The Fall(70)

Sal, his personal bodyguard, was also in tow. And that guy was a straight up killer, so the only one I actually had to worry about.

There was also the possibility that the trio hadn’t traveled light, a bigger entourage waiting in the wings because we all knew Jimmy didn’t have the balls to face me alone.

“Cut the bullshit, Jimmy.” I barked out a laugh. “You don’t like anyone, and you waited because you knew I was the only one who could get it done without you looking weak to your enemies.”

“You always were too cocky for your own good.” His lips spread, giving me a look at his yellowed front grille. “But you better watch it, son, your good luck won’t last forever.”

“I’m not your son and considering the way you treat your kids, it’s probably just as well.” My arms folded in front of my chest as I leaned back on the heels of my boots. “And I don’t believe in good luck.”

Anyone who looked at me and thought any of this shit happened because of good luck was either stoned or had some serious psychological issues. No f*cking leprechaun getting an ass f*cking by a rainbow was responsible for my success. That shit had come hard f*cking earned, I had the scars to prove it.

“You armed?” Sal asked, giving me a grin.

“Do you still have a small dick?” I smirked back, flashing the forty and nine I had on either side of my chest. “And you guys know I’m not good in social situations, so if you’d like to keep breathing I’d advise you to stay where you are. Since my run in with Franco, I’m having trust issues.”

“We’re not interested in taking you out of commission.” Sal held up his palms, the eye roll unnecessary. “So maybe everyone can relax their trigger fingers.”

“Where is she?” Jimmy asked, ignoring Sal and looking at the parked Chevy that I’d driven up in. “Her mother will insist we go through the motions. Our family will want to pay their respects.”

“Right here.” I tilted my head to the old Folgers Classic Roast tin sitting on the hood of my car. “Things got a little toasty.”

“Fuck.” Sal whistled through his teeth, his hand twitching by his side. Tony shook his head, stepping aside for Jimmy to move forward.

“This is not what we agreed.” Jimmy’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell happened?”

“Your daughter had a big mouth.” I picked up the tin and handed it to him. “And I’m not known for my gentle touch, so you get what you get.”

Jimmy snatched the tin from my hand and peeled open the lid as a film of ash rose into the night air. His hand gently tilting it to the glow of the overhead lights, examining the contents. Hell, not sure why I bothered putting in the effort. I could have torched a goat and fooled the dumbass, his head shaking from side to side as he investigated the cremated remains.

“How do we know it’s her?” Tony spoke for the first time, Jimmy’s right-hand man proving he didn’t totally have shit for brains like his boss.

“Because who else would it be?” I didn’t even blink as the lie passed through my lips. “I’m not in the habit of collecting pets. Take it, test the DNA, it’s her.”

“Damn you.” Jimmy replaced the lid and gently lowered in onto the hood of his car. “What the hell am I supposed to do with this?” His eyes wild as his gravelly voice got more animated. “This is not what we agreed.”

“So register your dissatisfaction on f*cking Yelp, motherf*cker,” I spat out through clenched teeth, not needing to manufacture my anger. “You tried to play me, and I am not a f*cking pawn in your chess game. You don’t get to f*ck me over and call the shots. In our world, all debts need to be paid and no one gets a pass, not even you. Consider this my fee.”

“You.” He took a step forward, only stopping when my hands disappeared beneath my shirt and went for my guns.

And all that did was set off a chain reaction, Sal and Tony going for theirs, all of us drawing at the same. My left and right both palmed bad news, one aimed at Jimmy, the other aimed at Tony.

“Steady.” Sal tried to be the voice of reason. “Don’t do anything stupid now, Michael.”

“If you’re gonna take your shot, Sal, take it.” I nodded to the barrel pointed in my direction. “But you better drop me, because after I pierce both these two *s’ hearts, the next bullet will be for you.”

Jimmy didn’t have a gun; he was a delicate f*cking snowflake who believed he’d done his time with steel in his hand and now wanted someone else to do his dirty work. And Tony hadn’t been up close and personal with a kill in over a decade, feeling the same sense of entitlement that his boss was suffering. So there was just as much chance he would knock himself out on the recoil as he did of actually hitting me with a bullet. These guys were nothing more than dirty businessmen, douchebags who relived the glory days but hadn’t been in f*cking trenches for years.

Now, Sal, he was the only one of the three who would pull the trigger and would guarantee me a toe tag. But he also was smart, and knew I was just the right amount of crazy son-of-a-bitch to risk doing the damage I was threatening as I took my exit. It’s amazing what can be achieved when you aren’t afraid to die.

“No one is taking the f*cking shot.” He lowered his gun a hair. “Tony, put the gun away before you shoot yourself in the f*cking foot.”