Page 87 of The Chameleon

“I’ll give you one cheap shot because you’re old, and I stole your livelihood.” Ares wiped his lip and stared down at the blood on his finger.

Were people really living if they didn’t bleed from time to time?

“Ares, stop mouthing off,” Matteo mumbled.

Next to Matteo, the pipsqueak with the gun stood watching the entertainment unfold. Apparently, Edwin had forgotten about the fortune he was supposed to be stealing from Matteo.

Two of Massimo’s henchmen grabbed hold of Ares and dragged him to where Matteo was sitting. One pulled out a chair while the other pushed Ares down by the head.

“Hey there, Matté. Fancy meeting you here,” Ares greeted, giving his love the cockiest smile.

Matteo shook his head in disbelief.

“You shouldn’t have come.”

“Bah,” Ares huffed. “And let you have all the fun with these no-name, has-beens? How does that sound fair?”

Ares couldn’t help but notice the tiny smile Matteo was struggling to keep from surfacing.

Try all you like. You know you love it that I came to rescue you.

“Any last words?” Massimo asked, interrupting the tender moment Ares was having with Matteo.

Oh, yeah. These fucknuts are still here.

Ares stared up at the man who had spent so much of his fortune trying to exact his revenge on the man who had continually fucked him at every turn.

Years of unsuccessful murder attempts finally coming to a close. The man must feel good about himself. Now Massimo could die… or retire… a happy man.

30

ARES

Ares scoffed at the idea.Fuck Zitti.He'd never give theguidofuck the satisfaction of killing him.

“Yeah. Blow me,” Ares growled to the whispered sigh of Matteo sitting next to him. Apparently, Matteo didn’t appreciate his “last words.”

It was at that moment that the skylight above them shattered, sending shards of glass falling from the sky.

Ares raised his arm, shielding his face from the broken glass.

A barrage of bullets rained down from above as a figure dressed in a tight leather outfit propelled down from the skylight, firing at anything that moved. His black and blue wig flopped from side to side as the mystery acrobat used the ropes connected to his frame to maneuver into positions and angles that no human should ever accomplish.

The group of men around them scattered, ducking for cover wherever they could find safety.

“Looked like you could use some assistance,” Skyler panted, unhooking himself from the ropes he used to propel himself down from the roof.

Now that was an entrance! Perhaps the boy was right. Skyler’s version of this rescue mission was much moreentertaining.

“I was wearing him down… psychologically. Another minute or two and Grandpa Zitti would’ve been passed out from exhaustion,” Ares answered, taking the gun that Skyler was offering. He looked over Sky’s shoulder and fired off two shots, killing the men quickly approaching.

“Thanks,” Sky chirped, the blue in his eyes popping against the solid black eyeliner. Judging by the glint in his eyes, Skyler was having the time of his life.

Perhaps he and Patrick really were soulmates.

Behind Ares, someone fired, narrowly missing Matteo and Sky.

Skyler spun around and fired off two more shots, one hitting the shooter, the other grazing Massimo’s arm.

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