None of what I say seems to ease Bellini’s despair.
“The information you sold the Cartel about our last hit was completely off the record. You could not have gotten your hands on it unless you were working with someone else.”
Bellini swallows.
“You’re going to tell me who your little rat friend is, then I’ll let you call back your speedboat, and you can sail off to Timbuk-fucking-tu.”
An almighty sob vibrates through Bellini’s chest as he shakes his head. “I can’t.”
I sigh more dramatically than I need to. I’d really hoped I wouldn’t need to ship him off to the interrogation room, but it seems nothing is working in my favor today.
“You can,” I counter. “My offer leaves the table the second I have to drag you back to the compound. You’ll find Alessandro’s knife offers you far less vacation time.”
“No.”
Behind me, I hear the Mercedes pull up, and two sets of feet hit the deck. Martino must have picked up Teo from the safe house.
Bellini murmurs something as he fumbles with his pocket. Two identical pistols appear next to my shoulders as Martino and Teo train them on the informant.
The safety goes off the second Bellini pulls out his own gun, a tiny, ancient revolver that he awkwardly clings to with both hands.
“Put the gun down,” Teo warns at my side.
But Bellini doesn’t acknowledge him; he only stares at me. “I’m sorry, Rocco.”
“Bellini.” It’s the only warning I’ll give, and we all know it.
“I wanted to see it for myself—what you would do for the Guild,” he says as tears stream down his aging face. “You are a hundred times the man your father ever was.”
“Boss?” Teo hisses, but I raise a hand to silence him.
He’d noticed at the same time I had, that Bellini’s gun wasn’t intended for any of us.
“Then help me,” I reply evenly. “Tell me who the other rat is. This doesn’t have to end in bloodshed.”
“You are going to do great things, Rocco.”
I cautiously reach out a hand toward him. “Give me the gun, Bellini.”
But a cool calm comes over him. His resolve suddenly seems as natural as the waves below us, sweeping up against the shore.
“There is no other rat. It has always been me. You just never wanted to believe an accountant could slip through your defenses.”
“Rocco!” Teo cries. But this time, his warning came too late.
Bellini ate the barrel of his gun and pulled the trigger.
2
CASSANDRA
“Bellini, you little bitch!”
I wince as Danny’s voice shrieks in my ear. The blonde bombshell in a sparkly bodysuit snatches a chunk of my hair before I can respond, dragging me from my seat at the vanity.
“I knew I should have never let you open for me!”
I gasp as her grip tightens. My scalp burns with pain. “Let go!”
