Page 50 of Flawed

Tense silence fills the air.

Angelo says, "Eddie told Jacopo Danny's their guy and told him you called the Feds on the whorehouse."

Brody jumps off the couch. "I told you, I'm no rat!"

"Why did your boy tell Eddie you are?" I ask.

Brody paces the room, shaking his head. "I don't know."

Aidan snarls, "Danny's dead."

Angelo directs, "You'll kill him when the time is right."

Brody spins. "How do you know Eddie isn't setting Danny up? Maybe his cover is blown." He points to me.

My chest tightens. I consider it then dismiss it. "It's not. Jacopo let me sit in on the meeting. Eddie didn't know I'd be there."

"How do you know?" Brody challenges.

The oxygen in my lungs turns stale. It's always a possibility, but I once again dismiss it. "I know. And you'll have no doubts when Danny creates a situation for you to go down to the docks."

"Meaning?"

"Benny, Sid, and Jimmy are Jacopo's guys who run his gambling operations. I convinced Jacopo they're working for the Marinos," I explain.

"Why'd you do that?" Aidan asks.

I crack my neck then answer, "So three of his top guys die."

Aidan contemplates it then grins. "I'm down with that."

"Shut up, Aidan. Luca, what do they have to do with this?" Brody quizzes.

"He wants me to kill them and Danny to kill you."

"Why together?"

I shrug. "Not sure, except we discussed it before Eddie came in and said you ratted on Jacopo."

"I didn't!" Brody insists again.

"So when is this happening?" Aidan inquires.

"Jacopo isn't patient. Eddie is supposed to get word to Danny. I imagine it'll happen in the next few days," I state.

Aidan scowls. "Let's kill Danny tonight."

"You can't do that," I assert.

"Why not? He's a traitor," Aidan seethes.

I bark, "You'll blow my cover."

Aidan shrugs. "People die. That doesn't mean your cover will be blown."

I lurch toward him and pull him off the couch by his shirt. "If you blow everything I've been working toward, I swear to God, I'll hunt you down and—"

"Enough!" Angelo growls, tugging me off Aidan.

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