Page 28 of I Would Die For You

I smile. “What’s the first thing you should bring to every fight?”

Valentino knows me, so he doesn’t fall into the trap of saying the most obvious thing. Gianluca, however, isn’t as aware.

“A gun,” he says.

I shake my head. “Amico. Anyone can bring a gun to a fight.” Pausing for effect, I scan the room with my gaze. “Does everyone remember to bring their brain?”

Yes, this is how I’m going to play it. My generation has grown up shooting Nerf guns all over our houses. We’ve got the bullet-flinging urge out of us. Yes, we’re also not stupid and won’t pop up at a fight without packing, but do we need to bring our pistols out? No. There are so many more ways to do things and get as good if not better results.

I stroll down the stairs and march until I’m facing Jasir Daku. Bastard has the gall to spit at me. Bad move. He’s in his fifties, so he must know how enforcers work. Doesn’t he appreciate the fact he’s sitting in a chair with a full seat, the bottom not hollowed out so someone can swing a weight or rock at his balls for fun? Doesn’t he realize he’s still fully clothed, his legs still encased in trousers, socks, and shoes? Anyone else would’ve had his shins bared with electrodes attached to his skin and the soles of his feet, electrical capture being a very efficient way to get someone to talk.

Courtesy goes a long way, and I never go for the big guns if I can help it. So I lean in front of Daku and stare him in the face.

“You threatened someone you shouldn’t have. And Don Rossi doesn’t like it when his near and dear are exposed to peril.”

“Vaffanculo,” Daku spits at me.

At least he made the effort of learning Italian—I’ll give him that.

“Last chance, Jasir. Tell me what you’ve planned to happen to this woman, and I’ll be off your back.”

He spits and laughs again.

So be it. Steely resolve flows in my blood and fortifies my stance. What I’m about to do, it will surely take a piece of my soul with it. But I don’t have a choice. This is Kaya we’re talking about.

I give Gianluigi a nod, and down he comes with my work kit in one hand and a large case in the other. Behind him, one of Aldo’s soldiers follows with a metal contraption he unfolds into a medical tray table on wheels at Daku’s side.

Our target’s gaze is getting shifty, but he’s not the only one. Across the room, Valentino catches my eye, his face expressionless, but his eyes full of worry.

Taking a few steps to him, I place my hand on his shoulder and give him a reassuring squeeze.

“I know what I’m doing. What did I study at university, Val?”

His eyes grow wide; it’s dawning on him now. No one really fathomed why I chose that route for further studies, even getting a PhD in it. Now, it’s all making sense.

Pharmacology is the science of making drugs and figuring out their effects and workings across all areas of the human body. It’s pointed knowledge about medicines, their specific compounds, their interactions. Despite looking like a hooligan gym bro meat head like I’d once said to Kaya, I had the brains of a nerd for chemistry and science. Don Giacomo figured it out and encouraged me to pursue this field, and here we are today.

What better means is there for an enforcer who wants to do things differently yet also get good if not better results?

After Gianluigi has finished setting up the tray, I walk back to my target and welcome the small rolling stool someone shoves my way. Once seated, I reach for Daku’s bound hand and wrap my palm around his wrist. His veins start bulging already. Good, it won’t be hard to put in the IV catheter.

I can feel horror rolling off of him when I get Gianluigi to press hard around his wrist and I wipe the alcohol-soaked cotton on the back of his hand, removing the catheter from its sterile wrapping and placing it swiftly and deftly into a raised vein and pulling the needle out, a small drop of blood chasing the vacuum just created.

“Now, I can use this…or not. Your choice.”

“You are fucked up.” Daku spits again. “You think you’ll get me to talk? With what? A truth serum?”

He jeers the last words. It’s true a real truth serum doesn’t exist, even though sodium pentothal does make people blabber sometimes.

“Who do you take me for? A James Bond villain?” I shake my head. “But I can make you talk. Let’s see.”

I pull the rolling table with the tray closer and exchange a look with Gianluigi. He smiles in return. Oh, he wants to play. Sick fuck. Let’s see what he’s come up with. There are two syringes on the deep green sterile fabric, both filled with clear liquid. We did discuss what I wanted to make happen tonight. Either way, we have Flumazenil to neutralize the effects of the drugs in my bag which holds all the drugs, his kit holding the paraphernalia like syringes and catheters.

When I grab a syringe, Daku starts to squirm, the heavy chair making a racket on the bare concrete floor.

“What are you doing?” he gasps out. “No. Stop. I… Wait, what is…”

The first syringe has been emptied inside his IV. I’m waiting to see his reaction. He’s still breathing, so…

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