Page 124 of Mine

Eugene was a wiry man, with the strength you wouldn’t assign to him or his frame—but he was an absolute psychopath. I knew that Johnny had suffered already, despite the orders being to leave that to me. I nodded at Eugene, who grinned sadistically as he pulled the silencer out of his pocket.

“Eugene here is just following orders, too. Good talking to you.”

I glared at him with disgust as I stood, commanding Eugene to make it quick, and as clean as possible.

The last thing I needed was blood all over the fucking walls again.

I climbed the stairs, my shoulders tense with anger.

Johnny had to pay for taking her.

Nothing was forgivable.

I understood that Lucia had suffered, but that had nothing to do with Gretchen.

I left the house, whistling as I skipped down the steps. The wind bit into me, icy fingers curling around my body as I jogged back to midtown. I checked my watch and smiled when I saw I hadn’t wasted too much time with him, I’d make my appointment in plenty of time.

Excellent.

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS LATER

“How are you doing cuz?” The voice drawled down the line as I rubbed my brow with irritation.

What does this little shit want now?

I tightened my jaw as I sighed, preparing myself for his bullshit.

“What the fuck are you calling me for?” I growled down the phone as he tutted, making me want to smash his face into next week.

Sadly, that was yet to be invented. As advanced as technology was, a punch couldn’t travel over the airwaves.

Pity.

“I’ve just had breakfast with our beautiful Gretchen, she’s like a fine wine, my man, she seems to get better with age. But I’m worried about her.”

I tightened my grip around the phone as I closed my eyes, regret filling my chest at the thought of him anywhere near her.

Our Gretchen?

“You better be lying,” I said through gritted teeth, my eyes scanning the airport for an update on my flight. They had delayed it by an hour, and I was getting restless.

Now I have this punk giving me grief.

“No, I mean this whole kidnapping shit,” he waited, enjoying every moment of proving what he knew.

Fuck.

“Keep away from her. Do you understand me?!” I muttered, my voice trembling with rage.

“But don’t you think it’s time you admitted I was right all those years ago? I’m better for her than you. She would have a simple life with me, marriage, pop out some babies—Fuck, I’d enjoy making those though—no kidnaps, no mob. Just a picket fence and warm apple pie.”

I pulled the phone away and almost snapped it as I ended the call, my vision blurred with anger as I dialled Gretchen’s number.

“Hey baby!” she sang down the phone as I tried to speak calmly.

“Why did you tell him, Gretchen?”

I heard her suck in her breath, and I knew then that she would never have told me about meeting him. My heart hurt, knowing she could betray me.