“I take it you weren’t aware I was to attend this meeting?”
“No, I was not.” My voice had a bite to it. “Forgive my manners.” My heart was in my throat, and my stomach had left me high and dry.
“No need.” He waved me to sit and sat on the corner of the desk, casual as could be, while I sat like a stone, knees pressed hard together and my heart on ultra-speed. “So, Mariano tells me you’re a journalist.”
“I-I am.”
“And that you’re writing a story on my brother and me.”
“Well, yes and no.” I stumbled again. “Yes, I am, but you weren’t necessarily my main focus. I was going to focus more on The Finder, as I had no idea you were even still alive.”
“I can assure you we are very much alive,” he chuckled, “but of course Tieri is merely a stage name, if you will. He has died at least four times now.” He laughed again like it was some inside joke. “Also, Zazzero isn’t my brother. That was merely to throw the hunters off the scent. I’ll answer a question if you have one.”
I wasn’t sure if I was happy about this at all. I wanted to murder Mariano for not giving me at least a heads up and for not giving me a chance to say “no way” to meeting a stone-cold murderer.
“Um.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, and I knew he saw how shaky I was. “Why?” popped out of my mouth, and my eyes bugged out at how blunt it must have sounded.
“Why what?”
I was in too deep now to backpedal.
“Why did you do it? Kill all those people?”
“Whyisn’t the question you should be asking me.”
“I’m the journalist.” I shrugged trying to remain calm. “I don’t see why that wouldn’t be a standard question.”
He cleared his throat as he rubbed the button on his jacket.
“Because the why isn’t something you could comprehend.”
“Try me,” I shot back, and I heard Mariano chuckle from behind me. If I could nut punch him, I would.
“In order for you to understand, you need to be vetted. In order for you to be vetted, I would need to take you somewhere and show you some things.” He stood and towered over me. “And that could result in a whole new bloodbath.” He chuckled.
I thought I might faint with how close he got to me, and I swore I could smell blood on his breath.
“However, Sienna,” he leaned closer, and I pulled back, “if you want thewhyanswers without the vetting, Zazzero would be the one to answer that.” He tucked a small piece of paper inside my notebook.
“Then why did you come and not him?”
Seriously, was I asking to be killed?Shut the hell up, Sienna!
“For the same reason you wanted to meet me.”
“I didn’t know I was meeting you,” I reiterated with a sharp tone.
“This is true.” He chuckled again. “I guess I should say, it was curiosity.”
“Curiosity? I still don’t understand.” I let my mouth go. “Who am I but a small journalist? A girl with a past not worth remembering. I fail to see the level of curiosity.”
He tilted his head as he thought. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Sienna.” He seemed to drink me in for a moment longer than was necessary, then he stood and whisked away, disappearing out the door.
I quickly gathered my things, gave somewhat of a goodbye to The Finder, then I rushed outside. I needed to get the hell away from the building.
“Hey!” Mariano came rushing up behind me. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong!” I shouted, and a man stopped to stare at us. “You set up a meeting with one of the Santoro brothers! Holy shit, do you know how scary that was? How incredibly bad that could have gone and still could?”