Page 27 of Breached

“You killed her?” Rio’s expression was full of shock and rage. “You ungrateful leech!” he snarled. For a hair of a second, I thought about letting him do what I dreamt of doing myself, but instead I quickly snatched Bruno’s gun from his waistband and popped two in Rio’s chest.

Bruno screamed as Armondo went rigid. Then, as Bruno took in what had just happened, he stood straight and fixed his jacket. I handed him back his gun, and he granted me a grateful smile. “Thank you, friend. You just saved my life.”

And you just screamed like a girl.

“Yeah, well, I figured I should step in since your driver didn’t react.” I raised a brow at Armondo as I tossed him under the bus. I knew Armondo had been looking at Bruno and me and hadn’t seen Rio. I also used the word driver, which I knew he hated, as he was really Bruno’s personal bodyguard.

“Fucking useless!” Bruno snapped at him, and Armondo glared at me. “Get us some glasses and beers!” he directed Armondo as if he were a servant.

“No glass for me,” I called after him. I didn’t want to risk him opening my drink and slipping something into it.

Bruno walked me out to his patio, as if there weren’t a dead body draining out in his entryway, and explained it was his personal spot to conduct business. He said he didn’t trust the office because he never trusted Rio. As he spoke, I slipped a bug out of my belt and activated it.

Heat lamps formed a warm bubble around us as we sat, and I slipped the bug under the metal casing on the side edge of the heater. Armondo brought our beer, and I was happy to see they were still capped. It was late and the sun had been down for a good number of hours. I glanced at my phone as I sat and saw it was nearly midnight. This was taking way longer than I hoped for.

“I think it’s time I shared my information with you,” I said.

“There is time for that, my friend.” He held up a hand, and I tried to relax. The giant fire pit flickered with a large flame, and suddenly a waiter appeared out of nowhere.

Bruno sharpened his voice as he spoke. “Shrimp ceviche, lobster, and crab.” He waved him off. “You’ll stay for dinner.”

I hated that idea, but I knew I needed time to plant the bugs, and I figured this might be the best place. “A few more hours,” I held up a beer and smiled, “but then I must go.”

“Yes, yes, we eat and drink to friendship.” He clapped his hands.

Three women walked by in short dresses and outrageously high heels. They sent us glances.

“Pretty young things,” Bruno hissed, waving them over. “I’ve got all flavors if you’d prefer a different look?”

One of them sat on my lap. “These are fine.” My voice sounded strained, and I was thankful I had removed my earpiece. I could only imagine where he’d gotten the women, but I knew they would play their part and do what was expected. The one on my lap got handsy, and I shifted her weight and made a rude show of adjusting my pants as I pulled a bug free from my belt, then I wrapped an arm around her waist and attached it under the chair leg where it met the arm. I hated how wrong it felt having anyone but Nicole on my lap.

“Oh!” the woman crooned as I shifted again. “I see your friend is all ready for me, Bruno.” I was anything but aroused and had a sudden urge to shove her off.

“Behave, Sonia.” Bruno laughed. “The evening has only begun. You may speak freely here, Eric.” Bruno’s hand suddenly snaked out and grabbed the face of the woman on his lap, and he squeezed it so tight her eyes popped. “They know if they repeat anything, their families will pay the ultimate price.” The girls all gave a nervous laugh.

I grinned and caught his eye like I remembered something.

He leaned forward. “What?”

“I just remembered the first time I was here, Rio came out of your mother’s office with his shirt on backward.” Bruno’s face fell. “Come on, man, you didn’t know?” I looked at Armondo as he marched toward us with a sour expression. “He never told you?” I pointed at Armondo and looked surprised.

“Armondo saw that?” Bruno’s face went red, and I just shrugged as Armondo handed Bruno another beer and tossed me one. “You can leave.” Bruno pointed, and Armondo looked confused.

“I’ll just stand over there.” He moved a few feet away.

Bruno pulled out his gun and fired. The bullet hit next to his feet and made Armondo jump about three feet in the air. The girls shrieked but then rolled with it. “I gave you a direct order—leave or be shot.”

Armondo ran his thumb along his lip as he glared at Bruno, then thought better of the situation and left.

“Now, where were we?” Bruno clicked his bottle to mine, and we sipped the cold brew. “Yes, you said you had information, but so do I.” He leaned toward me excitedly. “I know where your son is.” He sat back, and looked smug.

I went still on the inside but somehow managed to sip my beer like it was everyday news hearing him talk about my son so casually. “Oh, yeah?”

“Mm-hmm,” he grinned like the shit he was, and I couldn’t wait to pop his balloon, “but that’s not all.” He paused, dragging it out for dramatic effect. “I’ve got a priest and a witness lined up, and I’ll have a wife to wed once I snatch her from the streets of Montana. Nicole Winter will soon carry my own child within the month, you watch.”

The woman on his lap pouted and thrust her breasts in his face, and he grinned.

My fingers twitched, already mapping the angles, the timing, the cleanup of his death. Scared my instincts would take over, I locked my fingers onto the arms of the chair and drew in a deep, unsteady breath.