This mother fucker just told me that he spared my life and is indebted to the fucking mafia! I thought we were out of this lifestyle.
“Michael, what the fuck do you mean you owe him a debt…” I blink at him, not sure what exactly to think.
“Exactly what it sounds like, Kai! I have to go tonight and pay my debt so we can be free. I didn’t think this would happen. We did some stupid shit when we were sixteen, running errands for the fucking Mafia wasn’t our best fucking move. And then you killed the dude, I had to do it to keep you safe.”
His words are sinking into me, like a sick poison eating at my insides. I am trying not to blow up on him for keeping this from me for ten years.
Ten fucking years… why are they all of a sudden coming back for the favor after ten years?
“Okay, so you go tonight, they ask your favor, and what? You just do whatever they ask?” I know it sounds like a stupid question, but we got out of that lifestyle for a reason. We have morals now. Well, at least more than these fuckers do.
“Yeah, basically.” He says with a loud sigh.
“And I’m guessing you won’t let me go with you?” He replies with just a shake of his head.
“Are you at least going to carry when you go?” My questions are all over the place, like my thoughts. I can’t lose my fucking brother. He is the other half of me. I will lose my fucking soul.
“Yes, I will grab my gun before I go. But I can guarantee they will strip me beforehand, and you need to stay here. Someone needs to stay with Julia. She needs to be in the dark about where I’m at tonight. I don’t need her knowing I am meeting her father.”
Wait a mother fucking minute. Her father? When the fuck did he piece that shit together?
“You are meeting Julia’s father!” The question comes out more of a demand than a question, but still. What the fuck?
“Yes, I told you I looked her up. When I found pictures of her with him at Galas and events, I pieced it together. But it didn't matter to me; she was still on my mind, and I became obsessed.” I nod in response.
“Just know I don’t fucking like you going alone… But I will stay here with Julia, like you asked, because I understand what you are saying. But I swear to God, Mikey! You fucking die… and I’ll bring you back from the dead and kill you myself.”
Mikey laughs at me, but then we fall into a comfortable silence.
Chapter 19
Mikey
It's five minutes until midnight, and I am sitting outside of this abandoned-looking warehouse that is on the edge of the river. There are no lights around, no movement at all. I am the only car that I can see.
Where the fuck are these assholes?
I kill the engine and sit there for a second. My hands are still on the wheel, white as bone from my death grip.
I should text Kai and tell him to lock the doors and windows. To set the fucking alarm and stay close to Julia.
Then I picture her right before I left the house, sprawled out on my bed, wearing my Vortex hoodie, curled into the blanket. She looked so peaceful and calm.
The peace she feels with us aches in my chest. She never felt safe a day in her life until now. And that just fuels the rage in my chest.
I step out of the car, and the cold hits me immediately. I can feel the winter coming on strong in Chicago. I am honestly surprised the snowhasn’t come yet. I pull my jacket closer into me as my boots crunch over broken glass and gravel. I reach the rusted metal door and see two shadows flanking it. They are broad, armed, and looking unamused.
One of them pats me down, fucking rough. His hands close around my ankle holster.
“Nice try,” he grunts, pocketing my gun.
“I expect that back,” I say to him, and he ignores me, just opening the door for me.
I walk in and let the darkness engulf me. Inside, it smells like mold and rust. The only light is a bare bulb swinging from a chain. It keeps flickering and buzzing constantly; it's like it wants to die, but De Luca won’t let it.
Then there he is. The man of the hour, standing beneath the poor, lonely light. He is perfectly still in his tailored suit and his hands behind his back. He looks like he just got out of a board meeting instead of luring me into an abandoned slaughterhouse.
He looks me up and down with that cold, calculated smile.
