Page 55 of The Fractured

“We aren’t done here,” Crowley said firmly.

I stopped and looked at the target sheet. “You sure?”

He stepped forward, ready for a confrontation he wouldn’t win. “If you knew you were a good shot, why didn’t you say something earlier? You’ve wasted our fucking time.”

“Iwastedyourtime.Really?” I half smiled despite the frustration bubbling under my skin and shook my head as I tookone step closer to him. “I’m here because I don’t have a choice, regardless of whether I can shoot or not. I’m on borrowed fuckin’ time and yet you spent half this session, booked for me, blowing up your sheet for leisure, but you think I’m wasting your time?” My jaw ticked. “And you want respect? From me? How about you remove the self-entitled stick from your fat ass and then we can talk respect. In the meantime, shut the fuck up.”

The second the last words left my mouth, I backed off and headed for the door.

White gravel crunched beneath the soles of my boots as I made my way up the long driveway to Antonio’s Bay Ridge mansion. I would’ve parked in the space outside the house, but the boss was hosting a social gathering tonight. Luxury cars took up every inch of the parking zone in front of his house, and others lined the driveway. Meanwhile, mine was several blocks down the street.

The sun was beginning to set as I strode up the porch steps to the large front door. The house was cast in an orange glow because of it.

Inside, I found guests mingling, drinking, chatting; all the usual shit I avoided. They were dressed in clothes that probably cost more than what I earned in a month, and they knew it, casting side-long glances in my direction as I weaved my way through them wearing jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt that had several signs of wear and tear.

I kept my face neutral, paying them no mind as I headed into the large kitchen in the back and stepped through the windowed patio doors into the evening air again. There were more people outside, doing more of the same as the ones inside, but I foundat least one familiar face in the form of Vince. He grinned as I approached, and then motioned for me to follow him further into the manicured garden.

We followed a short path to another outdoor seating area off the patio, where Antonio was talking with several acquaintances. His wife, Julia, had her arm looped through his, smiling warmly as she seemed to lead the conversation happening amongst their little social group. Antonio couldn’t keep his eyes off her. The expression on his face was one he only had for her.

I understood it; I knew the feeling. Like your heart might explode from holding them, or if the worst were to happen, you would burn the world for them; die for them because there would be nothing worse than living in a world where they didn’t exist.

Lily was my heart. My world. She was worth more than everything in this mansion.

Antonio’s devotion to his wife brought on the reminder that Julia would also be affected by whatever Mark and his team planned. And Antonio would hate that.

He knew the police were investigating him. It's why he had gone partially underground — partially because hosting a party this big wasn’t very subtle for someone laying low — but if he found out I was involved with that investigation…

Poker faces weren’t so hard for me. Working for Antonio helped with that. Guilt still gnawed at my insides as I greeted the mob boss and his wife.

Julia smiled. Ever a glamorous woman, as she maintained the appearance of a socialite. Which she was, but she also had a level head and treated everyone the same regardless of social status and money.

“It’s good to see you again, Dean.” She turned to Antonio. “I’ll give you two some privacy.”

Antonio lifted the back of her hand to his lips, kissed it, and then watched as Julia left to mingle with the guests. Once she was out of sight, the doting look in his eyes changed to one of consideration when it came to me.

“Follow me.” He leaned into his cane as he made a turn, aiming for the pool house to the right of the garden. The limp in his leg was a permanent reminder of his son’s retaliation.

Again, the guilt reared its ugly head as I followed him.

This was a guy who helped Mom and me through our toughest time, and I was stabbing him in the back in return.

When we reached the pool house, I pushed my hands into my pockets as Antonio closed the door behind us. It smelled of chlorine, and the space was illuminated by the subtle blue glow of the pool, reflecting bending swirls on the ceiling.

“Something is on your mind.” He folded his hands over the golden eagle head on the end of his cane and watched me closely.

My pause was brief, and Antonio didn’t seem to notice it as I shook my head, grinding my jaw slightly. “Everything is on my mind, boss…”

“Roxy said the meeting went well with them.”

“They didn’t suspect anything. We’re fighting tomorrow night.”

“Good, good…” He rubbed his chin, where gray and white stubble was coming through. “Now, about what you’re asking from me…”

Under Mark’s advice, I had contacted Vince earlier this week about getting a gun. I hoped maybe he could get me one so I didn’t have to have this meeting with Antonio, but here I was anyway.

“It’s for protection,” I elaborated, leaning my hip against the windowsill. “No offense, but I don’t trust your kids.”

“You’d be a fool to trust anyone in this line of work. Or any job.”