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While I appreciated his enthusiasm, Jake really needed to learn to be a bit more subtle.
Elijah surprised me by delivering a swift kick to the man’s girthy ribcage. “Fucking talk already, Dale!”
When he was done grunting, Dale held his hands up toward Elijah. “Ok! Ok! Cole asked if I still had buddies on the inside! Asked if I could make an introduction. That’s it.”
“An introduction forwhat?!” Elijah yelled, pulling his leg back for another kick.
“He wanted someone who could get to that fat fuck in Chicago. You know, that mob guy who’s been all over the papers? Said he’d give me ten grand to make it happen.”
“Who was the contact?” I asked.
“It don’t matter. He’s dead.”
“The name!” I leaned on his knee at the same time Elijah kicked him again.
“Marsh,” Dale croaked out. “Don Marsh.”
Lifting my foot, I took a step back, trying to process the new information in light of everything else. The ground swayed beneath me, to the point where I had to lean against a tree for support, re-evaluating everything I thought I knew about the past few months. The past few years, for that matter.
Cole asked his shitbag father to get him in touch with another shitbag in DOC. The second shitbag, Don Marsh, was housed with Giovanni. Don Marsh, as in the man responsible for stabbing Giovanni Marchese to death.
Cole ordered the hit on Giovanni. No, not Cole. Leander. Cole was just the go-between. And now Cole was dead. Don Marsh was dead. How much longer before they got to Leander?
Leander.
They’re going to kill you.
Seeking him out across the cemetery, I searched for his dark shape against equally dark trees and tombstones. I finally spied him near the main drive, where the line of black cars were waiting to take us home.
All of you!
Cole wasn’t just a link in the chain leading to Leander... He was bait.
And you’re never gonna see it coming.
Italians were old school, I said so myself.
Fear exploded in my chest as Leander reached for the door handle.
I screamed Leander’s name at the same time I broke into a run.
The scene in front of me unfolded in slow motion.
Leander opened the rear passenger door of the car.
Olivia ducked inside.
The driver stopped and spoke with Leander. When they finished, the man circled around the car and opened his own door.
Leander stepped into the cabin, pausing to glance over the top of the door frame.
The driver closed his door.
The next time I blinked, a bloom of orange appeared beneath the car. It exploded in all directions, a burst of white and orange flames, lifting the car off its wheels.
The shockwave knocked me backward. A shrill ringing flooded my ears. I shook my head in a vain attempt to re-orient myself. I could hear muffled screams, but everything sounded like it was underwater.
Fire caught my attention as soon as I was on my feet again.
