I cursed my stupidity and focused on the room.
Vincent sat in a chair across from me.He cleaned under his fingernails with a stiletto.
Poser.
Other than the grazed shoulder, the splinter puncture, and a throbbing head, I was functional.He should have stabbed me with that blade while I was out.
Apparently, he needed to talk first.Yippie, just what I needed.
“You are a particular menace, Mr.Devlin.”
“I take after my mother that way.”Maybe even my father.
Vincent wasn’t in a joking mood.His jaw clenched and he paused his fascination with his fingernails as he probably contemplated driving that knife into me.“I want something from you.”
“Name it.”If it got me out of here, I’d promise just about anything.Hell, I’d lie and promise him whatever his little black heart desired if it got me out of here.Then I’d return and kill him.
“I want Chicago.”
As if I could deliver that?
On consideration, I likely could.All it would take is Don Manca’s approval, the combined yeses from the ruling council, and me stepping down as the Conti heir.No big, right?Except, there was at least one more person in his way.
“Alfonzo will have a problem with that.”
“He won’t.He’s weak.”
If this were a different place and a different time, I’d truly consider stepping down.In fact, if he’d approached me last night, unarmed, I’d have made his little fantasy happen.
But that was before getting hit on the head.
Twice.
I slipped the zip ties they’d wrapped around my wrists over the large joint of my thumb.They should have duct-taped them in place.That would have made this take at least two minutes longer while I worked up the sweat it took to make the adhesive loosen.
He had three men left.The guy who’d rolled down the steps with George and two others.Each had an AR-15 in hand.The one farthest back would be the hardest.I needed a shield.
And I knew just the right body to use.“Conti-Messina is connected, not weak.”
That observation was met with narrowed eyes.“I’m connected, too.You can makethatchange happen.”
Ah, a contract.“Seven million, a day.”
Vincent shook his head, disagreeing with me.“You’ll do it for free, or you’ll die right here.”
I smiled as the last plastic cuff slipped free.“I don’t think so.”
I led with my head, pulling the chair with me and using the proximity of his body to stave off immediate retribution.
Dropping the chair, I wrapped around my prey and took his knife.
It took maybe three seconds.Mario really needed to get me training new recruits in the gym sooner rather than later.I held the blade to his neck.“If any of you move, he’s dead.Got it?”
They held position as I dragged Vincent toward the window.I glanced out and picked the one with a fire escape.This time I’d use the damn thing and jump to the ground at the end.Fuck waiting.
The guards clustered as they moved closer.
Even better.
