“Impossible!” Commissioner McCoy hollered defensively. “I know my men they wouldn’t dare—”
“They did. It’s done. So either you don’t know them, and in that case, what’s the point of having the police commissioner in my pocket if you don’t know what is happening with your own people? Or you do know what is happening, and in that case, you die.”
“Are you sure about this?” Governor Orton asked me.
“Do you really think I’d waste my time this evening with you idiots if I wasn’t sure? I’m just as sure of this as I am of the secret recordings and files you have on my family. Or should I say had.” I chuckled and stopped flipping the cards in my hands, glancing up to Chief Mataka. “Yes, we got the ones you gave to your granddaughter and the one you hid in the nursery of your great grandson. It’s all gone. It’s always been gone. My brother just left the dummies there to let you feel secure.”
“How?” Her voice was barely over as whisper.
“I can’t say that, Chief. I’ve already told you too much. Besides, if you really knew how far our hands go then you might not ever close your eyes again…and I heard from a little birdy you sleep like the dead…and that you are out cold. You should be more careful in the future.”
The look of terror on her face, how white she became, I was tempted to look if she shit herself.
“So back to your question, Governor,” I looked over to him. “I’m sure. Commissioner McCoy here betrayed my family.”
“I swear—”
“I really wish people would stop swearing. What are you swearing on or to? You believe in nothing, you care about nothing, and you are nothing. So why the fuck should I…believe your ‘I swear?’ Only honorable people should swear, and everyone’s already gone past the honor stage haven’t we, Commissioner McCoy?” I asked, finally putting the deck down when I found the card I was looking for. I looked to the three others beside me, all of them now silent. “So are you all still in this together?”
Mayor Gutpa rubbed his neck before looking up to me. “How is your family planning on handling this? You can hardly kill him here.”
“You fucking traitor!” Commissioner McCoy hollered, rising to his feet. “I had nothing to do with this! I am telling you now I will find the men responsible—”
“Shut up, McCoy!” Chief Mataka screamed at him, breathing out through her nose like a bull. “You said in the future, so this is just a warning.”
“I told you violence is all I know.” I lifted the ace of spades for her to see. “I suffered a loss yesterday. We’re all in this together, Chief. So you’re all going to suffer one, too.”
“What have you done?” Mayor Gutpa asked, already dialing on his phone. The silence around the table palpable enough I could hear it ringing.
Rising from the table, I tossed the card back on the table. ?
?If I had the misfortune of being any of you, I’d think of an alibi. You’ll need one when the world wakes up to hear that someone fired over a thousand rounds into all of your homes…please send us the dates for your loved ones’ funerals as soon as you have dates sets. I know a guy who makes the best flower arrangements. Goodnight.”
“YOU EVIL SON OF A BITCH!” I didn’t have time to even blink before Governor Orton hollered, firing a gun he’d somehow hidden before now.
BANG!
“YOU THINK I WON’T—”
BANG!
He stopped as the marble flooring broke up in front of his feet. His eyes were wide as he looked back into the eyes of his own security detail. “You move again, Governor, and I won’t miss,” The man said before looking to me. “Are you alright, sir?”
I laughed. “You fucking missed! You people are idiots! I spare your lives, and you shoot at me! Oh…people really have forgotten who runs this motherfucking town. My brother is too damn reserved. Letting you fuckers think that you are powerful…hahaha...when in reality you’re nothing but little fake kings, not even pawns on our chessboard!”
Rising from the ground, I dusted off my shoulder as he glared at me. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to pay you back for this tonight. Oh no…I’m going to wait for you to get good and sober so you can realize how fucked you really are.” Looking over to Adam, head of the governor’s security detail, I said, “Make sure the governor gets home safely.”
“Yes, sir.” He nodded to me, but kept his gun pointed at the governor’s head as I stepped up to him.
“Make sure to cry for the cameras. They will eat that shit up,” I said, leaning over to take the bottle of brandy off the table. “My condolences again.”
He bared his teeth like a starved animal, but Adam just pressed the gun to the side of his head. Taking a swig out of the bottle, I winked at him before heading toward the exit. There, waiting at the door was the same old manager.
“Bill the company for any damage. I want this place fixed before opening tomorrow,” I said before stepping out into the cold air where Mannix already stood waiting by the Bentley. Taking a seat inside, I waited for him to close the door before reaching under my coat, to the side of my shoulder. Wincing slightly, I pulled my hand away, glancing down at my own blood.
And this is the reason I fucking hate drunks. Not immune to the irony, I drank the brandy in my hands.
“Where to sir?”