The Fall(87)

The other Y chromosome Amaro children weren’t with the duo, the two of them walking inside and lowering the door. The implications of what the hell was taking place sending my brain into free fall.

Aside from the fact that Franco hated Jimmy senior—the two *s only working together over the mutual dissent with Sofia—Franco also didn’t make house calls.

The bastard demanded you came to him, or at the very least met on neutral territory, so his appearance at Casa Armaro was more than a little suspect.

And there was also the situation where the last time I’d seen the piece of shit he’d jacked me from behind and drugged me in an effort to “incentivize” me. Oh and we hadn’t even gotten to the part where I’d recently found out he was also apparently my father. Fucking brilliant because I didn’t think I could hate the man any more than I already did.

Sofia’s eyes widened as she crouched lower against the Bentley. I, on the other hand, angled my head so I was just able to see past the Cadillac’s giant front bumper, just enough to be able to see the view.

They stayed at the far end of the garage, leaning against the cars like they were about to shoot the breeze while pumping gas but the look on Little Jimmy’s face was anything but calm.

“You know I’ve known your father for fifty years.” Franco looked around the walls of the garage, bastard seeming to enjoy himself. “Never once have I ever been invited to his house. Even when we were boys who played in the street together.”

“Well, that’s the difference between me and him.” Little Jimmy yanked at the tie knot and loosened it further. The gun still not pointed at anyone in particular. “I don’t care about invisible lines between neighborhoods, and who runs what. All I care about is finding the piece of shit who torched my sister and returning the favor. You know that’s what I’m owed at the very least based on the agreement between the families.” His hands twitched at his sides. “And my father can either get on board or step aside, because I won’t rest until the animal who did that to her is in the ground.”

Well well, it seems like there was a little communication problem between the two Jimmies, with senior failing to mention he’d been the one pulling the strings.

Of course, we all knew the reason I’d been tasked for the job in the first place was because he needed a fall guy. But his assurances that shit wouldn’t blow back on me weren’t looking too solid now were they. Good thing he was dead already, or I would ass f*ck him with my nine and watch as he vomited up the bullets.

“You talk like you’re ready to play with the big boys now.” Franco laughed, no doubt enjoying the fact that Jimmy’s kid was looking to him for permission. “You done pretending to be a businessman in New York City?”

“I was done being a * when my sister ended up in an ashtray.” Little Jimmy’s voice got hard, guttural. And while I knew Sofia’s father hadn’t given a rat’s ass about her, this kid definitely gave a f*ck. Well, at least one of the Jimmies had a pair.

“You said I have your support on this. We agree that I get the kill on Michael. And not you, my father, or anyone else in Chicago gets to retaliate.”

A big pair it seemed if he thought he could come after me. Pity the situation was what it was; if he wasn’t so hell bent on killing me I might have shaken his hand.

Sofia’s face was getting panicked, her chest moving in and out as she started to freak out.

“He has no family.” Franco crossed his arms across his chest. “If you have our blessing, there is no one who would dare come after you. But are you sure you have discussed this with your father?”

Read that: You have no f*cking idea what you are dealing with and maybe don’t want to go against dear old dad. Little did both of them know Daddy no longer had an opinion on account he no longer had a pulse.

“I told you, it’s my right.”

As stimulating as the conversation was—hearing how Sofia’s brother wanted to end my life and the watching the dipshit who was supposedly my father enjoy it—it was time to end their fun time.

The odds weren’t great.

Secured garage, close proximity and a lot of bullets.

Had just as much chance of it going south as I did walking out alive, but there were two of us and two of them. And while Sofia was looking like a deer in headlights, I’d seen her open her father’s jugular. She’d been through too much to toss it all away now.

On three. I mouthed silently raising my gun for the visual. Her head shook, as she mouthed back no.

I didn’t give her the choice, tilting my gun as my lips counted out one . . . two . . .

“Asshole, I’m right here.” My legs jacked up, coming the full height as I leveled a nine each at Little Jimmy and Franco. “So, let’s discuss your family’s right while you give a blowjob to my Glock.”

Sofia popped up right after, her gun pointed at Franco while her brother did the whole holy-f*ck-am-I-seeing-a-ghost, his face twitching like it was having a seizure.

“Sofia?” Little Jimmy ignored the nine I had pointed as his chest and focused on his sister. “How can this be?” His gun inadvertently pointed directly at her.

“Well, isn’t this a treat?” Franco smirked, casually leaning back against the shiny black Caddy, his own piece palmed, pointed at Sofia. “Very efficient to have everyone here in one place.”