Page 58 of Condemned to You

“How do we know you’re not lying?”

“I have no reason to. Once he finds out he’s being set up, he’s going to think it was me. I’m dead either way.”

“Get her down,” I told Alfie.

As we made our way out of the cantina, Gio was waiting for us. Propped on an old Mercedes-Benz W124 with the trunk door open, his demeanor changed when he saw Grace’s face. Whatever he had planned for her was going to be bad.

“No!” Grace screeched. “You said you’d spare me!”

Alfie locked her in his arms and hauled her toward the car to shove her into the trunk.

“I said I’d spare your life. I said nothing about saving you from anyone else,” I replied pulling out a cigarette. “How’d it go for you?”

Gio shrugged as he shut the trunk door muffling Grace’s cries for help. “The explosion went off as planned. So this ghost should believe his plan worked.” Nodding in the trunk’s direction, “I’m surprised she was willing to easily talk. There’s not a scratch on her.”

“Grace knows she’s dead either way. In her mind, she did the right thing.”

We all get into our respective cars, Gio headed in one direction as Alfie and I headed toward the warehouse.

Chapter Thirty-Three

We arrived to a warehouse in the middle of nowhere about 45 minutes outside the city. The warmth of the late morning sunlight cast a golden hue on everything around us. The vibrant colors of the trees beginning to bloom in the woods, and the sounds of birds chirping fill the air, creating a lively symphony as I took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air, and feeling the gentle breeze brush against my skin. There were various parked vehicles on the plot of land and although silent, the closer we got to the building the louder a thumping noise came from the inside. As we approached the entrance, the contrast became apparent. The doorway loomed ahead, a portal into an entirely different realm. No one was guarding the door which made it easy to just walk right in.

Both Alfie and I pulled out our guns and kept them in hand casually as we proceeded to move inside. Alfie pushed the door open and the bright daylight was abruptly swallowed by an enveloping darkness. Inside, the air felt cooler, almost still, as the light from outside receded behind us. My eyes struggled to adjust, and the dimness cloaked my surroundings in a mysterious shroud. Shadows danced along the walls, and the faint outlines of furniture and decor emerged like phantoms as we moved further in. It felt like stepping into a different time, where the day had been paused, and night had claimed dominion. The atmosphere was thick with a sense of calm, almost eerie, as if the world outside had been left far behind.

The low thrum of bass pulsed through the air like a heartbeat, vibrating the walls of the warehouse. Dim, colored lights flickered in sync with the pounding music, casting erratic shadows that danced across the concrete floors. The atmosphere was thick with the scent of sweat and illicit desire, a charged environment where inhibitions were shed like clothing.

We stepped through the entrance, our senses overwhelmed by the scene before us. Bodies writhed together in a tangle of limbs, laughter mingling with moans, the air heavy with the promise of debauchery. It felt like stepping into a dream—or a nightmare, depending on how one looked at it. I’d been to a fair share of sex parties, but this was on a level I’d never witnessed before. The kinks for this crowd involved more taboo sexual desires. But we weren’t here to indulge in the chaos; we were here to find ghost. “Stay sharp,” I muttered, scanning the crowd for our target. I could feel the tension in Alfie’s posture beside me, the way his muscles coiled in anticipation. “How do we know if we have the right guy? I mean who’s to know if I really saw the real ghost,” Alfie replied, his eyes narrowing as we searched the writhing mass of flesh.

“Bethany said he has a birthmark on his left shoulder. That’s our guys for sure.” My voice was low and steady. As we continued to discreetly search the place, I could tell Alfie’s mind was distracted. “How long did you know?”

Surprised by my question and unsure how to answer, Alfie shrugged, “About Grace? I had a feeling deep down.”

“Why didn’t you look into it?”

“How?” Alfie glanced at me quickly, “If I was able to prove it. How would I tell Luca his wife’s best friend is a traitor.”

“That’s part of the job, kid. You gotta look out for the family even when shit gets ugly.” My hand gripped my gun as I held it to my side causally walking and scanning the room.

“What I don’t understand is why did ghost approach me? If he had Grace – that’s the perfect cover up.”

It was clear the burden of Grace’s betrayal weighed heavy on him. I knew the feeling all too well; that feeling that it was all your fault. I never understood the allure of being a Consigliere, it wasn’t a job made for everyone.

“He needed to know she was loyal to him. And he needed to know you were loyal to him. he used both of you as pawns.”

“So, trust no one. Ever,” Alfie let out a deep breath of frustration.

“The only thing you should trust, kid – is your gut.” As we pushed deeper into the open space, the atmosphere thickened like fog, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. My heart raced as I caught a glimpse of a tall figure with an unmistakable swagger, surrounded by a group of eager participants in the chaos. The way he moved, the way he commanded attention, was magnetic and repulsive all at once. When he turned around, I knew he was our guy by his birthmark. “There he is,” Alfie whispered, pointing discreetly. “Let’s move.” With determination, we maneuvered through the crowd, bodies bumping against them, laughter and gasps echoing around them. My pulse quickened; every moment felt electric. It was moments like this that I enjoyed, and for a split second, I missed it. We reached a mass of bodies on top of one another. I surged forward, grabbing ghost by the arm, yanking him from the orgy like a puppet pulled from strings. The sudden motion didn’t even have the crowd phased – they didn’t flinch nor stop their activities. “What the hell?” Ghost spat, anger flashing in his dark eyes. Alfie and I held our guns to his body and when he realized it was us, a devious smirk crossed his face. “That bitch ratted me out.” “Your time is up,” I declared, my voice steady despite the chaos swirling around us.

Ghost’s face contorted with rage, and he looked around at the gathering crowd, seeking allies among the few onlookers. But the revelers, sensing the shift in power, began to step back, the thrill of the fantasy was replaced by fear of the unknown.

I lifted my gun up and let out a few rounds. “PARTY IS OVER! GET THE FUCK OUT.”

Naked bodies frantically ran around seeking an exit. Before you knew it, the warehouse was empty and all that remained were the flickering lights and pounding music. “You’ll regret this!” MC shouted, his voice rising above the music.

“Who’s going to come rescue you?” I taunted him.

Ghost knew his gig was up but he let out a bitter laugh. “You think you can just walk away? You have no idea who you’re dealing with!” Ignoring his taunting, we proceeded with chaining him to the wall. Got to love when a party’s accessories could be useful.