“Can it wait?” I ask.
“Yes, it will be days before we have to deal with him.”
I look at him curiously but let it go. If it were something I needed to know right away, Ricco would have told me.
“How’s Darius?” I ask.
Ricco chuckles. “He’s still strung up in the watershed. Augie and Benny are keeping an eye on him.”
“Good. Keep him hanging. I’ll deal with him when we get back from the hospital.”Fucking son of a bitch. “Let me ask you something. Now that we know Darius helped Gallardi, do you think he also helped with the hit on us at the pool house?”
“You know, I was thinking the same thing. We know it was someone on the inside. I would bet money on it.”
“I thought so. I’ve got plans for Darius. He will beg for death by the time I’m done with him.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Ricco replies.
“My only consolation right now is knowing the cocksucker is going to suffer.” Zaira looks at us curiously, and I swear if she fucking begs for his life…
“I want to be there,” Zaira says.
I look at her in disbelief. “You can’t save him, Zaira.”
“I know. I don’t want him saved. I want him to suffer for making me trust him and then putting me through all that. Promise me, Michael.”
“It’s not going to be pretty, darling.”
“I know. The uglier the better as far as I’m concerned.” Well, shit. That was the last thing I expected to hear from her.
“I promise.”
We sit and wait for the ambulance and further instructions from the doctor. It’s gonna be a long fucking night, and all I can think about is Zaira and our conversation tomorrow.
A few minutes later, Dr. Siegel comes out. “Ambulance should be here any minute. Are all of you going to the hospital?”
“All of us but Zaira.” I turn toward Ricco. “Ricco, have the Q7 brought out front. You drive.”
“Yes, sir,” he replies and walks away, pulling out his phone.
I take Zaira’s hand. “I’m glad you’re safe. Make yourself at home. After all, this was your home for a while. Get some rest, and we’ll talk in the morning.” I turn to follow the boys outside.
“Michael. Wait!” she calls before I make it very far. She walks toward me and wraps her arms around me to whisper in my ear. “Thank you.” And to my surprise, she kisses me on the cheek. She doesn’t give me a chance to speak before she turns and proceeds back toward the stairs.
“Car is ready, boss,” Ricco says, causing me to remove my focus from Zaira’s ass. “And the ambulance is here.”
We wait while Dr. Siegel wheels Hawk toward the ambulance. Ice follows, saying, “I’m gonna ride with him.”
I nod. The rest of us follow behind and make our way to the car.
