“He’s going to kill you.” Malone spits blood.
“Over her? No way. Then again, maybe chubby chasers work differently than the rest of us. Maybe Devlin’s brain is all fucking messed up. After all, he married that giant Debbie Cake when he could’ve had his pick of any of the mafia daughters and still could come here and fuck the hot girls all he wanted. Doesn’t matter, though. I mean, he married her. He shouldn’t have. Her daddy is plenty pissed, and he’s about to see his precious little piggy. We already took her back. Next step, an annulment, then she’ll be my problem.”
“The fuck?” Malone says.
“Don Calabrezi wants a quality son-in-law. That’s me. After I kill Devlin.” He chuckles. “I’ll squirt some babies into that fat piggy, and then I’ll be done with her.”
Sometimes, people say they see red. Like as if their vision just goes away, and there’s only a single shade of red before their eyes. I never believed it. Anytime I’ve killed or gone to war or done anything remotely violent, I’ve been in the right headspace—one where my head’s on a goddamn swivel, and I’m looking for trouble around every corner. So, no, I didn’t believe it—at least I didn’t until right this second. Because when I get up from the floor and raise my gun, I don’t see a goddamn thing. Only one color. One very specific shade of red. Crimson. The same color as the blood of my enemies.
Faintly, I hear Brenda yell, “Fuck” with her usual dry humor, and that’s when the shooting starts. Maybe I only see red, but I hear in full fucking Dolby surround. Every time I pull the trigger, someone screams or someone stops screaming. Pain rips through my shoulder as I take a slug, but I don’t stop, not until the screaming stops and the viscous red of death and dying starts to fade from my vision.
“Boss, Jesus.” Malone’s voice wafts to me. “I didn’t know you cared so much.”
“He didn’t do it for you.” Brenda snorts.
I blink a few times, my vision finally clearing.
Brenda has Alonzo by the balls. Literally. And Malone’s gun is to the motherfucker’s temple. All his goons are dead on the floor.
“Just ease up, bitch. Please!” Alonzo cries.
“What?” Brenda twists her wrist, and he yowls. “Some guys pay good money for this.”
Malone glances around. “Damn, Devlin. Just damn. You didn’t even let Brenda get a shot off.”
“I got mine. Don’t worry.” She twists her wrist again, and Alonzo’s scream is just short of Pavarotti breaking a champagne glass.
I advance on him. “I’ll tell her to lay off your balls if you tell me everything you know about where they took Diamond and what the fuck is happening.”
He grimaces at me, his forehead beaded with sweat. “Only if you let me walk out of here alive.”
“You know I can’t kill you,” I say as evenly as I can. “It would destroy the peace between all the bosses.”
Alonzo takes a deep breath at that, then winces as Brenda gives a smaller twist.
“Tell me where she is.” I glare down at him.
He gives me a self-satisfied smirk. “She’s at my place with Don Cala—”
The sound of my pistol firing cuts him off, and his brains splatter onto the stage and up the base of the pole behind him.
Brenda releases her hold and steps back as Alonzo’s body hits the ground.
“Nice.” Malone kicks the dead man in the stomach. “You piece of shit.”
I stow my pistol and turn back toward the entrance. “Let’s go get my wife.”
22
Diamond
I’m thankful the ride isn’t long. I was scared they were going to take me all the way back home. Then it would take longer for Devlin to get to me. He might have been forced to marry me, but I know he still cares about me. He’s possessive of me in ways I’ve never experienced before. That has to mean something.
A giant gate that reminds me of home swings open to allow us access to wherever the heck we are. The SUV pulls up the long driveway, coming to a stop in front of the double doors.
Benny opens the door and hops out. He glances around before he motions for me to follow him. He grabs me by the arm, leading me toward the front door.
It opens before we get to it.
My father fills the space, looking down at me with open malice. “Welcome home.” He smirks. “Did you miss me?”
I shake my head.
He almost seems chipper for some reason. “You’ve been married to Devlin Harrigan for a week, and you’re already a stuck-up bitch?”
“Why am I here?” I ask, ignoring his cruel words. They roll off me easily.
“This is going to be your new home.” He steps back, and Benny pulls me into the house. The door falls closed with a loud thud that echoes against the walls and high ceilings. Benny finally lets my arm go once we’re inside.