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While I hadn’t been told the details, it didn’t matter. The knowledge allowed me to realize when a stupid fuck like this was lying. What the hell? I’d play along. I wanted to know just how far down the rabbit hole he’d been told to go.
“I suggest you give me more. That means nothing to me, Roger.” I took a deep breath, leaning over even further until the stench of his sweat-stained clothes and piss was almost too repulsive to tolerate.
“The attack. They attacked you, right? The bastards took out some of your men.”
Okay, so Roger was getting warmer to the real prize. I cocked my head, tired of asking the questions already. Plus, the clock was ticking. I had more pleasant tasks ahead of me.
I pulled the knife from my back pocket, flicking it open. Time to up the game, so to speak. “Roger. I am a businessman and as such, my time is valuable. I suggest you provide me with names, or our discussion won’t be going any further.” I flicked open the blade, turning and twisting it in the single overhead bulb used for a light.
Dimitre sighed, hovering over the man as if longing for the chance to cut him.
“Michael Walsh! He’s responsible.” Roger gasped for air, his puffy face twisting.
Maybe two days ago I would have salivated on the juicy information, but I was no fool. Too much had happened over the last forty-eight hours. I could tell Vassily was chomping at the bit, hungering for bloodshed.
“Is that so?” I asked before jamming the point under the man’s chin.
Roger whimpered, trying to keep from fighting with the rope digging into his wrists but failing, allowing the sharp tip to dig into his skin. I watched as a single trickle of blood slid down the length of his sweaty neck.
“Yes, sir,” he whispered.
I liked that. Respect.
At least he understood what he was facing.
“Unfortunately, Roger, you’re still lying to me, which as you might imagine is not in your best interest. Now, you may ask how I know you’re lying. For one, the nervous tic on the corner of your mouth gives you away. Another might be the fact you’ve pissed your pants at least twice. But the real coup de gras is all about the knowledge stored in the back of my mind. You see, we have a long-standing truce with the Italians. You might say we’re buddies.”
His eyes opened wide, the terror in them appropriate.
When he twisted his mouth, I dug the blade in tight against his throat. “As far as Michael Walsh, I don’t think that’s the truth either. Michael uses the power of the pen instead of guns.”
“I can… Let me explain. They made me do it.”
“They,” I repeated, every muscle tense. Even the thought of ripping this man’s throat out wasn’t providing a sense of satisfaction.
Only one thing could do that.
One person.
He tried to swallow, his body shaking to the point I could hear the man’s teeth chattering. “Irish. Fucking Irish. I don’t know who they are, but they’re big and ugly.” His choice of words was comical.
“And why would you do a goddamn thing the Irish said?”
“I have my reasons.”
While I wasn’t known for allowing mercy of any kind, most men in this predicament wouldn’t hesitate to spout off exactly why they’d been stupid enough to put themselves in this position. This man was… far too stoic for my liking. Whether he’d been threatened or given a million dollars was inconsequential at this point.
“I’ll ask you one last question, Roger. If you get this one right, I will consider allowing you to return to your paltry life.” I didn’t need to provide the other option. “Who is really behind the attack?”
“I don’t… know.”
He looked down for a split second, but it was his last act of betrayal. Without hesitation, I dragged the serrated edge across his throat, exhaling as I stood back.
“Do you buy the shit about Walsh?” Dimitre asked.
“No. He was given a lifeline in case his original story wasn’t bought.” Was it possible the Italians had stepped over the line, breaking the treaty made years before? Maybe, but my instinct told me otherwise. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to remind Cesare Vincheti about the deal he’d made with Vladimir. I knew just how to make that happen without starting a war.
“I don’t know, Kirill. Walsh has been making some outlandish claims at various rallies he’s attended over the last few days. He certainly has the connections to form a posse in order to gun down your men,” Vassily added.
