3: Gruesome Meeting

Rylan's POV

"Don,"

Thane's cool voice called out.

That voice of vengeance and his rhythmic footsteps kissed the marble floor smoothly.

"The body we found at the scene, we've traced it to its master."

He stood behind me, his breath heavy on my hair.

In a freaking wheelchair, I sat my damn butt in, and just stared out the window from my penthouse.

Fine snowflakes rained on roofs and melted on themselves, flaunting the beauty of the season.

People who loved to show off already had their houses decorated up to the chimneys, even though it was still three weeks to Christmas.

While I sat in this god-forsaking chair and sulked!!!

My throat tightened following a deep exhaling.

"Name."

For the first time since he arrived, I said a word. Just one word, lethal enough to end the idiot's generation.

"It's uhm."

Thane trailed off.

Aggrieved, I rolled the tires to the side, getting a good angle to face him.

"Even the devil won't be spared." I gave a grim warning. "I. Need. A. Name."

"Don Eduardo."

He blurted out.

I scoffed, slowly graduating to a chuckle.

"That old- Serpent."

Gritting my teeth, the effect felt like they'd worn off from the gnashing.

"Dig up his latest data."

"On it, Don."

The top right of my lip twitched with a sneer.

"Today, we pay him a visit."

He nodded his understanding and adjusted.

"How are you feeling, Rylan?"

This time, his tone was soft, nothing like a Capo trying to talk to his Don. He knew when to keep it business and when to cut the chase.

"Thanks to you, I've never been better."

I still wore that sneer.

Heaven knew I'd waited impatiently for this news, and now, I'd gladly wrap my hands around his thick throat and choke him to death.

"Do you need anything?" He asked, generous as always.

"I'm fine."

He pressed his lips in a firm line and nodded, before walking away.

Alone, I returned to my misery.

Parents in funny costumes carried their kids with joy, a few yanked Christmas trees bigger than them, while their partners held the bags of tinsels and toppers.

Moi Padre, who was just as much of a freak as his son, made us spend our last holiday touring the world. On a few of our trips, Thane tagged along.

Last season, the casino was full of new queens ready to take the world in between their thighs. Wild and sexy.

I, on the other hand, had a taste of the sin they bore. A damn freak.

And now-

A teardrop slid down my cheek and I trapped it with the pad of my index finger.

"I'll be your doom, Eduardo."

In that position for a long time, I dozed off, only jerking up when the familiar footstep clinked as he approached.

Thane.

"I've got good news, Rylan."

He beamed.

"Getting my legs back?"

His smile froze in place.

"Then I guess it's not good after all." I shrugged.

"Say I bury my bullets in his head or sink my claws in his throat and rip out his guts, how much satisfaction will that bring?"

He straightened up.

"You get to crumble his empire and expand yours."

"Thane, would you rather be me? Be the most powerful Don, but freaking crippled?"

He looked forward.

I bet he would have agreed a week ago. Now, I was nothing but a burden.

"Spill," I said, in need of a new topic.

"We found his current address, and he isn't heavily guarded either."

I faked a smile.

"Get the car ready, we leave in an hour."

He nodded and dialed the driver to dish out my instructions.

"We should get you fixed too."

Going to the back of my wheelchair, he started to push me to my room.

"I can do this at least."

"I want to."

He ignored my protest and started to push me down the hallway.

"So, padre has safely landed, he's on business now."

I nodded at his words, which weren't helping as much as he intended.

This was a trip meant for me two days after the awkward night at the casino. Someone had to fill in. It would have been Thane, but we were yet to get trusted help around.

"And Mr. Vincente?"

"Done. His goods were sent and intact."

He added, knowing Vincente's thing for chaos.

"For the ladies, he wants them a week to the holidays."

"Fair enough."

He helped me shower, embarrassing, but handy.

After that, I got dressed casually in a black polo and faded jean shorts, leaving my hairy legs in view.

All set for trouble, we drove down to Eduardo's house, in the South Pole.

"I'd love to skate for the holiday, just take my mind off my dirty job for a day."

Thane went on and on about his plans for Christmas, and I just faked a smile.

"You?"

"Killing Eduardo, freezing his corpse, and having him for dinner on Christmas Eve."

His mouth fell a gap. I bet he wished he had never asked.

After long minutes of driving, we eventually arrived at his estate. It wasn't exactly to my taste, too white and shouty for me.

"We want to see your boss."

Thane handled business as usual once the tainted window rolled down and a guard came for inspection.

"Rylan, stop."

Thane groaned under his breath and trapped my gun between his firm grip and my thigh.

"Let me handle this, please," he added.

With clenched jaws, I just looked aside, counting to ten and hoping he was right.

"You see."

He pointed out when they allowed us in.

"Good enough, 'cause he saved an extra bullet for his master."

Thane stopped when I raised my hand.

Helping myself, I wheeled in. I was not a vegetable, and relationship aside, I'd love to be treated as the Don I was and still am.

"I'll inform our boss right away."

A guard responded to my stern gaze.

Tapping on the chair subconsciously, I counted down to his doom.

"Rylan?"

He paused on the steps, taking out time to examine Thane and me.

"I'm glad your memory still serves you."

He resumed descending.

"You have no business in my home, not now, not in the future."

As ever, he growled.

"It would have been lovely if you'd maintained your lane in our long-time feud."

Now at the base of the step, he took calculated steps towards me.

"Leave us."

He waved at the guards.

From the slit of his thick garment, I saw the fine trace of the handle of a knife.

Smart man.

Again, I waved at Thane, and he took a few steps backward.

"I'll be right by the door."

Thane whispered, but loud enough for Eduardo to listen.

"Incapacitated, huh?"

He mocked me when we were alone.

"You wouldn't live long to say this again." I left a grim note.

"What you can't do, is come to my house and bluff, little boy."

He hissed.

"How about I'm here to return the favor?" I demanded keenly. "If you fear death so much, you should have stayed the hell away from my family."

Showing no sign of terror, he approached me, closing the distance between us. Annoying, he leaned downward to meet my venomous gaze.

"I'd never thread you and your devilish father's path."

He didn't take his eyes off me.

"If I did, neither of you would be here today."

About to stand upright, I grabbed his neck, and twisted him to the side, with the speed of light.

He crushed on his knees and pushed my chair backward, but it was clamped down, giving me enough vigor to hold him trapped in my deadly grip.

A step ahead of him, I drew out his sword from its sheath and pulled his weapon to his throat.

"One freaking move, and I'll slit your throat."

He held still for a second, calculating his next step.

"I'll do that anyway, but first, I want to know why you put me in this mess."

The bitterness returned to my voice.

"Your response determines how slow your death will be."

He scoffed. "Whoever did that, did a nice job."

"I am not joking, Eduardo."

Reinforcing my statement, I pressed the blade on his skin, letting his blood streak down to the tip.

"Argh!"

A screech made me halt torturing the old man.

Looking upward, I locked my gaze with rich blue ones, alluring and innocent, down to her lips, full and seductive.

Time froze for a minute.

"You?"

We mumbled, shocked to meet again.