“We know where the oil is.”
He looked surprised. “Do you now?”
“And we know who the traitors are.”
Arturo looked at me and then gestured. Vince and I walked forward, Franklin in tow. We stopped just in front of him. Alfonse and Ernesto were standing on either side of him, and none of the other men could hear what we were saying.
“Okay, son,” Arturo said. “Talk.”
“Franklin here is working with some guys in our organization, along with some Russian guys, to steal from both the mobs.”
Arturo raised an eyebrow. “Ambitious.”
“It’s been working, too,” I said. “Until they got a little too cocky.”
“How did you find this out?”
I held up the notebook. “Natalie found this in Franklin’s car. She translated it, basically solved the whole damn thing.”
“Show me.”
I tossed him the notebook and he paged through it. He passed it to Alfonse, who just frowned at it before passing it to Ernest.
“It’s in fucking Russian,” Ernest said.
Arturo silenced him with a finger. “Can you take us to the shipment?”
“I can,” I said.
“So what’s the deal then?”
“It’s this: I’ll give you everything if you pardon the girls.”
Arturo laughed. “I don’t fucking care about them. They’re pardoned.”
I nodded. “And you’ll bless my marriage to Natalie.”
That surprised everyone.
“The fuck you doing, boss?” Vince whispered.
“Married?” Arturo asked.
“Before I knew who she was, we got married in Vegas. And I plan on staying married.”
Arturo shook his head. “I won’t have a traitorous bitch in my crew.”
I pulled out my pistol faster than anyone could react. By the time Ernest and Alfonse were aiming at me, I had already pressed my gun to Franklin’s skull.
I pulled the trigger.
Franklin’s face bloomed red. He collapsed to the ground, dead.
“Hold your fire!” Arturo yelled.
There was a tense moment, and then Arturo began to laugh.
I smiled at him.
“This is the traitor,” I said, “dead at your feet. Natalie is innocent, and she’s mine.”
“Very well,” Arturo said. “You can have her.”
“One more thing,” I said to him. “You’re not going to like this, but, please, I insist that you wait until I’ve explained.”
He frowned. “Very well.”
I held my hand up and then lowered it quickly.
Shots rang out in the night.
Four men standing by the cars fell dead with bullets in their skulls.
“Hold!” Arturo yelled. Ernest and Alfonse were on the verge of freaking out.
“Before you all start shooting,” I yelled, “those men were traitors. I have the proof.”
“He’s telling the truth,” Arturo yelled.
The men shuffled, but nobody opened fire. I could tell we were on the brink of war. Arturo wheeled on me.
“Killing anyone else tonight?”
“That’s it. For tonight.”
“You will never disobey me like this again. Do you understand me?” Arturo said.
“Yes, Father.”
“Ernest, Alfonse, go see to your men.”
They simply turned and walked away. I could see the fear in their eyes.
“Maybe I misunderstood you, son,” Arturo said to me. “Or maybe I was right. A wife really had made a man out of you.”
“Vince will show you where the stolen oil is,” I said to him.
I smirked, turned, and walked away. I heard Arturo’s footsteps recede back toward the trucks, Vince in tow.
I got into my car, my heart racing.
But it was over. Arturo would keep his word, although I had broken mine. Franklin was a traitor, and a man’s word meant nothing when it was given to a traitor.
I started the car and began to drive back toward Camille and Natalie.
They were safe now. Camille would have to leave the city, but Natalie was going to stay with me.
Because she was mine. Our secret was out, and although I was sure Arturo was unhappy about it, at least she wouldn’t be my stepsister for much longer.
She was going to be my wife instead.
Chapter Thirty-Five: Natalie
Two Months Later
I moved through the hallway confidently, nodding to staff members and other mob guys.
It felt so strange knowing my way around the compound. I could remember my first few days here, barely knowing anything, wandering around like an idiot. Now, though, things were different.
Very different.
I knocked on the door and waited. “Louisa?” I yelled. “Open up.”
No response.
“I’m coming in,” I called.