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A bitter grin twists onto my face. “We’re a reminder of the ugliest part of him. The worst moment of his life.”
Her brows connect, but she doesn’t ask any more questions. She’s staring at the different scars I’ve accumulated over the years. Some from fights I’ve gotten myself into. Others that are remnants from my childhood with Lucius as a father.
“I get it,” I say. “Phi, I know what it’s like wanting to make somebody pay. Somebody who took advantage and hurt you. I’ve lived and breathed that most of my life. The thirst for revenge can consume you. I know better than anybody.”
She uses the sleeve of my shirt she’s wearing to wipe tears. Her hand slides into mine, our fingers intertwining. I’m not sure if anything I’ve said has helped. She almost seems more upset now that she knows what I’ve been through.
“We’re going to getthemback,” she says finally. She squeezes my hand and meets my eyes. A familiar spark lives in them, dark and determined. “We’ll get our revenge. We’ll make them suffer. We need this, Jon.”
For the first time in my life, as a reflection of my own dark urges stares back at me, I’m not so sure.
20. salvatore
The next morning,Pepa takes it upon herself to wake us up. She pounces onto the bed and settles onto my chest, right beside Delphine’s head. My groggy eyes open to her expectant stare. If this were a staring contest, she’d probably win. I blink and reach for my phone.
Minutes after eight.
Delphine’s usually out of bed by six on weekdays. We stayed up late last night, talking for hours. It hadn’t been easy, by the end it was taxing on Delphine, but once we were out, we wereout. She hadn’t even set her alarm.
“Phi.”
I give her a light shake in my arms. Pepa seems to take this as permission to try and wake her up, too. The attention-starved cat crawls onto Delphine’s shoulder and paws gently at her face.
So this is why I’m not a cat person.
Delphine stirs with a humming noise in her throat. “What time is it?”
“Time for you to wake up... according to Pepa.”
“She’s hungry. I’m usually up by now.”
“Salt probably sent her in here. I’ll handle it.”
I get out of bed and gain a shadow in Pepa as I head into the kitchen. Delphine was right—the gray and white cats were looking for their morning grub. I feed both and then start on coffee for us.
Delphine emerges a few minutes later, the drowsiness still on her face. Her eyes widen at the scene before her. “You fed the catsandmade coffee?”
“Somebody had to.”
She laughs and accepts the mug I hand her. “I’ve been thinking about what you said. About taking time off. I think I’m going to do it. Take a few weeks for myself. It’ll be Christmas soon and it’s probably best I’m not at work right now. The reversal of the Belini verdict still gets to me.”
“Good. You could use the break.”
“It’ll give me more freedom for our training and finding him.” She cups her mug of coffee and takes a small sip to test out its heat level. “Balancing my work as ADA and our quest for revenge was too much for me. This way I can focus better.”
I listen to Delphine without offering any input. I haven’t made up my mind if I like the idea of her being more involved in my plans for revenge. She’s been careless one too many times in recent weeks. Rare behavior coming from her, but the circumstances have driven her to it. While I get it, and her deep thirst to reclaim control, I have to consider how dangerous it is.
We could be playing with fire.
I leave her in the kitchen drinking coffee with the cats and go change. I grab what I need from my home office, where I keep a private stash of weapons, cash, secret documents—among my catalogue on Delphine over the years—and make sure the door is locked and secured before I head out.
Today is going to be a violent one. Giorgio hasn’t been a free man for twenty-four hours, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be held accountable for his involvement in what’s been happening. He has no clue what’s about to come his way.
* * *
Grimaldi’s is world famous for its fine Italian dining. Reservations for a table are booked out months, sometimes years, in advance, depending on the date and time of the year. Niccoló Grimaldi first opened the restaurant on Northam’s upper west side when he moved from Italy to America and brought his culinary genius with him.
Everybody agrees, Italian and non-Italian alike, that Grimaldi’s prepares some of the most authentic and delicious Italian cuisine out there.
