He nodded. “It’s a pretty picture.”
“The other bosses, they don’t think the same way you do. Maybe they’re starting to come around, but honor still means something to them. When they see a boss of your standing waving around proof of Colm’s theft, they’ll rise up with you.”
“They might do that.”
“And when they do, knocking him down will be easy. Colm barely has control right now, imagine if half the city wanted him dead.”
He was silent, a half smile creeping onto his face.
“And on top of that, I have cash. I can front it to you to pay for your muscle, as a sort of down payment. I ask only that I be pardoned and given my territory back. You can have everything else.”
“It’s a good offer,” he said softly.
“It’s better than good. It’s your best shot at running this city.”
His pace slowed and he stopped, facing me. I felt the sweat dripping down my neck.
“And what if the other families don’t rise up?”
“They will.”
“I agree that they might, but what if they don’t? I’ll become a pariah in this city.”
“Nobody can touch you up here.”
“You’re probably right, but it’s a big risk. And what if the others don’t want me to be boss?”
“You’ll take it.”
He grinned. “That’s a good answer.”
“It’s a risk, I know it’s a risk. But with the money I’ll front you, and the documents I’ll provide, it’s the best shot. Colm is still barely clinging to power. This is your shot.”
He looked at me hard for a second, appraising my expression. I felt dirty, and my hands were shaking. I was making a deal with the devil, and it disgusted me. Colm was bad, but I couldn’t even imagine what the city would be like with de Barra as the head of the Mob.
But I had no other choice. I’d torch every single home and business in the world to save Ellie and Richie and everyone else if I had to. I’d let it all burn to the ground, let my sweat mix with the ashes, and I’d laugh because I’d know the people I cared about would still be out in the world, safe and far away from the disgusting men that wanted to do them harm.
De Barra began to walk again, and I fell into stride next to him. He was silent for a while as we made our slow circuit around the empty lot, eventually stopping back where his men were waiting in front of the single black SUV.
I blinked. Weren’t there two SUVs just a few minutes ago? Where did the other one go?
“Okay, Liam. I like your offer. Come to my place tomorrow with the money and the documents, walk me through it all, and if it’s good enough, if it’s not bullshit, we’ll have a deal.”
“How do I know you’re not just going to shoot me in the head and take the cash?”
He laughed loudly. “That’s the first smart thing you’ve said all afternoon.”
“Well?” I clenched my jaw. I knew I was almost there.
“You don’t know, boy, but you’re desperate. You’ll come, and we’ll deal.”
I nodded once.
“Good lad.” De Barra looked at his goons. “Boys?”
It happened way faster than I could have expected. In a blink of an eye, de Barra’s men leapt at me. I swung and stepped back, fighting wildly, but they were faster and had the element of surprise on me. Quickly, I was wrestled down to the ground, my face shoved into the dirt patch, and I felt them throw my gun over toward de Barra.
“Fuck, what the fuck is this?” I yelled.
I heard de Barra cackling. “Didn’t I tell you?”
I turned my head, my cheek shoved into the ground. I felt the weight of two large men holding me down.
“Tell me what, you fucking psycho?”
“Profit is king, Liam my boy, and you are worth a hefty sum. That’s a safer bet than your wild tale about stealing and coups. I’m sorry I had to walk you through this charade, but I wanted to be sure of what you had before putting you to the knife. And frankly, you don’t have shit.”
“Fuck you, de Barra, you spineless piece of shit!”
“Goodbye, Liam.” He nodded to me, and was gone, back into his car.
The engine started and it pulled away, leaving me alone with the two big goons. I struggled but their grip was like iron on my body as they hefted me to my feet and began to drag me off toward the alleyway.
My heart hammered in my chest. De Barra betrayed me and was selling me out to Colm. That alley, that fucking alley was going to be the place I would die. I struggled, but it was useless. The goons were big and practiced, had probably killed a hundred men the same way they were going to kill me. And even if I got away, they would just gun me down as I ran like a coward.