Page 82 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

“When Caughn had me in Nevada,” Adriano says, his voice low and confident, “he was… let’s say a little too chatty. So sure I’d lose. Wanted me to know how clever you both were.”

Silence. Then dread settles over the dock.

“You should check your mail. I dropped a little gift for you.”

The mayor goes still, all the arrogance completely wiped from his demeanor. Immediately, he barks a string of orders at his guards and, in no time, there’s a laptop in front of him.

The audio isn’t as loud as their voices, but I pick up a few words that someone, I assume Caughn, is saying. It’s basically gloat and ego.

“How you ordered the hit because the prosecutor was sniffing around the ex-police commissioner’s death. How you were involved with some mafia families. How—”

The mayor slams the laptop shut, his face contorting with rage. “Give me one fucking reason I shouldn’t blow your brains out right now.”

Adriano chuckles darkly. “Because I’m not the only one with that file.”

The mayor scoffs, his knuckles turning white. I’d pay anything to see the permanent look of defeat on his face. “A recording is nothing. It can be faked, discredited.”

“Which is why I didn’t send it to the cops. They’re too easy to lean on—a little pressure from the top, and evidence like that mysteriously vanishes. That’s why I sent it to Martin Shane at the NY Ledger. He’s the right person. Hates politicians. Loves a good corruption story. And more importantly, can’t be bought.”

“You bastard!” In a split second, the mayor lunges, striking a blow to Adriano’s stomach. Adriano wheezes, falling to the floor in pain. I bite my lips, my breath growing heavier. Is he hurt?

After a few seconds of wheezing, Adriano stands up and continues, his voice a low rasp. “Anything happens to me, Shane releases the file. He checks up every hour, and if I’m unresponsive, he releases the file.”

“You son—”

“It’s over for you, Alex Thompson. You can shoot me, but know that my death is the trigger that burns your world down.”

It feels like everything stills as the mayor makes his decision. I hold my breath when the sudden blare of sirens fills my ears.

FBI! EVERYBODY ON THE GROUND! HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!

The shout comes from somewhere near the front gate, followed by a series of gunshots as the mayor’s men fire.

The mayor looks confused, but it’s soon replaced with anger as he removes a gun from his waistband and fires at Adriano. Just in that moment, someone yanks my hair so hard that I fall back, my spine crashing against the ground.

“Get up, you’re coming with me.”

My heart shatters as I lift my head to see a frantic, furious figure, eyes burning with hate. I don’t know who he is… but I just know, one wrong move and he’ll kill me.

Still, I scream, clawing at his wrist. He only yanks me harder, dragging me across the gravel between blocks of containers. Through teary eyes, I see Adriano break into a sprint toward us, gun aimed at my attacker.

“Let her go, Caughn!” he roars through the sirens and distant shouting.

Caughn cackles and something cool presses into my side. I freeze.

“One more step, Bellandini, and I end her right here!”

“This is between us, Caughn. Let her go.”

Adriano grits his teeth and skids to a halt. I see the wheels spinning in his head as he lifts his hands slowly in surrender, tossing his gun aside.

“No. I’m going to kill every fucking person entangled in this mess… starting with her.”

His eyes dart from my face to Caughn’s and somehow anger wells up in my heart.

I’m fucking tired of every powerful bastard treating me like an object to trade. Without warning, I swing my head backward, hitting the bastard in his nose. And then, I swiftly turn to hit him in his balls. I hope he won’t ever have an erection again.

In that frozen second, Adriano closes the distance between them. Caughn meets the charge and they collide with a sound that makes me wince.