With the kitchen area behind us and a shit ton of sharp saws on our right, Rem stops us just behind the stacks of tile, positioning himself so that he’s shielding my body with his. “Fretellos.”
Ari and Johnny clocked us the instant we walked in. I can feel the weight of their attention as we stand in a frozen moment of silence. Me and the men locked in a standoff that three of us know is going to end badly for someone.
Finally, Ari acknowledges us. “Brother. Little Lena. So nice of you to come.”
I hear Rem curse under his breath. He ignores Ari and turns to Johnny. From where we’re standing Bianca’s husband looks unhurt. Furious, but otherwise fine.
“You good, Johnny?” Rem asks.
“Me? I’m pissed at this asshole,” he thumbs in Ari’s direction. “And fucking exhausted, and confused as fuck. Your asshole brother won’t tell me what the hell is going on or why I’m here. Just ordered me to come here instead of going home to Bianca.” Johnny glares at the older Cosenza brother even as he muffles a yawn. “Where I’m supposed to be. Asleep.”
If I wasn’t so scared, I’d find Johnny’s disgruntled cluelessness amusing. He’s obviously unaware of what’s going on and, in response, I can feel some of the tension leave Rem’s muscles. “It’s just some brother shit,” Rem says, trying to brush off Ari’s strange behavior. “Sorry he dragged you into it. Time for you to go home.”
Johnny might be clueless, but he’s not stupid. He looks between Ari and Rem, a frown darkening his expression. “You sure, boss? You don’t want me to hang around for…whatever the fuck this is?”
Rem cocks his head at the door. “Bianca is in my car. She was worried about you, wouldn’t stay put while I tracked you down. You should get out there, get her home. You both need some sleep.”
Johnny is halfway to the exit before Rem’s done talking. “What the fuck, bro—why did you leave her outside by herself?”
Rem shrugs, tossing Johnny the car keys as he passes us. “She’s tired, asshole. I told her I’d send you outvelocemente. Don’t think too much about it, just get home.”
Rem follows his friend’s progression across the cavernous space. His jaw is ticking as he tries to keep his emotions in check. He and I both know that, as much as we don’t want to admit it, there’s a chance we won’t get out of this building alive.
Rem knows this might be the last time he ever sees his friend. But Rem also knows that if he stops him, says anything that even resembles a goodbye, he’ll tip off Johnny that things are nowhere close to fine. Then Johnny will stay. Then Johnny will fight. Then Johnny might be the one who doesn’t get back to Bianca and their baby. That’s not an option.
So, his knuckles whitening as he grips my hand painfully, Rem just gives his friend an apologetic shrug and silently watches him walk out the door.
The door clicks shut behind him.
The tick in Rem’s jaw is so intense I’m worried his teeth will crack.
With Johnny gone, a sickening silence settles around us. One that’s broken by the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked.
My palm is sweaty against Rem’s. My heart very firmly lodged in my throat.
We turn to face Ari and the metallic taste of fear fills my mouth when I see the muzzle of Ari’s gun leveled with my head.
“Well,fratellino,” Ari says to Rem, his aim never faltering. “What do you say we get this over with?”
41
REM
Idon’t let myself react. Don’t let the fear climbing my spine get the better of me.
Ari is not going to hurt Lena.
Aldo and I have a plan. Losing my cool, charging my brother, and getting shot right now isn’t part of it. “Put the weapon down, Ari. We both know why we’re here. We have a helluva lot to talk about and your arm’s going to get tired if you keep a gun trained on us the whole time.”
“If you know why we’re here, you also know I’m not putting this down.” Ari cuts the distance between us.
I feel Lena tremble. It’s getting harder to keep my rage in check. “Just like you know that if you hurt one hair on her head, you’re not getting out of here alive.”
“That assumes you’re still breathing when she hits the ground.” Ari is close enough I can see the wildness in his eyes, like an injured animal prepared to do anything to survive.
“Stop. Just stop.” Lena yanks her hand from mine and raises both arms, palms out. Like she can somehow stop this madness. “You don’t want to kill your brother, Ari. You’ve onlyever wanted to protect him. Remember our conversation in the penthouse?”
Ari’s focus sharpens on my wife.
