Page 91 of The Pretenders of Copper County
“Ah, Nicolas,” a voice at my shoulder whispered sadly. I didn’t bother turning since I knew who it was. “So misguided.”
“Danny’s not weak,” Chris said firmly. “He’s a good person.”
“He’s a good person,” Nicky sing-songed. “Do you have any idea the things he’s done? No. Because he never trusted you enough to tell you the truth. And now he’s trying to get out of the game and leave me withnothing. But guess what? That’s not happening. I’m calling the shots now, the way I should have been all along.”
Chris’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t reply, and I’d never been happier that the man disliked arguing (except with me) because it meant he wasn’t provoking Nicky further.
Nicky continued his rant. “Evanovich doesn’t wanna bein prison any more than I want to go, so I tipped off his lieutenants about your location. They’re still loyal to him. In fact, Yuri’s on his way. He’s gonna get rid of you and make it real clear who’s responsible for your disappearance. And as soon as Danny hears the Evanoviches got you,boom!”
His bark made Chris jump and I growled under my breath.
Bob bit out a muttered curse. “Yuri better hope he’s not involved in this. Dolores and I are gonna go find out.” He hesitated. “You guys okay without us?”
Okay with losing two members of the Centrum Silver Squad in the middle of a hostage situation?
I grunted an affirmative.
Bob pulled Dolores back toward the path through the trees.
“N-Nicky,” Chris said. “Uncle Danny’s going to be really angry?—”
Nicky snorted. “No shit. He’ll be fucking furious. That’s what I’m counting on. See, if he’s angry enough, he’ll give up this plea deal bullshit so he can get revenge on the Evanoviches. No plea deal, no testifying, and Evanovich will almost definitely walk. It’s a win-win-win for everyone… except you, I guess.”
I could see about five dozen holes in Nicky’s logic. For example, at this point, if Danny backed out of his plea deal, he’d end up in prison for the crimes he admitted to, not back in Jersey re-taking the reins of the family business. And if Danny was hell bent on revenge against the Evanoviches, wouldn’t that make himmoremotivated to testify?
I could see Chris recognized these flaws, as well, but he pressed his lips together and managed to look suitably scared.
“D-Danny’s smart,” Chris said, injecting a wobble intohis voice that I was almost sure was fake, but still made my stomach plummet. “He’ll remember how you were upset at me before he left. He’ll know you were involved.”
“Nah. Danny thinks you and I are chill. He told me that as long as I left you alone, he wouldn’t rat me out to the Feds and he’d even take the hit for some of the shit I did. All those bribery charges he copped to? That’sme,” he said proudly. “But after he left, I got to thinking and I’ve decided that deal isn’t gonna work for me. Took me months to track you to Vermont, but I did it. And my guy wasthis closeto grabbing you, too. Did you really think anyone wanted to buy one of your stupid charcuterie platters?” He laughed… but then his laughter died. “But then you took off again. I managed to find you in Springfield?—”
“You didn’t find me, Nicky. I told Mrs. Rose who told you,” Chris said, sounding disappointed. “It was my mistake.”
“Fuck you, Chris.You didn’t find me, Nicky? Uh,yes, I fucking did. I just didn’t realize your neighbor would be armed and have a whole fucking crew who was equally strapped?—”
“You didn’t hurt him, did you? Is Kenny okay?” Chris demanded.
“When the cops came, the grandmother claimed my guys were invading her home.” Nicky sounded disgusted. “Like the old bitch didn’t have a gun under her housecoat. Four of my guys got arrested that night. That’s on you, too.”
“I think it’s onyou,” Chris whispered.
“So fucking smug. Even soaking wet and tied up, you think you’re better than everyone?—”
Nicky, his dark water-slicked hair and his skinny form encased in a green tracksuit he’d borrowed from an oldepisode ofThe Sopranos,stepped toward the bed with his gun arm raised like he was going to pistol-whip Chris.
Absolutely fucking not.
I drew my gun, got him in my sights, and?—
Dante knocked into me, throwing me off balance.
“No,” he whispered fiercely. “I told you, no guns. He…he won’t actually hurt Chris. He’s just trying to scare him. See? You heard him yourself, he’s waiting for Yuri.”
“I swear to fucking God, if you try that again, I’ll shoot you too,” I hissed back, pushing him aside to reclaim my spot by the window.
Dante was right—Nicky had apparently just wanted to see Chris flinch—but I didn’t care. I’d have happily shot him to eliminate the risk. By now, though, Nicky had moved to the far side of the bed. From this angle, my aim would have to be perfect to hit him without hitting Chris. I couldn’t risk it.Fuck.
“N-no, Nicky, I don’t think that,” Chris whispered, ducking his head. This time, the fear in his voice was real. “I really don’t. I always wanted to be your friend. I wanted you to like me. I gave you chance after chance because you’re family. And that was my mistake too. You know, Reed is probably on his way to save me right now?—”
