Page 75 of Little Fury

“At the funeral.”

“Ah, yes. He looked good for his age.”

Marcus shakes his head at me and starts out of the room. I follow him again, and we head up the stairs this time. We pause once we’re in the hall at the top of the stairs. I step up behind him and put my hand in his, squeezing it to let him know I’m with him. He squeezes my hand back, lets it go, and starts towards his father’s office. “Still in his office,”Ben tells us through the earpieces.

We walk up to the door, and I move to the side, placingmy hand on the knob and waiting for the nod from Marcus. He takes a breath and then nods at me. Turning the knob I open the door, letting it swing inside the room. Enzo sits behind his desk, looking at some papers. The sound of the door opening alerting him that someone entered his space.“What do you need Hank?”he says without even looking up.

“Dad.”Enzo’s head shoots up, locking eyes with his son.

“Marcus.”

I step into the room, moving to the side and leaning against the bookcase. I look at the two of them, waiting to see who’ll make the first move. It’s Enzo—his overinflated sense of worth kicks in.“You can’t kill me; people won't stand for it.”He says with a smirk.

“Possibly? But I think it's more likely no one is going to care that you’re dead. Besides, we aren’t here to kill you. There’s no need. You’re just going to sign it all over to me.”

“And why would I do that?”Enzo laughs.

“Because I’m a Rossi and a Sokolov and people don’t like you. Sign it all over, or Ava will put a bullet in your head.”

Enzo looks at me now, realizing I’m in the room with them.

“Hello, Mr. Rossi,”I say, smiling and offering him a little wave.

Manners at all times.

“Dad, just get up. Let’s go.”

“You think I’m going to make this easy for you?"

“You have two options, Dad. Get up and come with us. Show some class. Or two, I hit you in the head and then drag you out of your house.”

“I like number two personally,”I tell them.

He stares at me.“Who the fuck asked you?” he snarls.

“Wow, someone is a little testy.”

Marcus doesn’t turn to look at me, but I see his head shakea bit. I'm not sure if that’s frustration or laughter, but I will choose to believe the latter.

“Fine.”

Marcus steps up to his father, clocks him, and Enzo goes down.

“Matt, can you and Caden come help us carry something?” I ask over the comms in my most pleasant voice.

“We’re already coming up the stairs, Ava.”

“Wow, you guys are killing it on your first field trip.”

“Do you always talk like this?”Matt asks.

“Like what?”I ask, cocking my head to the side as they enter the room with us.

“Yes, she always talks like this when she’s working. Just wait until she starts humming the Muppets fucking theme song.”Marcus tells them.

Both men look at me.“Trying to decide if my level of crazy pays well enough?”I ask them.

“Something like that,”Matt smirks.

---