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While a few seconds of relief flooded through me at hearing his voice, it was short lived as I realized what he’d said. Tristen was really dead.
“Why?” I managed.
“Would you like to explain how you found out that Tristen was an FBI agent who’d been working undercover for several years in an attempt to bring down both the O’Hare syndicate as well as the Montenegro family?” Alessandro moved closer, pointing the weapon at Joseph’s head.
Joseph laughed, the sound just as dangerous as his speaking voice. “He was a fucking traitor to both of us. I did the world we live in a favor by injecting him with a very special compound of narcotics. Everyone believes it was an accident.”
Alessandro’s brother moved closer, shifting to the other side. Joseph immediately tightened his hold, the blade piercing my skin. As a trickle of blood oozed from the slight wound, I could tell that’s all my dark stranger could concentrate on, his anger building to uncontrollable rage.
“Then you win the clever boy of the year award. Tell me something, Mr. Sampson. Are you looking for the information Tristen stole?” Alessandro asked in a calm voice, taking another step closer. I watched his every move, my heart racing.
“Don’t fuck with me, Montenegro. If you have it, then I suggest you hand it over or your lovely fiancée will die right here in the middle of this holy place.” Joseph’s hold grew tighter.
“You’re in no position to make a deal.” Alessandro laughed. “I think I’ll give Shaun O’Hare a call and let him know where you’re located. I’m sure you’re aware there’s a significant price on your head.”
“Fuck you, Montenegro. You’ll rot in prison.” Joseph increased the pressure and I whimpered, drawing Alessandro’s attention.
“Let her go,” he insisted.
“Only if you have the book. You played a game with me, you fuck. I’ve lost enough already because of you and your kind.” Joseph lifted his bandaged hand.
“Had I known, I assure you that you wouldn’t be able to hold a weapon for the rest of your life.”
Cruz inched closer, the action forcing Joseph to jerk me away by several inches.
“She dies right now.”
“Be careful what you say to me.” As Alessandro started to lower his weapon, I knew exactly what he was doing, attempting to allow Joseph to believe he cared about me more than exacting an entirely different level of revenge.
As soon as he did, I stopped playing the victim, smashing my foot into Joseph’s. Everything happened quickly, Joseph losing his grip just enough I broke free, but only for a split second. As Joseph plunged the knife toward me, all I could do was scream.
Pop! Pop!
* * *
Alessandro
Five days later
“How’s Matteo?”
I looked up from my laptop, exhaustion taking a strong hold that had yet to abate. Cruz had been valuable over the last few days, both of us navigating the murky waters of law enforcement versus continuing with the plan to place a noose around the Irish clan’s neck. If I wasn’t careful, blood would paint the streets of New York, something even I wanted to avoid. That wouldn’t bode well for maintaining a strong hold on some very powerful, supposedly law-abiding citizens.
What Tristen had amassed over his four years of employment with my organization could light a fire in a half dozen cities. In my opinion, and one that would never leave my house, the man had been the best operative I’d known my entire career. Even my father had been impressed with what he’d managed to glean. Documents. Financials. Recorded phone calls. Photographs. They’d all been represented, locked in a massive self-deposit box he’d meticulously hidden away from prying eyes. The fucking fiction book, a Clive Cussler novel no less, had been the sole indicator of where to locate the small bank in Bumfuck North Carolina. Deciphering the code he’d used had taken several well-paid hackers to figure it out.
I’d only gotten my hands on the contents of the box the night before. Sorting through the incredible volume would take time.
“Recovering. He could have limited use of one arm, but he’s lucky to be alive.” I was grateful for what he’d done, his ability to fight Joseph’s attack allowing me enough time to realize what the fuck was happening.
Even though I still found it impossible to believe. The nagging remained.
Joseph had believed the information had died with Tristen until I’d made an appearance in Raleigh. He was smart enough to know the O’Hares would soon learn he’d made several mistakes that could cost their organization millions of dollars as well as be forced to deal with several indictments.
“From what I heard, he fought Joseph valiantly.” Cruz walked closer, eyeing the jump drives and file folders I’d been searching through for the last four hours. “You need to get some rest.”
“We have a goldmine in our hands, brother. I don’t plan on letting this out of my sight for the rest of my life.”
He laughed as he shook his head. “Same tenacious asshole.”
