We headed to the door together, taking quiet steps. Cillian peeked out through the peephole, then relaxed, replacing his gun in the holster. He waved at me to lower my Glock as he opened the door, revealing Ardan and Mancini, two of the Company’s hired killers.
Ardan cocked his head at us and the early morning sunlight glinted off his short wavy brown hair. “Were you going to shoot us with that?” He nodded at the gun in my hand, and I shrugged.
“Thought about it.” I grinned at him.
They didn’t attempt to enter, and we didn’t invite them in, not with Vail in the kitchen. I didn’t want him involved any more in the Company than he already was, and I had a feeling Cillian felt the same way because he moved to block the doorway.
“Why are ye here?” he asked with a sharp tone.
“Is that any way to greet someone who’s about to give you a present?” Ardan’s smug expression was enough to grind my gears. He was good at his job, there was no doubt about it. He was Sloan’s assassin, sent to take out the toughest targets possible. Mancini was an Italian, and handsome, too, with a nice body and mouth. He formerly belonged to the Folliero family before he killed one of them. I didn’t know the details about it, but Sloan was happy enough to employ him even though he wasn’t an Irishman. I also knew Ardan and Mancini were knocking boots; although, not long ago, Ardan was trying to kill him.
“What present?” Cillian growled out. “We have a guest.”
“I’m aware of that.” Ardan gestured at Mancini with a nod. “This guy here has had dealings with the Giordanos.”
I stiffened and stepped in closer. “How?”
Mancini raised his eyebrows and grinned. “Let’s just say we have a past, and now they want to kill me, too.”
“What do ye have for us?” Cillian asked, his jaw starting to twitch.
“You won’t be able to touch the ones in charge.” Mancini didn’t have an Italian accent; he sounded like he was born in New York City, with the Brooklyn lilt strong in his words. “They’re cowards. They send men to do their dirty work. But we met a friend.” He glanced at Ardan, and they grinned at each other.
“By friend, I’m assuming there was blood involved.” Cillian crossed his arms, but an impressed expression slid over his face.
“Maybe.” Ardan smirked.
Mancini laughed. “Our friend says the Giordanos have no plans of coming to New York City right now. They’ve got men here, but no one of great importance. Notyet.”
“But?” I shoved at Cillian, making him step to the side so I could see them both. “What’s the but?”
Ardan and Mancini shared a look, and Ardan nodded, turning to us. “Sloan has given you permission to send a message. That’s the only reason we’re giving you this information. It’s best for the boss not to have the power balance shift. He’s in a good spot right now.”
Mancini continued, “The Giordanos have a cousin, Marco Fantoni. He’s not anyone important to the family, but he’s blood, and like you, we care about blood. He’s coming to New York City next weekend for his bachelor party. The poor guy’s getting married.”
Ardan snorted. “Maybe you should pay him a visit. Don’t kill him. Give him a message for his cousins.”
“We’ll text you where he’ll be and when,” Mancini said.
Cillian straightened, his eyes glittering. There was a renewed energy about him, and I understood. Power washed through me, and the desire to give the men who’d hurt Vail something to think about had my belly warming. Fuck them all. I didn’t care how many times I’d be in confession for it, they were going to pay.
“Thank yer friend for us.” Cillian didn’t wait for an answer, only shoved me out of the way and closed the door on them, then sent me a wicked smile and turned on his heel. I grabbed him before he could walk away.
“What are ye thinking?” I whispered, glancing quickly at the end of the hallway. I hoped Vail hadn’t heard any of that.
“I’m thinking we have someone watching out for Vail every minute of the day.” Cillian pursed his lips, crossing his arms and hunching forward. “And then, next weekend we make this motherfucker hurt. We make him bleed. Just enough that we can send him home with our warm regards.”
That could antagonize the situation, but my good sense didn’t seem to care. I wanted blood.
“We’ll need specifics. He won’t be in the city without protection.”
Cillian spread his arms. “That’s why there’s four of us.”
“And what will we do with Vail while this happens?” My gut clenched as I thought about him unprotected. Cillian’s laugh made me uneasy.
“That’s why we have the panic room.”
“Are ye fecking kidding me, Cillian?” I pushed his chest, and he stumbled back a few steps. Anger had me stalking forward until I was face-to-face with him. “Ye’re planning on locking him in our panic room? Ye’ll scare him.”
