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“You think I don’t know about Romano’s little setup there? Come on, Leo,” I shake my head in disappointment. “You could have come to me instead of selling your soul to a man who would fuck you six ways from Sunday, then throw what’s left of you to his dogs. I thought you considered me a friend.”
Leo smiles sadly. “You are, but you are also Don Vitelli. I served your father and now serve you. I might as well have demanded your balls on a plate.”
True. I would have put a bullet in his skull for that kind of stupid request. And if I didn’t, my father would certainly have arranged it. Still, it has to be more honorable than going down as a traitor and a rat.
I sigh, hating the man for putting me in this position “You know I can’t just walk away from this. I can’t forgive this.”
Leo nods. “I know. And I’d rather you do it, though.” He shrugs. “It beats being gunned down by a bunch of strangers.”
I seethe. He doesn’t seem to give a damn how I feel about that burden being placed squarely on my shoulders. “My life is already a fucked up circus without you piling this bullshit—your blood—on me, you selfish son of a bitch.”
“Si, I am. I’ve put twelve of my best years into the Outfit. I’ve bled for your family. I’ve done things that keep me up at night. And even when I sleep… they’re always there, the blood, the screams.”
He reaches for his empty glass again, but he abandons the effort halfway there. “Maybe I knew all along there was no way out. That Romano was a lying snake who just wanted a chance to start another civil war. But it’s never-ending. I just wanted to get it over with.”
“Get it over with?” I scoff. He seems to have forgotten how this world works. “Your particular brand of suicide is fucked up, Leo. You’ve chosen to set fire to your own house while your family is still trapped inside. Once you’re dead, it doesn’t end. Romano will come for Maria and Victoria.”
His dark brown eyes get even wilder, “That’s why I need you, Nico. When I’m gone, they’ll have no one. I need you to keep them safe.”
Fucking incredible. “You should have thought about them before acting like a fool. You betrayed me. What makes you think I’ll lift one goddamned finger for you?”
He shrugs but replies without hesitation, “Don Vitelli won’t. But Nico Vitelli will.
I cock my eyebrow at him but he presses on. “Who you are and what you do, Nico, you’ve always found a way to keep those things separate, to keep that shit from eating away at your soul, you know?”
He’s right about my tendency to compartmentalize shit, but I’m surprised that after twenty-seven years of friendship, Leo still hasn’t figured out that I have no soul. There’s nothing to eat away. I remain silent, only watching him watch me.
Then as if suddenly gripped by a sense of urgency of someone who knows I won’t warn him before I shoot him in the next few minutes, he starts to rattle, “Maria and Victoria are staying at a motel outside the city,” he withdraws a piece of paper from his jacket pocket and slides it across the table. There’s an address, and a series of bank account numbers scrawled on it. “I’ve got some money stashed away—not much, but something. Help my girls disappear.
“You put them in a seedy motel? Are you fucking crazy, Leo?” Nothing Leo is doing lately seems to be making any lick of sense. “You might as well be waving a red flag in front of a bull. You don’t think Romano’s rebels are tailing them as we speak? Being kidnapped right now, especially with what happened tonight?”
He nods sadly, “Which is why they need you right now Nico. I’m—I’m done.”
I recognize the look in his eyes—quiet, resolute understanding and acceptance. I’ve seen that look too many times before pulling the trigger. He truly is done.
I push the paper back to him and sigh, “No need, Maria and Victoria will be fine.”
I signal the leggy blonde-haired waitress for another round of drinks. Five minutes ago, I’d been contemplating letting her suck me off. Now, I just want to get the fuck out of here. But there will be no leaving, not until I’ve done what has to come next.
I’m going to kill my best friend tonight and kill him in cold blood. I have no choice. In this life, there’s no room for betrayal.
The blonde sets the drinks down on the table a moment later, lingering with her fuchsia pink-tipped fingers around my glass and her matching pink lips smiling at me. The color seems too bright and too childish now.
I wave her off and turn my attention back to Leo. “Drink,” I say, picking up my own glass.
“What are we drinking to?” he asks, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.
“To hoping you burn in hell for making me do this. For doing this to Maria and Victoria.”
He nods, raises his glass, and drinks every drop. When he sets down the glass, he squares his shoulders, his hands resting lightly on the table. He’s ready. No fight, no making this any more difficult than it needs to be.
I look around the room. It’s just my men, the blonde who has seen way too much, she might as well be a soldier, the redhead currently bouncing on Dante’s cock, and Michele, the bartender. I reach for my gun.
“I’m sorry, Nico. I never meant—”
The sound of glass shattering fills the room.
One window.
