Page 55 of Red Retaliation

Using my foot, I turn Taylor over. He’s stopped squealing like a girl now, which is good. His face is fucked, but his eyes still stare, silently pleading; begging.

He’s wasting his time because now therealfun begins.

CHAPTER

38

Red

“THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG,” Oscar mutters, hogging the tiny mirror on the wall in my office.

“Shhh!” I hiss, concentrating on the radio bulletin.

“...was discovered around 6 a.m. today by a dog walker. The brutal hatchet attack bears the hallmarks of an execution-style killing. The police warn the public to be wary, but urge not to speculate while they proceed with their investigation...”

“Why is the radio speculating if it doesn’t want anyone else doing so?” Liam snorts, his attitude already getting on my nerves. I’m tired and not looking forward to what will happen later this morning.

Nudging Oscar out of the way of the mirror, I carefully check for any blood splatters I might have overlooked. I showered thoroughly when I returned last night and countless times this morning, but it never hurts to be extra vigilant. I straighten my black tie. “Get the clothes from last night burnt.”

“Already done,” Oscar says. “A waste of your expensive wedding suit though.”

“At least that bloody horrible waistcoat has gone!” Liam chuckles, then frowns as the bulletin continues in the background.

“... the male victim, thought to be in his mid-twenties, has not yet been formally identified and...”

“That’s enough of that!” Liam clicks the radio off. “So, Taylor’s been found already? Fucking dog walkers are nosy bastards!”

“Yeah, it would have been better later on in the day. We don’t wantthis affecting the traffic and making us late for the crem,” Oscar adds.

“It is what it is.” I roll my shoulders to free up my building tension.

“You look knackered, bruv!” Liam sneers. “You’d normally get a pat on the back, what with last night being your wedding night, but being as you hitched yourself to that Galvatore bitch and consummated fuck all because you were too busy hacking up that sad fuck of a reporter, I take it you’re just ball-bagged?”

I turn from the mirror to glare at my brother. His insistence on using derogatory terms about Arianna irritates me more than ever. He can’t resist getting jibes in - even today. “I did what was needed to be done, as did you.”

“I’d have preferred hacking the nosy fucker up myself, rather than lifting him off the street and waiting for you to arrive to take that pleasure as your own,” Oscar moans.

“Me too,” Liam mutters.

I sigh irritably. “Taylor’s comments were aimed at me. Plus, as the head of the firm he was disrespecting, it was my job to silence him.”

“Comments about your ‘wife’, more like!” Liam laughs. “With that speech you gave to the cunt about ‘disrespecting your wife’, you almost convinced me of your sincerity! Good job we know different, eh? Talking of which, how does it feel being married and not wanting to fuck the bride?”

I swing around.Liam’s assumption is the very opposite of what I’d like. Not that I’ll admit it. Something else I won’t admit is that I meant what I said to Taylor. Arianna is my wife. Disrespecting her, disrespects me, and no one gets away with that.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re about to leave for Steve’s funeral. The hearse will be here any minute, and I don’t want any sarcastic shit from you two in the back of the funeral car. I nor Arianna needs that!”

“Wait! Arianna’s coming to the funeral?” Liam cries. “Withus?”

I nod. “Yes, she is. She’s my wife now, and to keep up appearances and continue rubbing salt in Bristoni wounds, she’ll accompany me to all relevant functions.” I fix my brothers with a steely glare. “Therefore, I expect both of you to behave in a fitting manner. If anything brings suspicion, it’ll be your lack of courtesy towards her, rather than anything else!”

Turning, I fold my arms. “That shit with Bristoni’s corpse was fucking sick! You pull anything like that ever again, there will be no more chances. You’ve alreadyhad too many!”

Liam and Oscar have the good grace to look at their feet. “Like I said last night, it was only supposed to be a bit of a joke.”

“Oh, fuck off!” I sneer. “A joke? You think Arianna found it funny? Did you seemelaughing?”

“Yeah, okay. It won’t happen again,” Liam mutters. “It’s being incinerated later today.”