grieving like we don’t allow ourselves to do normally.
I meant what I said. Whoever did this will wish they were never born when we get our hands on them.
