Page 48 of Iron Cross

“Tell Eoghan…” the man said, almost weeping. “I can do for him what Keith was doing for the Italians. Tell him! Tell him I can help him. Tell him—”

So he didn’t, in fact, recognize me. That was fun.

“What were you supposed to do to Mrs. Kira Green?” I said again, shaking him by the collar.

He choked and cried out, and I slapped him hard across the face.

“Tie her up and serve her to Durante, or bring him her head. Those were our orders.” His head, still slammed to one side, was braced for another impact.

“That’s helpful,” I said, pushing off the wall. “And this town was chosen specifically because…?”

He winced. “Durante has a spy in the Irish. They say that the blond bastard has searched every other town in the area, and they’re convinced she hasn’t run far. So, it was a process of elimination. With only this county left…”

“So you were going to go door to door like Jehovah’s Witnesses to find a woman who’s been missing for three years? Do you even know what she looks like?”

The hostage shook his head. “We have pictures of when she worked at the gallery.”

“Is there anything else?” I leaned into him, softening my face because I did not want him to be scared. I wanted him to think we could be allies of a sort. “I’m looking for her too, alright? You help me out, and I don’t see a reason you and I need to fight. Some man’s runaway wife shouldn’t be this important, and it’s all bollocks!”

He looked at me with relief in his eyes.

“I don’t want to kill anyone. I just want to stop the killing. You get me?”

He lowered his head, as hope bloomed in his chest.

“I have told you all that I know.” His soft murmur was barely audible. “We just need to find her, to stop this insane war!”

“Aye, I agree,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder.

I went behind him, pulling my iron blade from the sheath at my hip, and cut his arms free.

“Grazi! Grazi!” he said, whispering his thanks.

“You’re welcome.” I plunged my danger into his jugular, the blood spurted out like I had cut a water hose while it was in mid-stream.

As the splatter of his crimson blood colored the ground, his body collapsed forward, his hands limp at his sides, as he died with his face in his own puddle.

“Seriously?” Shiny said, looking at me with her arms crossed, one foot tapping on the ground in her annoyance.

“I’ll clean it up,” I grumbled, once again, agitated that when we were alone, Shiny was able to have such an attitude with me that was rather unbecoming of a Lieutenant.

Still, I was glad she was here. I was glad she had found her way home to my side, the same way Dairo had. And though Dairo may say that he was here because he found the love of his life, and needed to re-enter the life because she was the daughter of the Bratva, and Shiny had fallen head over heels for the trainer that I had rescued from a melee in the Underground fighting circuit, I could not help the feeling of fate that surrounded it all.

“You’re a bloody menace,” I said, coming to my knee, grabbing the hostage by the arm.

“Ouch!” She placed a hand over her heart as if she was offended. “That’s hurtful.”

“Oh, shut your gullet,” I sneered. “Your husband might be able to deal with your cheek, but I’ve had quite enough of it.”

I was with the people I was meant to be. Our roads placed us on the same path, and as soon as Kira and my son were by my side, then all would be well again.

But I never thought that I’d have competition for my Muse’s attention.

Did I know there was a possibility that she had found a paramour in the last three years? Maybe. It would break me, but under the circumstances, I had already resolved to forgive her.

“Well, you’re in a mood.” Shiny rolled her eyes, and to my surprise, got down beside me and began to help me move the body. “Bad news while you were observing today?”

I never thought that I would bear witness to her.

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