“It’s not about the power or revenge for me, Sienna. It’s the thrill of the game. I got a certain amount of time to find a person. If I didn’t come through, the brothers would find someone else who could. I was replaceable, and that meant I was also disposable.”
“So, you couldn’t just walk away from them?”
“No.”
“Because you knew too much?”
“Because of how things work, how you are accepted in.”
“Meaning?”
His forehead rested on his hand, and his finger tapped his temple as he thought.
“I can’t divulge that.”
“Okay.” I shook my head, understanding I was pressing my luck, and tried another tact. “Can you tell me anything about the brothers? What they were like?”
“Ah, you ladies always want the personal stuff.” He chuckled. “Well, let’s see. Tieri is the charming one, takes on any lady who looks his way. He would be the fun one, if you will, while Zazzero is more the brooding type, which, of course, all the ladies love.” His smile made me squirm.
“Anything else?” I wanted him off this subject. I didn’t like where it might go.
As he leaned back in, the leather on his chair sounded like snow being crunched under a boot. I didn’t interrupt him with another question, and a few quiet seconds ticked by.
“No matter what, they won’t kill woman or children.”
“Killers with a conscience?” I snickered. “How nice.”
“We all have a conscience, Sienna, it just lives in people in different ways.” He tapped his chest as he said it, almost as though he wanted me to see he had one, too.
I folded the corner of the page with a lingering question I debated asking.
“I couldn’t help but notice that you speak in present tense about the brothers.” I noticed his eyes shifted to Mariano’s. “Would that mean they are still alive, that you’re still in contact with them?”
“And if I was?” he challenged.
“Then my story just got a whole lot more interesting.”
“Mm.” He rocked his chair as he studied my face. The buzz of his intercom had me leaning back and taking a breath for the first time since I arrived in his office.
“You have someone here who wants to speak with you.” A voice came through the tinny speakers.
“Be right there.” He checked his watch. “Would you excuse me for a moment?”
“Of course.” I stood as he did to be polite, and when we were alone, I beamed at Mariano.
“So, do you think you have a story here?” He put his phone in his pocket as he spoke.
“Yes, for sure. How The Finder works and how he met and started working with the Santoro bothers is huge. It’s more than anyone else has ever gotten.”
“Good, but I think you’ll like the next part even more.” Just as I was processing his words, the door opened, and in walked The Finder and a very tall man with a very charming smile.
Wait…
“You must be Sienna.” He offered his hand, and I nearly blanked on how to move. “You might know me as Tieri.”
I swallowed back my fear and somehow shifted my gaze over to Mariano, who simply smiled a smug smile that didn’t at all mirror my inner terror. It was one thing to research and meet informants; it was a whole different matter to find yourself in the presence of a known assassin.
“H-hi,” I stumbled and didn’t care.