Chapter 13
THE FLIGHT WAS short, the mood inside the cabin pulsating. Each mile we covered only added to the tension. Vinny, Rex, Dan, Brett, a few other enforcers, and two of Rex’s men sat in silence, each one most likely contemplating what was going to happen when we got off the plane.
Rex had discovered Zan’s location was in Whiteburg, Missouri, population twelve thousand. Not a huge city, but big enough to get lost in if you didn’t want to be found. Rex’s sources had Zan narrowed down to a residential neighborhood with soccer moms and kids floating around. The take out would need to be super quiet with no mistakes.
Before we left, Rex came to me with a plan, one I agreed with and we would be following. Rex had shown me actual footage of Zan walking in and out of the house, each time looking over his shoulder in hopes we wouldn’t find him. Too bad, motherfucker. This ends today.
Exiting the plane, we had a couple SUVs waiting for us. As we drove down the roads, my pulse beat rapidly, readying to get Zan and this shit over with.
“Boss, this is fucking it,” Vinny said, cutting the tension in the car.
I wouldn’t feel relief until it was done, and Zan was actually dealt with. After all this fucking time, this chapter could finally be closed.
Night had fallen¸ and the full moon glowed from the clear sky, giving us light all around. Entering the neighborhood, we dropped guys off intermittently throughout the area. The only car that would pull up to the driveway would be mine; the others would be parked down the road with the keys inside, ready to go. All the men had been given their entry points, with Rex and his men being the quietest of all and the first to enter the back.
Dan turned the headlights off as he crept the car up to the small ranch-style house then parked. The lawn was perfectly cut with flowers and landscaping done to perfection. It was a perfect house for a family. If I hadn’t seen the fucker go in the place, I might not have believed he was in there.
I could see lights flickering in the back of the house through the front bay window. Lights flashed in another room, probably like a TV was turned on and running. Most of the drapes were closed, but slits between them allowed us to view the inside. Rookie mistake.
Neither Dan nor I pulled out our pieces as we approached the door, but we kept them in our holsters under our leather coats, ready to fire at a moment’s notice. I opened the screen door and turned the knob on the main door, keeping my eyes everywhere around me. Although I didn’t see my men, I knew they were there, prepared to climb in windows and go through the back door.
It was, of course, locked. Grabbing my pick, I quickly unlocked it and pushed open the door with a slight creak. I pulled my gun immediately as I stepped into the house with Dan right behind me.
Simultaneously, we moved to the windows, pulling the curtains and thanking God we didn’t bump into any furniture and make any noise. It was a typical living room with a couch and two chairs. Nothing lined the walls. You could tell it was a staged home.
We slowly moved to the kitchen where food containers lined the island and dirty dishes were in the sink. A head peeked through the window, and I aimed my gun instantly. Noting it was Vinny, I nodded.
He and several of the men came in through the small door just off the kitchen, guns raised. I motioned my hand to the guys, and then we headed down the narrow hallway. One light was on to the right, and a TV was on to the left. Breaking into groups, Vinny and Brett took the right while Dan and I took the left.
When Dan nodded and tilted his head to the door, I gave a chin lift, turning into the room, gun raised, and stopped dead in my tracks.
“Rex, what the fuck?” I barked at the man standing above my uncle, gun pointed at his head.
“I was already in. Never saw me.”
“You finally found me, you pussy.” Zan chuckled from a reclining chair in the middle of what looked like a bedroom. His gray hair was combed over, each hair in its perfect spot. Fear didn’t radiate from his eyes as I had envisioned. Instead, contempt and resolve pierced them. He knew his fate had been sealed the moment he had pulled his shit with the family. Adding what Damian had pulled was only a bonus.
I approached the chair, and Zan didn’t move a muscle. His feet were crossed in the recliner, and his hand was still latched onto the remote as if he was lounging around without a care in the world.
“You stupid son of a bitch.” I kicked the recliner, and his feet landed on the floor with a thud. The rocking motion of the chair caught him a bit off guard as he gripped the arms of the chair, losing the remote that clattered to the floor.
“I’m the stupid one? How long has it taken you to find me? You should be looking in the mirror, nephew.” He smirked.
Anger bubbled up inside of me. I ground my teeth together and clutched my gun until my knuckles were white. Then I moved so fast he didn’t see me coming, slamming my gun into the side of his face. However, it didn’t help abate the anger.
“Boss?” came from the doorway, but I didn’t look up. My gaze was focused on the piece of shit in front of me, eyes blazing.
“Got him. Check the rest of the house. Guns, drugs, money, phones, laptops—anything and everything needs to be bagged.”
I heard footsteps move throughout the room and the house, but my focus stayed on Zan. I could feel my nostrils flaring with each breath I took, and blood rushed through my body at a rapid pace. I tried to calm, but it was a losing game.
Zan chuckled. “You are a stupid boy.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I growled, punching him in the stomach. The hit had him gasping for breath. His oversized stomach should have taken the brunt of the hit, so I wasn’t buying his shit.
“Rex, did you check him?”
“Yes, sir. He had a nine mil in the side pocket of the chair. It’s behind my back now.”
“Perfect.”
“What do you want to do with him?” Dan asked, coming to the other side of the chair, tension rolling off him.
“Kill him.”
“That’s it?” Dan didn’t hide the surprise in his voice.
He had been with me long enough to know I would take great pleasure in killing someone slowly just to make my point. Hitting him hadn’t even given me an ounce of pleasure, only pissed me off more. I could torture him, beat him within an inch of his life, let him live for a while and then beat him again, but bottom line, I just wanted him dead. I wanted this shit over with.
“Yep.”
Dan raised his gun, aiming for Zan’s head. Thoughts of him with my father came into my head. Back then, he had been a good guy, or so I had thought, but it didn’t negate from the shit he had pulled. I knew the bosses wanted him, but before I could call the halt, Zan had to open his fucking mouth.
“Can’t even pull the trigger yourself. I told Geo you were useless.”
At the mention of my father’s name, my fists began to do the talking for me. As the fucker sat in the chair, blow after blow landed on him. The crunch of his bones felt good beneath my hands.
I heaved in a breath and pulled back, blood dripping from my hands and Zan’s face. Regardless, he still wore a smile. I had fallen into his little game, his little trap. Dammit.
I stepped back, gathering myself and damning myself for losing it.
“Now, boss?” Dan asked.
“No, Sal wants him.”
Zan’s chuckle was a sadistic, evil tone. “Figures he wants me. You ever wonder why Sal killed your father?”
I stilled on the inside, my blood running cold from his words. “What?” I growled, knowing I shouldn’t play into his game, yet wanting to hear what the hell he knew.
My father had been the fucking world to me, and Zan knew it. He was hanging it over my head, and I was allowing it. I knew Sal hadn’t done it. I knew it, but I allowed him to continue.
He spit blood out of his mouth and smiled, blood covering his teeth, giving the old man a very eerie look. “Your father had a lot of enemies. Why do you think his killer was never found? Because the man you look up to killed him, and you didn’t do a fucking thing about it.”
“You’ve got no proof,” I ground out, clenching my teeth so hard the sound almost gave me a headache. I knew he had none; he was just trying to spare his worthless life.
“Might.”
My instant reaction was that the asshole was telling me a load of shit, but the glimmer in his eyes begged to differ.
I grabbed his bloody shirt with my fists, hauling him out of the chair and to his feet, bringing him nose-to-nose with me. I could feel his nasty breath on my lips.
“Let’s have it.” My fists gripped his shirt so tightly a small tearing noise was heard in the background, but the thumping in my ears from my racing heart drowned most of it out.
He laughed yet didn’t attempt to move his hands or body. “You didn’t want to know then, and you won’t know now,” he challenged.
I threw him back in the chair in a huff.
“You know something.” Fuck. This was supposed to be easy, but Zan’s words festered inside of me. “Tie him up securely. Cover his eyes. Use duct tape and rope. I don’t give a fuck if you wrap his whole goddamned body in it. Get him ready to go.”
“Brett!” I yelled and he came quickly. “Load it all up. Now. The plane leaves in thirty. Have Vinny set it up. Go.”
He nodded, taking off.
I turned to the man I had called family at one time, but only disgusted me now. “Well, you stupid S.O.B, you won’t be dying fast and painless. I’ll make sure it’s slow and painful. You will tell me what you know about my father.”
His eyes flickered as he opened his mouth, but Dan stuck fabric inside it then wrapped tape around his head. He didn’t bother making noises; he knew we were done listening for the time being.
“Out!” I yelled, picking up my phone. “Vino,” I said when he picked up, “we’ve got him, and I’ll try not to kill him before we get there.”
***
We touched down around four in the morning. With the night’s shadow, Vinny, Dan, Brett, and Rex were able to quietly move the trunk that carried Zan into the back of the black SUV.
Driving through the empty streets on the outskirts of town, I wondered if Catarina was still curled up in her fluffy teal blankets, looking like the goddess she was, or maybe she was getting ready for work. One thing was for certain though. After settling this asshole, I was finding my girl.
It had been so long since I had heard her sweet voice, and I fucking missed it. When she had stopped taking my calls, it had been a shock to my system. Hearing from her had been the only thing that had kept me sane daily, so when those calls had stopped, anger had risen up inside, eating at me. I wasn’t proud of that shit, but you couldn’t change feelings.
With every call I had placed, trying to reach her, she had rejected it, turning me inside out, and causing my bloodlust to get Zan to take over. All my focus had gone into finding him, and now that he was in the back of this damn car, I just wanted him dead. The sooner he talked, the faster it would be done, and then I could move on.
My cell rang in my pocket, jerking me to the present. I reached in, looking at the display and saw Val’s name.
“Yeah,” I answered.
“Abandoned farmhouse out on Townline. Just drive out and keep going. On the left hand side will be a dirt road, barely seen through the trees. Turn and follow it. It’s way back in the woods. When you think you’re close, keep driving. It’s far out. He goes in the basement, far room.” Val’s information was short, curt, and direct. “Got it?”
“Got it.” I disconnected the call then relayed the information to Dan, who seemed to know exactly where he was going.
I watched as the trees drifted by, my mind still turned to Catarina. Being this close to her and not physically seeing her ate away more of my remaining control. I tried my damnedest to hold on to what little I had left, but with each passing minute, I felt it slipping.
The old farmhouse was eerily quiet when we arrived. The old, white, two-story house with lights lining the outside sat in the middle of a large field. The outside looked well kept: a fresh coat of white paint, landscaping around the front, and yard mowed to perfection. I didn’t know who the hell owned it, but if this was where Val had said to go, it was safe.
The SUV rolled to a stop on the gravel road, and we climbed out quickly. The front door creaked open, and the noise caused all of my men and myself to grab our guns, pointing them in the direction of the noise with lightning speed.
“This is where the party is.” Val’s evil smile indicated he was ready to play as he held his arms out in welcome.
“Where the hell’s your car?” With nothing in the driveway, I expected no one to be there until later.
He pointed around the side of the house. “Garage. You coming in, or are we chatting out here?”
I nodded to Dan and Brett who went to the back to retrieve Zan while I walked up to the front door with Rex at my side.
“Wait, who the fuck is this?” Val’s eyes narrowed as his fists balled at his sides, obviously itching to fight. His thin thread appeared to be about as short as mine.
“Chill the fuck out. This is Rex. He’s solid. Vino and Sal know about him.”
As Val eyed Rex up and down, Rex didn’t so much as blink, which was expected. He was too much of a professional to let anyone get to him. He marched to his own drum, but right then, I was paying him a shit load to march to mine.
“Fine. Any trouble and I’ll wipe you out,” Val threatened.
Rex silently grunted, his arms crossed over his chest, but his eyes and wide-legged stance exuded confidence. I didn’t have time for this pissing match. I had shit to do.
Grunts and groans from behind me told me it was time to move. Without looking back, I brushed past Val with Rex, Dan, Brett, Vinny, and a trunked-up Zan behind me. Val moved in front, guiding us down the hall and stairs quickly.
The house was in pretty good shape judging by the painted walls, clean floors, and nice furniture. It almost seemed as if someone lived there.
Val opened a door in the basement, and we filed in. A lone, wooden chair with leather straps on the arms and legs sat prominently in the middle of the room. The floor of the room was concrete with a drain off to the side. Lining the sides of the walls were bright blue tool boxes with a sink at the end of the row. The fluorescent light above illuminated the entire room.
The guys lugged the trunk in front of the chair, setting it down with a thump. Dan reached for the latch, unlocked it, and tossed the top over, only the hinges holding it in place. Then he reached down into the box, pulling out a very bound Zan.
His feet and arms were wrapped in duct tape, surrounded with rope. Zan’s eyes were open, focusing directly on me. He wasn’t fighting Dan, but he wasn’t helping at all by lying limply in his grasp.
Dan placed Zan in the chair, straightening and adjusted his shirt that had become askew in the exchange.
“So this is my fun for the night.” Val clapped his hands together loudly, drawing Zan’s attention. “Nice.” He rubbed his hands together eagerly. “Hook him up to the chair.”
Dan and Brett went to work, quickly slicing the tape with their pocket knives then strapping my uncle to the chair. Zan’s head lolled, wobbling back and forth like his neck wasn’t supporting the weight.
“Take the gag off.”
Dan grabbed the corner of the duct tape, pulling roughly, and the tear could be heard throughout the room.
Zan quickly used his tongue to dislodge the fabric from his mouth.
“You ready to talk?” I asked, walking in front of him. I widened my stance, locking my knees and crossing my arms over my chest.
“Fuck off,” Zan raged.
Val picked up a metal tool and hit Zan in the back, and he jolted from the pain.
“What do you want to talk about?” His words came out a bit slurred. I knew I shouldn’t have given him that punch to the jaw earlier.
Using my steel-toed boot, I kicked his shin hard, eliciting a grunt. “Don’t fucking play around with me. Do you know something about my father’s death or not?”
“Told you it was Sal.” He was lying, toying with me. He would pay for that.
Val moved fast, coming to the side of me. “I knew this would be fun. Fucker, get ready.”
Zan shook his head. “That’s all I know.”
“We’ll see about that.” Val stomped off to the blue chests along the wall, opening and shutting doors quickly, slamming a few on the way. Then he turned, walking toward us with a hammer in one hand and pliers in the other.
Walking up to the chair, he reached under the left side where Zan’s hand was and pulled a small table out, attaching it in front of the straps and securing Zan’s hand on it, his fingers spread.
Val lifted his right hand that was holding the hammer and, with all of his strength, swung it down to the table. A loud crunch echoed throughout the room as Zan’s index finger shattered before my eyes. Blood seeped from the open wounds the hammer had left, and his finger now had a zigzag pattern to it.
Zan gritted his teeth hard, remaining quiet and impassive, the only indication of his pain in the far recesses of his eyes.
Val did the same to Zan’s middle and ring fingers, crushing each with the same force.
I stepped back and watched the show as Val asked Zan questions he wouldn’t answer. Val moved on to the other hand without so much as a peep of protest from Zan.
The door swung open as Sal stepped across the threshold, his large frame and powerful presence making the already small room feel ten times smaller instantly.
“What does your uncle have to say?” Sal asked, moving to the side wall.
“Nothing,” I uttered, more pissed. Zan was a waste of fucking time.
Zan’s head flew up, his eyes sweeping over Sal as an evil smile came back to his face. “You’re here, you worthless piece of shit.”
Val swiftly kicked Zan’s leg from the side, at which Zan grunted before he continued. “I was just telling my idiot of a nephew that you were the one who slit his father’s throat, but he doesn’t want to believe me,” he scoffed.
The heat inside my body was ready to explode. For months, I had searched for this asshole. Months away from Catarina. Now this fucking cat and mouse game?
Sal moved toward Zan, reaching in his pocket and pulling out his switchblade. “Because you’re fucking lying, you piece of shit. The question is, why?” Sal asked, flipping open the blade. “Why even bring it up after all these years?”
Zan’s eyes grew, but it didn’t stop him. “Because you did it, you worthless piece of shit. You killed my brother. You did it. I fucking know it.”
Sal stepped even closer, the menace in his eyes murderous, while I sat back, watching, wondering why the fuck Zan hated Sal so damn much and how this all rolled back to my father.
“I didn’t fucking kill him,” Sal said adamantly before taking the knife and dragging it across his neck. “But I will fucking kill you.”
“See, idiot boy,” Zan addressed me as anger bubbled at his term for me. “This is what a man does. He takes out his threats, just like he did Geo. You’ll get to see exactly how he killed your father.”
Sal stopped for a moment reflecting a bit in thought and tossed the knife to the floor, pulling out his gun.
“What about Flynn?” I asked before Sal had a chance to put the bullet in him.
“I’m no fucking rat. Torture me all you fucking want; I’ll say nothing more.”
As much as I would love to continue beating the shit out of him, it wouldn’t turn back time. Plus, this shit was merely wasting more of it. I nodded up to Sal.
“I’ve heard enough of your shit. I didn’t kill him.”
“Jag, say hi to that beautiful Catarina for me.”
Sal raised his gun and shot, the bullet piercing Zan’s chest. His body jerked and lurched to the side, but the straps kept him in place. Blood fell from his mouth; however, he wasn’t done yet, his words difficult to understand. With his cryptic words, he gasped for his last breath.
I kicked his body and bent down to feel a pulse, finding nothing.
“It’s done. Clean this shit up,” Sal ordered.
“Damn, Dad. I wanted to play.” Val picked up his tools, placing them back in the boxes.
Sal ignored him. “Jag, I’m sorry about what happened with your father. Son, I know your father’s death was hard, but you can’t allow it to cloud your judgment.”
I nodded, feeling exactly like what Zan had called me—an idiot.
“It won’t.” I said those words with every bit of certainty I could muster.
“Get out of here and get a shower before you head back.”
Now was as good a time as any. I had been trying to figure out when I was going to tell them I wasn’t going back, and he had just given me an opening.
“I’m not going back. I’m staying here with Catarina.”
Sal pulled back at my words, crossing his arms over his chest. “Last I heard, she wasn’t speaking with you, no.”
“It’s been a while, but that won’t stop me.” I held strong, knowing Sal would take me out if I fucked her over, but all I intended on doing was fucking her stupid and opening her eyes to what we could have.
“I didn’t think it would. She’s been edgy lately, but puts on a good show. Maybe you can find out what’s going on with my girl.” His words struck me. She was the one who had cut it off, so I had figured she would be fine, happy. Even Kiera didn’t let on to any of this.
“I will.”