Page 93 of Single Malt Drama
“Christ, Nic. What are you doing?”
“They already know where we are.” Without taking my eyes off the armed man, I said, “I’m going back with them, but I need you to run. If my father gets his hands on you, I don’t know what he’ll do.”
“I’m supposed to run away while they take you hostage? Bullshit.”
“No. You’re going to take Gabe’s place and demand my father return your wife. There are rules about how women are treated. Use them.”
Marco leaned closer. “No. You were right. We don’t want that kind of life.”
“We don’t always get what we want. I have you, and that’s enough.” I stepped forward to put some distance between us, and hopefully, to stop an oncoming argument.
The sickening crack of something heavy smashing into bone filled my ears, followed by a body hitting the ground. A split second later, a gun barrel pressed against my back.
“Drop it.” The man stood close enough I could smell the garlic on his breath.
With the pistol dangling from my fingers, I held my arms out to my sides, crouched, and set the gun on the path. I glanced behind me to Marco to make sure he was still breathing. He lay on his side just outside the flashlight beam, but there was no mistaking the blood soaking the side of his head.
Please, be okay. Please, Mother Mary, look after him.
I reached for him, but the man grabbed the back of my shirt and forced me to stand.
“Walk.” He jammed the gun into my back again.
“Giancarlo! Tell your men to stand down. I’m willing to talk.”
“That’s wise of you.” My brother’s smug tone grated my nerves.
The guy shoved me. “Move. Keep your hands up and mouth shut.”
Though it killed me to leave Marco behind, I did as he said.
Giancarlo stood on the dock under a pool of light. He held his hands up as if to show me he meant no harm. “I’m here to take you back to Trapani. Will you come willingly or do things need to get uglier?”
Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them away. I couldn’t afford to appear weak. “I will, once we’ve discussed terms.”
His jaw tensed. “Where is Marco?”
“Your soldier assaulted him and left him for dead.” My stomach twisted. There were any number of creatures in the swamp who would love to find easy prey. “Are you prepared to answer for murder if you leave him out there helpless?”
He glanced past me. “He’s a big boy. He’ll be fine.”
“You can’t be that stupid, Giancarlo.” I shook my head. “Our father intends to see him become the new capo of the Marchionni family. If you leave him unconscious for the alligators, there will be hell to pay.”
“Bullshit.” Giancarlo spat on the ground. “Gabe is running the family.”
“Not for long. Call Papá and ask him.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Go get my sister’s so-called husband and put him in the house.”
Two of his men turned and headed for the path.
Giancarlo gave me a hard look. “Get in the boat.”
“I will once you answer my questions.” I swallowed hard. “Are you the one who took Maria and Alessio Grasso from their home in Canton?”
His eyes widened a fraction before he smoothed his expression. “Yes.”
It stunned me that he’d admit it outright. “Why? You had to know they didn’t steal the money.”