Page 129 of Flawed

I've been hiding out for months, barely going out in public. But I finally figured out what needs to happen.

I pull my cap down farther out of habit and continue climbing the stairs.

When I get to the top, I go into the corridor to the penthouse. I knock on the door and ring the bell.

There's a scuffling sound. Then I hear Brody order, "Go in the bedroom and stay there until I tell you to come out."

"Who is it?" a woman's voice asks.

"Just do as I say," Brody demands.

Guess I'm interrupting something.

Oh well.

A few minutes pass before Brody cracks the door open. He questions, "What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk," I state.

"Anyone ever tell you to call first?" he scolds.

I sniff hard and stare at him.

He grunts then steps into the hallway. He shuts the door, moves me to the farthest corner, and asks, "Where have you been hiding?"

"Does it matter?" I respond.

He studies me then answers, "No. Guess not. How did you get up here?"

A moment of silence passes. I had a connection with a security guard who got me a key to the stairs, but I'm not ratting him out.

Brody shakes his head, pissed he's got someone more loyal to me than him. He mutters, "You're going to make me clean house."

I ignore that issue and blurt out, "I need to kill Jacopo and his advisors. This all needs to end."

He nods. "I agree. But what do you want me to do about it?"

I swallow my pride, admitting, "I need your help."

Surprise fills his face. "Why me?"

I cautiously answer, "I don't have your skills."

"Meaning?"

I glance around me, even though no one is here. It's secure. The woman in his penthouse surely can't hear anything, but I keep my voice as low as possible. "When you were in Ireland, you had access to bombs, yeah?"

His eyes turn to slits. "Of course I did. What are you getting at, Luca?"

I take a deep breath, revealing, "Jacopo and his advisors have a meeting in a week in the west wing of his compound."

"And?" Brody questions.

Goose bumps break out on my skin. I state, "I need you to blow the place up."

Brody's eyes widen. My pulse creeps higher as we continue to lock eyes. He finally taunts, "Well, you've thought about some extreme measures, haven't you?"

"There's no other way. My life's been a shitshow the last few decades. Something happened every time I tried to kill that motherfucker. And now, I can't relax until his advisors are dead, too. They all need to die. Can you have my back on this, Brody?" It sounds desperate coming out, but that's the point I'm at. I've never felt so desperate in my entire life. The hiding out is driving me nuts. But if I show my face, I'm a dead man walking.

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