Page 95 of Bullseye
“These your friends?” My father interrupts. That means my time is dwindling.
“Yes. Absolutely.” Nodding to each of them, I turn back to Dominic.
“And your girl?” he asks.
“Yes.” Standing stiffly, I communicate silently to my father by dropping my chin and clenching my jaw. “But none of them have anything to do with this. Understand?”
“She does,” he says, nodding to her.
Fire rushes up my spine as I take a step closer to Dominic. “She has nothing to do with this, do you understand? Nothing.”
Quickly, I turn to Seneca. “Your brother will be out soon. I told the police what happened. How Mikey and Tony were the dealers. I said that Don Bordono ordered the hit. I said I did it. Now, you have to go with Harry and Seth, and I have to finish some business with my father.”
“No, Avery. No.” She steps closer to me, and it’s like I can feel her, although we’re not touching. “I was wrong. I understand that you didn’t know who he was.”
“But I can make things right now.”
“Yes, I want Matt free, but I don’t want to lose you. Not again. Not now that everything is finally out in the open.”
Reaching out with my free hand, I stroke her cheek. “We can’t, Sen. There’s no way. It just isn’t meant to be for us. But I love you.”
“I love you, too, Avery.”
Dropping my hand and wrapping it around her waist, I pull her close to me. Leaning down, I caress her lips with mine—kissing her, feeling her, holding her… one last time.
“Now, go.” Fighting my every desire, I put my hand on the small of her back, turn her, and push her toward Harry hard as I pull my gun on my father.
And he pulls his gun on me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see that she stumbles but lands next to Harry. He helps steady her and stepping in front of her, he moves her farther behind him, protecting her. Good job, Harry, good job. I knew I could trust you.
Sweat gathers on my lower back as I nod to Dominic. “Let them walk out of here and then you and I will settle this.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“I told you she knows nothing.”
“No, listen, Avery. Listen to your father one last time. I went to Don Bordono and told him everything. That I ratted on him. I went to the police, Avery, once I got wind of what you were trying to do. I told them that I was at that hit and that I did the job. I said you would try to take the rap, but I did it. I also said I was to blame for Ironclad. Just in case. But that’s moot, because not only do the police not care what happens in Mammon, it seems the cameras were out that night. It makes sense that I’m responsible since I’ve been doing this most of my life. With my connections, I was able to jump bail and come out here one time. I’m on the run, Avery—from Don Bordono and the police.” Taking a deep breath, he turns to Seneca. “Matt will be released soon. It’s already being processed.”
“What?” Seneca rushes out from behind Harry. “Thank you, Mr. Pairings. Thank you for doing this.”
“Don’t thank me yet, my dear.”
Fear swirls in my gut. There’s more. There has to be more.
Dominic turns back to me. “Bordono still wants you dead. You threatened him when you said you would take the rap for Matt. But lucky for you, it all happened so fast, the only ones who know this are Bordono and me.”
“So, you’re going to kill me?”
“No. And the good news is, I think Don Bordono will leave you alone out of respect after.”
“After what?”
“Threatening Don Bordono is a death sentence. But so is what he’s asking of me. No one, not even me, can kill their own child.”
“What are you saying?” I force my breathing under my control, so I can slow my heartbeat and focus.
“I can’t kill my own child, Avery, but Icankill. So, the thing is, you need to kill me before I kill her.” Looking at Seneca, he adds, “I’m sorry, my dear.”
