I was sorely tempted to show him just how accurate I was with a shorter-ranged firearm.
“That you did, Kramer,” Rinaldo said with a nod. “That you did.”
I stood there and watched the exchange in silence. Showing any kind of annoyance at this point wasn’t going to get me very far. Rinaldo Moretti was watching me and watching me closely. I wasn’t going to let that stupid little shit Terry get to me.
“So this one’s mine,” Terry said with a big, toothy grin on his face.
Rinaldo cocked a half smile at the kid, who beamed back.
Idiot.
Nothing good ever came of that smile.
“Not this time,” Moretti said. “I need Mister Arden for this one.”
“I’m just as good as him,” Terry hissed back. He started to say something else when Mario placed a hand on his shoulder, effectively silencing him.
I tried not to smile as the boss turned back to me.
“The fact is,” Rinaldo continued, “he knows I’m gunning for him. Anyone who knows I’m gunning for them knows they can’t walk out into daylight, or they’re gonna have a bullet in their brains. Now I have you to thank for that, and I’m grateful, but don’t give me a line of bullshit. Let’s be perfectly clear, now – you are familiar with other firearms, are you not?”
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“This needs to be done quick, easy, and quiet,” he continued. “This isn’t your usual where you don’t give a fuck who sees you, Arden. Nothing can lead back to my organization. You got me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now you go collect your short-range, in-your-face weapon of choice and kill that motherfucker.”
“Yes, sir.”
Everyone was dismissed from the office except for Nick and Mario. I tried to get the fuck out of the building before Terry could catch up with me, but it didn’t work out that way. I maneuvered to get a bit ahead of Jonathan to put some pace between me and Terry, but Jonathan was a quick walker.
“You want me to help ya scope him out?” Terry asked as he ran up beside me. He reminded me of those hyper little terrier dogs, and I kind of wanted to kick him.
“No,” I replied. I knew exactly where that would end – the little fuck would either get in the way and screw it all up or take the actor guy out himself. Though it would ultimately piss off Rinaldo because it wasn’t Terry’s assignment, credit was credit.
Actually, he’d probably try to take me out first. The credit would be a lot higher then. Not only would he have eliminated the target, but he would have done it when I couldn’t. Just taking me out would give him a reputation that wouldn’t be easily matched.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Arden?” he yapped.
“You’re annoying,” I replied.
“And you’re an asshole!”
“Whatever.” I passed Jonathan and shoved the door that led into the stairwell and began clomping down the stairs. As much as I wished Terry would stay where he was, I heard two sets of footsteps behind me.
“You think you can treat everyone like shit,” Terry babbled.
“Just some,” I countered.
“You think you’re better than everyone else,” he continued, “just ‘cause you were all military hero and shit.”
“Not a hero,” I muttered under my breath. I quickened my pace as Jonathan moved in a little closer behind me – separating me from the little shit trip-trapping down the stairs in my wake.
“Like it takes a hero to get himself captured.”
I stopped in my tracks, just at the bottom of the second landing. Jonathan had to veer to the side to keep from running into me. I turned slowly, my narrowed eyes finding the smirking little fucker standing just a few steps above me.