The Wrath Walker (The Wrath Series Book 1) by Matthew Newson (fun to read .txt) 📗

and the guy has lost all his friends over what we did to him. It was only a matter of time before he came at us like this, and to be honest, we should have killed him years ago.”

I laughed to myself at Enzo’s conspiracy theory. “That’s impossible. You, me, and the others who used to sit at this table were very thorough when we went after the Riccis.” I scoffed as I pulled a cigar from my inner jacket pocket. Enzo slid the ash tray over to me and cut the end of the cigar for me. I lit it and took three long puffs as my mind carefully reviewed all the ones in the Ricci family we killed in order to take control of the criminal underworld of the city. The Riccis had already been weakened over the years through bad deals they made, infighting in the family, and assassinations of their key people.

“I remember what we did very vividly, but are we certain that none of them survived? Are we so sure that none of them had children that would want to aid Brandon in his quest for revenge against us?”

I took a few more puffs on my cigar, and the more Enzo talked, the more of what he said had started to make sense. “I see what you’re saying, and let’s just say that you’re correct in your theory. Do you have any idea who could be helping him?”

“I don’t, but I’m sure if we find one then we will find the other or others as well. There could be more than one helping him pull of his revenge scheme, and it would certainly help him to keep the cops off his back. Someone could go and perform the hit while Brandon makes sure he’s seen by others so he will have a solid alibi when the police question him. I should know because I have used the same tactic before. In a way it’s kind of funny how he said he was nothing like us at the trial, and now Brandon is exactly like us. Sounds like he’d make a good wise guy now if we didn’t have to kill him.”

“That’s never going to happen. We have to find Brandon and his friends and make an example of them to show everyone we still run this city. Do you hear me? I want their deaths to be as painful as possible, and then I want their bodies to be strung up for everyone in the city to see. I want to send a clear message to make sure no one ever gets any ideas like this in the future.” I released a mouthful of smoke.

“I agree with you wholeheartedly that a message needs to be sent.”

“Since this is your area of expertise, what do you have in mind, Enzo?”

“We need to have those in our employ in the police department let us know first when they spot Brandon, so we can pick him up ourselves and deal with him.”

“That’s smart, because if we put the word out on the street, Brandon and his pals could catch wind of it and then disappear before we can make them pay for what they’ve done.”

“Again, I agree we can’t have that. It’s best if we can catch him off guard, so he doesn’t try and run and warn his friends.”

As I looked at the empty chairs where Joey and Frankie sat, I knew their deaths bothered me. But what bothered me the most was the potential chaos that could erupt in the streets if it wasn’t dealt with quickly. “Listen to me, Enzo, I want to be a part of this, do you hear me?”

“Boss, I can’t let you put yourself at risk like that. You’re too important—”

“No!” I barked. “I’m ending Brandon myself. He’s had it coming since he first joined the police department and made it his mission to take me down. The jerk had the nerve to say that to me once, do you believe that? I’ve killed men for less than that.”

“I believe it now after everything that guy has done.” Enzo took out the thin gold box from his jacket pocket that held his cigarettes. He took one out and lit it, and breathed in as deep as he could, probably to calm himself. I had never yelled at him as much as I had in that meeting.

“Once your friends in the police department have found him, we go collect him and his pals, and do to them what they did to our friends. For when their bodies are discovered stabbed, beaten, and burned a clear message will be sent throughout the entire city that the Amaras are a force to be reckoned with, and you can do it all to them, boss.”

“Now that is a great idea.” I smiled as I pictured what I was going to do to Brandon and his companions. I stepped out of the secured room and got another burner phone and alerted my friend with the police department of what was to be done when Brandon was spotted. They complied and told me they would alert me as soon as they located him or received word of Brandon’s whereabouts. I returned to my secured room where Enzo had just finished his first cigarette and was lighting another.

“What did your friend at the station have to say?” Enzo took another long drag on his cigarette.

“They will let us know as soon as he shows up. You and I both know that it’s just a matter of time before Brandon and whoever is helping him are dead. It’s kind of funny when you think about it.”

“What’s that, Skeeter?”

“Brandon is already dead, and he just doesn’t know it yet. When I get my hands on him, I’m going to need your expertise in keeping him alive as long as possible because I want him to suffer for what he has done.”

“Nothing would make me happier, Skeeter.”

Chapter EighteenBrandon Farmer

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