Page 92 of Bullseye
“Because they were men who chose to be in this life? So, it was an occupational hazard?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you see how it was the same for me?”
“He’s not a random drug addict who was working with Mikey and Tony.”
“Not to you, no. And not to me any longer, either. But at that moment, that’s all he was. Seneca, how could I have known anything else?”
“I…” Glancing down at the driveway, she shakes her head.
“Come on, let’s see what Don Bordono can do for us.”
Nodding, she follows me as I lead the way down the long path to Don Bordono’s front door.
The door opens as soon as we step up onto the porch.
“Bullseye.” This time, Don Bordono himself meets me at the door. “Twice in one day. To what do I owe the pleasure?” He eyes Seneca. “And I’m assuming this is the lovely Seneca Villetrio?”
“Yes.” Sucking a breath through my clenched teeth, I force myself to stay calm. What I need is to free my father, and to get Don Bordono to turn in Mikey and Tony. Then, to get her out of here as fast as possible. “The job, Don. It’s done.”
He raises his eyebrows and glances at Seneca before putting his focus then back on me. “So soon?”
Since Seneca is with me, no doubt he thinks I’m being sloppy. And I probably am.
“Yes.” The cold, wet air sits heavily on us, and I glimpse Seneca who shivers. Turning back to the Don, I lower the pitch of my voice. “Now, I’m going to ask that you hold up your end of the deal.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
Glancing around him, I see two of his security close behind him, waiting in the front lobby. So, not exactly a warm welcome.
“Let my father go. Turn in Mikey and Tony. Get Matt Villetrio freed.”
“Bullseye.” Sighing, he gives me a fatherly smile. “I’ve always liked you. Do you know why?”
“Because I’m a good shot?”
“Of course. Yes. But so was your father. But I like you for other reasons, too. You have something your father doesn’t have. You see the good in people. You want to see the good in people. You want to believe in happy endings. It makes you both very likable, and very easy to convince.”
“You saying I’m stupid?”
“No, no. You’re anything but. But your belief in the good in humanity and the way you trust others…” Sucking his teeth, he shakes his head. “Bullseye. If I name Mikey and Tony, then this will be linked to me.”
“They were working for Ironclad.”
“Who worked for me.” Sighing, Don Bordono explains. “Bullseye. The dealer they took care of, he was getting too big, and too connected. Ironclad was just a low-level thug—although an ambitious and hungry one. But he wasn’t smart enough to know what was going on. I needed the dealer gone, but I needed it to look like it was Ironclad’s fault. So, I let Ironclad think that he was controlling Mikey and Tony—and those two boys—shit, one is dumber than the next. Ironclad was just a convenient scapegoat.”
“So, you’re the reason my brother is in jail?” Seneca steps closer to Don Bordono. “It was you behind this all along?”
“I’m afraid so, dear. But in my defense, your brother wasn’t supposed to be there.”
“So, what happens now?” she asks.
“I would think that’s up to Bullseye.”
She looks up at me, and it’s like daggers are lodged into my soul… not because she looks angry, but because she is devastated.
“The one chance I had, Bullseye. Theone chance, after all this time, was Ironclad. And now, my brother will rot in jail forever.”
