Page 138 of Vicious Behaviors
“Haynes,” Roderick scolds. “Compose yourself.”
“Fuck that,” he says maliciously. “We had him! We fucking had him! What about the crematory? He burnt evidence. We got him for unlawful disposal of a body, at least.”
“Actually, your star witness recanted his statement. Said that he was coerced by you,” Izzie says with a sly smile. “Though again, thanks for not keeping me in the loop. Just another thing to add to the complaint I’ve filed against you.”
“Bullshit! I didn’t coerce a goddamn thing! He came to me!”
“That’s not how he remembers it,” Izzie says, feigning ignorance.
“You did this, you little bitch! You ruined my case!”
I swiftly turn around to charge at the motherfucker for mistreating my woman, only for my father to keep his hand on my shoulder, holding me still.
“Do not throw away all this woman has done for you now. Isobel can handle herself,” my father warns.
“You didn’t have a case, Haynes. You wasted precious time and money on a witch hunt,” Izzie retorts with steel in her voice. “Don’t embarrass yourself further. Take the loss like a man.”
“We had him,” he mumbles, tugging at his hair. “We fucking had him. And now you expect me to just stand idly by and watch him leave? When we were this close to getting all of them? Every last syndicate bastard?! No. No! He doesn’t get to walk. He’s not getting away with this scot-free. He’s a killer. A monster. Judgment day is here for the Romanos. And if everyone in this fucking building is too much of a pussy to do what needs to be done, then I am not!”
As Izzie is about to respond, I see Haynes’s hand reach into his jacket. On pure reflex, I race toward the love of my life as he pulls out his gun. But instead of aiming at Izzie, he aims his gun at me. The next part feels like it all happens in slow motion. One minute I’m running toward Haynes, and the next I’m being shielded by someone—my father, who places himself betweenme and him, taking a bullet to the back. And when he drops to the floor, I go down with him.
“Father? Father? Dad! Dad!!!” I shout, his eyes growing heavy, as blood starts pooling on the floor.
“You haven’t called me that in years,” he says, placing a shaky hand on my cheek. “Thank God I’ve lived long enough to hear it one more time.”
Those are the last words I hear my dad say, before closing his eyes, with a soft smile cresting his lips.
Chapter 30
Isobel
Every single Romano waits impatiently in the hospital hallway, anxious for news of the family’s patriarch. Selene sobs silently in the corner, Gio and Dom never leaving her side. Annamaria weeps into Stella’s embrace, and although Stella masks her own pain, Carmine’s steady hand on her other shoulder offers quiet support as she shields her heart and puts on a brave face to comfort her younger sister. Frankie consoles an uncharacteristically mute and distraught Lucky, while Alejandro and Enzo remain locked away in the hospital chapel, praying for Vincent’s survival. As for Mina and me, we sit side by side, watching Jude and Marcello pace back and forth, neither one saying a word, too deep in thought.
“He better fucking pull through,” Mina mutters beside me softly.
“He will,” I reply, though I wish I could be certain.
Vincent lost a lot of blood by the time the paramedics arrived with him at the hospital. And I’m not sure if the asshole, Haynes, didn’t shoot Vincent in the spine. Even if he does miraculouslysurvive, who’s to say that he’ll recover or even be the same Vincent his family has known and loved all their lives?
Unlike me, Mina’s mind is not on the surgery taking place, but on something even more troubling.
“Marcello isn’t equipped to handle being boss of anything right now, let alone the Outfit,” she says, keeping her voice low for only me to hear. “Jude filled me in,” she adds, flicking her eyes to Marcello. “He told me everything. And though my heart hurts for all that Marcello has gone through, business still needs to be the number one priority.”
“That’s a bit cold, don’t you think? Your father-in-law is basically fighting for his life as we speak, and you’re thinking about business?” I counter, disappointed with where her mind is at.
“I’m not going to take that disdainful glint in your eyes to heart. You’re new to our way of life, so I won’t hold it against you. Vincent would be the first to say exactly what I’m thinking. This life—it’s not for the faint of heart. And though I’m worried for my father-in-law, who I adore as much as my own father, the fact remains—if Vincent dies tonight, the Outfit is without itscapo.And since your boyfriend was last seen being taken in cuffs by the FBI, unrest will soon follow. Our very lives are at stake here. Not only Vincent’s, but his entire family. Jude has been with me in England too long to be able to stop the vultures who would like nothing more than to get Marcello out of the way just to usurp his seat at the throne. And I hate to be the one who has to say it, but things will only get worse when word gets out that Marcello has taken you as his woman, an FBI agent.”
“How worse?” I ask, feeling my throat tighten.
“Remember that little rant Stella gave us earlier today… Well,thatworse. I didn’t say anything at the time because it was Vincent’s show, but Stella was right. The Outfit takes theomertàvery seriously. With Vincent gone, every greedycapowho thinkshe can do a better job leading the syndicate than Vincent’s successor will pounce and use everything they can against us. That includes us welcoming you into the fold. Pray that Vincent lives, Izzie, because if he doesn’t, every person with Romano as their surname will have a target on their back—including you and me.”
I suddenly realize why Mina is the boss of the Firm. She may be worried for Vincent’s health right now, but she’s more worried about the probability of what his death would mean for all of us.
I can’t think like that. Because if I do…
“Bollocks.” Mina instantly grabs my hand and places it in her lap, showing me some comfort. “None of this is your fault, Izzie. Don’t even think it,” she says, going to the crux of my guilt.
“Isn’t it, though? I’m the one who brought Haynes into their lives,” I say, looking at every member of the Romano family. “Because of me, they’re now in danger.”
