A figure moved forward, bundled in a long, dark coat. He circled around, looked down at Victor, then turned the gun on them. Tony Pascucci.
* * * *
“Tony,” Victor cried from where he lay huddled on the ground, blood discoloring the snow from the wound in his chest. “What have you done?”
What had he done?Pascucci had always been loyal to a fault. Why would he shoot Victor? He’d never likedher. She doubted he had some sense of righteousness that made him want to save her.
“Victor.” A sly smile grew on Pascucci’s face. “I didn’t want to do this but you left me no choice. I was willing to wait a few more years, hoping the stress would finally get to you, but you’ve been making too many mistakes lately.”
“What?” Victor’s voice grew weak, though the anger and arrogance still came.
“I want your empire. I thought it would be a done deal when your chauffeur took out Angelo. With a little help from me.”
“What did you do? You helped this agent kill my son?”
“No,” Jack piped in, his voice not much stronger than Victor’s. “But when I left, Angelo was still alive. Always wondered why…he didn’t make it…and I did. I was hurt worse.”
“Yes, but he was still seriously wounded. All it took was a little bit of time and he finally had no chance of living.”
“You let my son bleed to death,” Victor roared, then coughed and folded in on himself. “How could you do that?”
“I knew what was in your will. I figured with Angelo out of the way, my path was clear to inherit everything of yours. Until the bitch found out she was pregnant. You doted on the kid like he was freakin’ made of gold.”
“Is it why you always glared at him?” Callie finally spoke up. “Are you the one who poisoned him?”
“No, Steve’s new partner did,” Jack informed her. “Trying to draw me out into the open.”
When had he learned that information? Not that they’d had time for a chat since this morning. Had it just been this morning she’d given him the file?
“I don’t kill kids,” Pascucci spit out. “It’s not my style. I want to focus more on the legitimate aspects of Victor’s empire. He could make millions every year and not have to worry about the law wanting to take him down.” He looked at Victor, still squirming in the snow. “But he thinks the ‘business’ is too important.”
“It’s what keeps you alive, Tony, you’ll find that out.”
“Actually, Victor, I have a few friends willing to buy that part of your ‘business’ once I get my hands on it. And they’ve offered a pretty penny for it. Now I only have to get rid of the little heir to the fortune.”
Ice froze her blood. He meant Jonathan. “But you said you didn’t kill children.”
“I don’t. But I can grab him and send him far away. Italy is a nice place and I have relatives who would love a cute little kid like him.”
“He’s not Angelo’s,” Jack’s voice was gruff but Callie loved hearing it. He’d gotten heavy in her arms and she thought he’d passed out. She’d refused to think it was anything more.
Pascucci looked curiously at him. “Not Angelo’s? What are you talking about? She was seeing him at the time.”
“He’s my son.”
Three little words but ones Jack had wanted to shout to the world. He finally had. But would he be able to say them to anyone else? Would Pascucci want them dead, or could they talk their way out of this? Callie’s hopes flared to life but whatever happened, had to happen fast. Her leg had long gone numb and Jack was slumping heavier against her every second.
Pascucci looked at her, for confirmation. She nodded.
“I never slept with Angelo. He was using me to cover that he was gay. I was only seeing him to get information for the FBI.”
Pascucci laughed. “That’s a hoot. You know Angelo babbled a few things about cheating on you before he died. Didn’t realize the rest.”
Victor made a garbled sound and Pascucci walked over to check him out. Could she get Jack out of here while he was busy? Pushing up, she tried to stand but her leg was useless and wouldn’t get far. She attempted again but Jack was too heavy and with the blood she’d lost, she didn’t have the strength.
“Tony?” Could she appeal to his human side by using his first name? “You won’t hurt Jonathan, will you? Please.”
“No reason to,” he said, carelessly then kicked at Victor’s side. “He’sdead. And he’s got no heir. Which means I inherit everything the law doesn’t confiscate. And there are quite a few legal businesses I’ve built up. I might have a case against them being closed down.”
