In which blackmail and murder are no match for a nice, sharp lock-blade.
Mold - Long Shiny Knives
Tatiana…
“You know the easiest way to do this is to use me as bait.” I said flatly.
“That’s not going to fucking happen,” Lucca cut me off.
“Absolutely not!” Aleks said, looking furious at the thought.
“Look. We don’t have a lot of time,” I said, “Mateo is unstable and impulsive. He may have a way to contact your father already. We must get the pictures off his phone. After that, he’s just an asshole with no proof.”
“That’s not happening,” Lucca shook his head.
“We don’t have time to get all tricky here.” I sighed. “You’ll both be following me. Let’s go to dinner. Make sure he sees me leaving - alone - and one of you follow me, and one of you follow him. We have to get him. It must benow. I just… I feel it. It must be tonight.”
They’re both frowning at me, and I shake my head. “We’re going down to eat, do you hear me?”
Dinner would have been delicious - lamb and wild greens - but all I could think about was not looking at Mateo, gloating in the corner and ignoring Tansey who was trying to chat him up between gulps of merlot.
When I stand up, Lucca and Aleks do as well. “Such nice manners,” I said teasingly. “I’ve got to grab something from the library, I’ll see you later.”
There is an audible grinding of teeth that I would find amusing if it wasn’t for the fact that I am hoping that Mateo - that evil prick - is going to follow me. He wouldn’t go after Aleks, he’s a coward with only one hand. But he’ll probably assume terrifying me with the news is the next best thing.
The island comes alive at night. The wind is even more vicious as it whips around the buildings and lashes the unwary walker with the frigid air. The crows that gather on the cliffs are vociferous talkers when it’s as dark as their glossy feathers. And my steps on the limestone path echo, like an extra set of footsteps keeping time with mine.
I’m almost to the library and nearing a small grouping of trees and thick underbrush where I hope the little troll is hiding.
“I keep wondering which one of you Leonid Rostova will kill first. You, for being a whore, or his son for fucking men?”
At least he’s predictable…
“Why are you talking to me?” I snap, “Are you looking for another trip to the Dean’s office for a date with her table saw?”
Mateo’s eyes are glittering, he looks feverish and excited. “Maybe if you suck my dick, I’ll think about not telling thePakhanof the Rostova Bratva that you’re a whore. Because that’s something your asshole brothers could never cover up. But your piece of shit fiancé? No fucking mercy.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“You don’t know about his little boyfriend? Of course, he looks cozy with Toscano, maybe they’re fucking, too.” Mateo laughs, it’s high and he sounds wildly excited.
“You’re lying,” I scoff, “that’s disgusting.”
“Stupida puttana, you stupid whore!” Mateo takes a sudden step toward me and I back away, keeping track of where we are in the shadows. When he thrusts his arm at me, I have to stifle a shriek. He loves this, of course. Grinning, he turns his phone to show me the screen with Aleks and his lover, arms around each other.
“Leonid Rostova will skin his precious son alive for fucking guys,” he says happily, “and I am going to be the one to-”
There’s a glint of silver behind him as a shadow materializes from the darkness. Mateo staggers and his eyes bulge horribly. His mouth opens, a long trail of spit nearly reaching his shirt before he’s yanked backward into the trees, their spindly arms reaching down in the wind to embrace him.
Lucca…
I come from a family of assassins. It’s how ourfamigliahave made our fortunes in Italy as far back as the 15th century. We have always been obsessed with knives of every kind. Both of my brothers have a huge collection.
As for me? I’ve found that a simple lock blade works just fine. It takes less than three seconds to step up behind Mateo, stab him in the left kidney, twist as I pull it out, then drive the blade into his right one, another twist and he’s dead.
It takes the victim a couple of seconds to realize what happened, and then the agony slams down on them like a hammer, and the few minutes left in their life are spent in excruciating pain. My only regret - as I drag Mateo into the trees - is that I can’t make him suffer longer.
Aleks recovers more quickly than Tatiana, who is gaping at me in shock. He scoops up Mateo’s phone off the ground where he dropped it as I stabbed him and hands it to her.
