Page 92 of Red Retaliation

God, I’m enjoying this. It takes my mind off Arianna’s body encased in that red satin evening dress, looking every inch the hot goddess I want to fuck. Anything distracting my brain from that is a bonus.

But this bonus is a necessity and one that will be delivered on.

“Stealing from me and the firm who pay you is bad enough, Slater, but setting up an innocent man to take the flack is unforgivable!” I’mroaring now but I don’t worry about anyone overhearing because the rest of this floor and the one below it is booked out.By me.

“Cal Bennett would be dead by now if I hadn’t worked you out.” Getting up, I stroll over to Slater and press the barrel of the gun into the center of his forehead. “If only the shredding firm had arrived a little earlier that day, you’d have succeeded again.”

Slater visibly sags with defeat, my reference to shredding uncovering the stark realization that he’s been brought bang to rights. “I... I’m sorry,” he gibbers. “I really am! I had no choice... I didn’t set out to do it. It’s... Our house was about to be repossessed and... the wife, she...”

“What?” I laugh incredulously. “Are you saying I don’t pay you enough?”This fuckface is starting to wind me up. “You get five times the going rate for any accountant in London, so how does that give you the need to steal from me and set another man up for your greed?”

“No, no! I know it doesn’t!” Tears stream down Slater’s bloodied face, the vivid purple bruising and swelling making him look pitiful.

Unfortunately for him, it doesn’t remove or reduce the coming punishment.

“It... it was Theresa... my wife, she... she racked up loads of debts. Tons of them. I didn’t realize how bad it was until the demands piled up. I... I borrowed money, but I couldn’t meet the repayments... The interest kept going up and...”

“But what about the hefty cash injection you’ve received from supplying information? That should have helped, surely?”

“C-Cash? What cash? What information? I...”

“Shut the fuck up!” I bark. “Your denials only underline your guilt. You’re a LIAR!” I pace around. “You’re supposed to be an accountant! If you’d come to me with your problem, I might have helped you. But you didn’t, which is a shame really because your wife will get fuck all now. Payouts to staff families in the event of death only extend togenuineemployees.”

As the impact of my words sink in, Slater spirals into begging mode, which I don’t think I can bear. I just need full admission that he’s the mole before I finish him.It’s time. “You sound depressed, Slater. Suicidal, even?”

On cue, Liam rises from his chair and throws a pen and piece of paper at Slater. “Write these words down.”

Leaving Liam to dictate Slater’s last note, I shove my gun back into my waistband and walk over to open the balcony doors.

CHAPTER

66

Arianna

“IT WAS ALL SO SUDDEN. A real surprise when we heard!”

I’m not scowling, but it’s difficult to stop my pleasant smile from sliding off my face. I’ve had nothing but questions since Red disappeared, and I’m amazed I haven’t been asked how many times we’ve had sex since we married.

If only they knew that the answer to that was a big, fat zero.

“I didn’t believe it at first - not even when the papers reported it,” the blonde with the talons chirps, eyeing me with distaste. “You’re Italian too, aren’t you? Red rarely steps away from English girls.”

“And he’s had a few of those...”

My eyes dart to the brunette adding that last comment, now busy giggling behind her hand.What the fuck is this shit?

“It’s just so unexpected. Especially after what happened with Lorna...”

“Red was never one for relationships in the first place!”

“So sad though. Lorna was such a lovely woman.”

I grit my teeth. “It sounds like you all havepersonalexperience of my husband...”

“Oh, erm, no... of course not!” the blonde splutters. “We didn’t mean... It’s just... I... I... erm...”

“What? Forgot that I’m actually married to the man?” I raise an eyebrow. “Yes, I am married to Red. Yes, I’m Italian, and no, I’m not Lorna and never will be. Any other questions?” I enjoy the rapid shaking of heads, along with realization in these bitches’ eyes. Do they think me agullible pushover?