Reign (The Syndicate_ Crime and Passion Book 2)(58)

“And why is that?” I said.

He put the nine on the table and I noticed that he wasn’t wearing a jacket, which was unusual for him. I wanted to stare at him, see if there was any trace of her blood, but I didn’t let my gaze linger. Because if I saw her blood, I would lose it.

“It was bound to happen, right? After all that shit with Davey, I knew Santo would fuck up soon,” he said.

“And you’re ready to help me get rid of him once and for all?” I asked.

It was taking everything inside of me to stay calm, be reasonable, but this was the most direct way of getting what I wanted, so I would stay on track.

“Yes. His time has passed,” Michael said. “I’ll show you where he is.”

He donned his jacket and buttoned his shirt neatly, something I found idiotic, especially given what we were going to do. In other circumstances I would’ve said something, but since Michael was dressing himself for his own funeral, I decided to let it slide.

I went to the SUV and got into the backseat, Vincent and Michael in the front.

“He’s not going to come easily,” Michael said after he’d directed us to Santo’s location, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

I locked my eyes on his, watching for any indication that he had knowledge of what he had done, that he knew that I knew.

There was nothing, only the flatness, calculation. He didn’t even care he had shot her—it didn’t bother him at all.

Those thoughts raced through my head but instead of responding to them, I said, “His choice.”

I got out then, and followed Michael and Vincent as they went to yet another small house.

“He likes to hide out here.”

“Is he expecting us?” I asked.

“Probably,” Michael said.

“Good.”

And it was. The thought of Santo sitting, waiting, either afraid because he knew I was coming or too stupid to realize his time was almost up was exciting. Either way, I’d relish his surprise.

“Stop.” I turned at the sound of the male voice, recognized it was Santo who materialized from the shadows.

He looked calm, calmer than I’d anticipated.

“You come for me?” he said.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Maxim send you?” he asked.

“No,” I replied. “But he knows I’m here.”

I watched him, my blood rushing so hard through my head that I could barely hear. My patience was thin, close to exhausted, but soon…

“What are we waiting for?” he said, coming closer.

“So that’s it? No fight?” I asked, skeptical.

Santo stared at me with burning hatred but then his eyes went placid. “Yeah.”

“Zip tie, Vincent,” I said, extending my hand.

“No need,” Santo said, walking toward the open door of the SUV.

“Going easy, Mr. Carmelli? Good for you,” Michael said once Santo had gotten into the car.

I sat beside him, his surprisingly docile reaction not enough to prevent me from keeping my gun trained on him. It also didn’t slake the desire to beat him to death with it, but I could wait.

Soon, we pulled up to a dark warehouse, one that looked abandoned, though I could see the signs of Maxim’s presence.

We got out, Santo, Michael, and Vincent walking in front of me. As shocking as Santo’s behavior was, Michael’s was worse. He was almost giddy. That fucker thought he had me fooled, but he would soon find out how very wrong he was.

Maxim, Marcos, and two other of the men stood waiting, and I could see Santo’s demeanor change. He looked at Maxim, and I could see the exact moment he gave in.

“So it comes to this, Maxim?” he said.

“So it does. You seem accepting,” Maxim said.

Santo shrugged. “Some shit you can’t come back from. After all these years, I found mine.”

“What can’t you come back from, Santo?” I asked.

Santo swung his gaze from Maxim to me. “I think I killed my kid today.”

“You don’t know?” I asked, anger dimming the edges of my vision.

He shrugged. “What the fuck was I supposed to do? She told me where here loyalties were. Turned her back on me and everything I’d given her. Something came over me…” He paused, choking up in a way I wouldn’t have anticipated. “But she was a good girl. She always tried. Deserved better.”

In an instant, my anger dissipated, and in its place was nothing but disdain.

“You couldn’t think of that before?” I bit out.

“Insight has never been my strong suit,” he said.

He went silent then, then turned to face me. “Is she dead?”

“Out of respect for her, I’m going to make this quick,” I said, lifting the gun.