Page 101 of Where the Wind Whispers

“Weeks ago, your husband, and your father,” he said with a nod to Carmine, “wanted me to choose between the people I love—I thought it only fair I return the favor.”

Ijor walked over to him, handing him the iPad Kaz requested he bring. A few taps and swipes of his finger and he was on the screen he needed.

“But I’m not a bad man. I’ll even offer you something he didn’t offer my family.” His lips curled of their own volition, and in the reflection of the tablet he carried, he saw what had Carmine trying to take a step back.

Mania.

“Who wants to play a game? It’s simple, you understand. Who do you think Alberto Gallucci loves the most between you two? Who would he want to save?”

Carmine was the first to speak. “He would never choose.”

“Are you willing to bet your life on that?” Kaz asked.

He had no answer that time.

“Let’s call and see, yes?”

Glancing at the time, he made the call. It rang three times, and then the picture showed up. Alberto appeared in the center of the video looking confused a moment before he smiled, as though pleased to see Kaz.

“It’s good to see you, boy, though I don’t know why you’re calling tonight. Have you decided to concede?”

“You gave me something—I’m simply returning the favor. Question for you,” Kaz said before he held the device up so the man had a clear view of Carmine and Andrea behind him. “Who do you love the most? Inquiring minds want to know.”

“Kazimir, what do you hope to accomplish by doing this?” Alberto asked, and though he tried to temper his reaction, Kaz could see that he had caught the man off guard.

And whether he wanted to admit it or not, Kaz had gotten one up on him.

“Simple question, but if you don’t want to answer, I understand.” Kaz stepped away from them, though not very far. “Here’s the deal. Either you die, or I’ll take everything you hold dear.”

Alberto was silent a moment before his laugh cut through the speaker. “And do you expect me to shoot myself in the head, too, then?”

Sighing, Kaz retrieved the gun from his belt, aimed and fired a round into Andrea’s arm.

Over her agonized wail and Carmine’s shouts, Kaz said, “There goes the drawing arm. What’s next, Gallucci? Would you like her to be a paraplegic too? I can start at her knees and work my way up.”

Alberto was no longer smiling. “What do you want?”

“Pick one—choose and I’ll let one of them live.”

Carmine shouted something at his father, his voice desperate and pleading. Kaz knew the choice he would have made, and he knew what he would be shouting at his father.

He would gladly die for his mother.

Was Carmine ready to make the same sacrifice?

Except, whatever he was saying only seemed to annoy Alberto more. “Shut up! Enough of your whining.” But as quickly as his attention was on his son, it was now back on Kaz. “You think to make me weak, Kazimir, but it won’t work. I will put a bullet in each of them myself before I let you use them against me—that’s my promise to you.”

Kaz wasn’t sure who looked more shocked, Carmine or Andrea who immediately started to cry and wail louder than before.

“There has to be something that means the world to you, Alberto. Something you would give your life for.”

Alberto had met his gaze before his hand lifted and he said, “Not anymore.”

He ended the call.

As soon as the screen went dark once more, Andrea’s sobs grew louder, to the point that they were all Kaz could hear.

Neither, Alberto had said …