Page 77 of Fatal Scheme

Before I can say anything else, Rocco’s waiter delivers bottles of champagne on ice, along with five glass flutes, and an array of meats and cheeses on a platter.

“Shall we toast?” He asks, standing as he pops the cork off the first bottle, the bubbles spilling all over the white tablecloth.

A loud crash comes from the kitchen, followed by a scream I immediately decipher as Carter’s, and rather than trust Massi’s assurances, I jump into action.

Faintly, I hear Rocco tell his wife to stay put, but the blood rushes to my ears, my feet not moving fast enough as I follow the sounds, praying that I make it to her in time.

Finally, I round the corner, coming to a screeching halt when I see Carter standing over a man tied to a chair, her dark curls covering her face as she leans in close to him.

“Ty! Let her handle this,” Massi warns, but I shrug him off, stomping straight toward her petite frame, snatching her by the arm as I spin her to face me.

“Hi handsome, why do you look so somber?” She smiles, that deranged one that pairs with the psychotic look in her eye, stealing complete control from her usual demeanor.

She’s consumed by the hunt, her prey quite literally displayed on a silver platter, and there’s no getting through to her when she’s this lost to the beast that lives within.

“Carter, you nearly gave me a heart attack. What the fuck is going on here?” I yell, switching my focus between the two culprits, but neither one of them says a word, only fueling each other's fire the longer they hold their stare.

“I’d like to know why your girlfriend has one of my men tied up, actually,” Rocco adds, his hand on his waistband, and I copy his stance, not happy with my two idiots, but never faltering on the fact that I’d kill for them in a heartbeat.

Carter is fearless, always has been in the face of everything we’ve been through together, and usually I admire that most about her, but as she steps to the head of a crime family with no regard for safety, I’m ready to throw her over my shoulder and drag her out of this place like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

“That man tried to drug and kidnap me a few weeks ago, and I find it suspicious that we’ve found him here, with the Corazza’s?” She speaks slowly, articulating her words, but also spinning the signature blade between her hands, not an ounce of fear in that beautiful, yet equally frustrating, body of hers.

“Are you fucking serious, Massi?” I whisper, stepping back from Carter, joining him as he watches her stand up for herself with an intense sense of pride on his face.

“It was her call, Ty. Besides, if we can get a real confession from this guy, we’re in the fucking clear. Just do us all a favor and let her work, okay?”

He has a point, as much I hate to admit it, so I step back, allowing Carter to do what she does best, and biting my fucking tongue in hopes that we finally get answers.

Her and Rocco speak privately, their gazes landing on the man tied up to a chair every so often, and I take a second to admire her technique, noticing how well she secured him by herself.

This guy is twice her size, but in true Carter fashion, that didn’t phase her, and she managed to tie his ankles, arms, even stuffing him with a gag, all while barely making a peep.

She’s magnificent, a certified silent assassin, and although she nearly killed me, I couldn’t be more proud of her.

“Here’s the deal.” Rocco turns to face us, finally ending his conversation with Carter, and I don’t dare take my eyes off her. “He’s worked security for the last few weeks, so the timeline adds up, but I’m not happy about the ambush. I’ll let you get your information, but my men will handle this once you’re done.”

His tone leaves no room for miscommunication, and when Carter’s eyes meet mine, she’s practically begging to do this, to be the one to lead the charge, and without hesitation I give her a slight nod, Massi doing the same.

This is another way for her to take back her power, to seek revenge from those who attempted to kidnap her, and I could never say no to that kind of satisfaction.

“Deal,” I say, and Massi echoes my statement, his giddiness at the thought of watching Carter interrogating a man almost sickening, whereas I feel like I’m going to pass out at any moment.

“Good. Get everyone out, and send Allie home with Lorenzo.” Rocco motions to his people, all three men nodding while he speaks, and running off in different directions once he’s finished.

This meeting has taken a completely different turn than I anticipated, but if it’s what gets us even closer to the finish line, I can stomach a little torture, as long as it keeps that crazy fucking smile painted on Carter’s beautiful face.

Nobody speaks another word as we watch her get prepared, pulling three knives from her purse, but starting with her signature blade, laughing maniacally as she steps up to the man who’s being held at her mercy.

He doesn’t seem phased in the slightest, but I’ve seen Carter’s work, the way she takes pleasure in using the human body as a canvas, with blood being her paint of choice, and this poor fool has no idea what’s in store for him.

THIRTY-FIVE

CARTER

I’m not usually one to negotiate, but standing on unfamiliar territory leaves me no choice, and for once, it’ll be nice not to have to worry about clean-up.

As I lay out my knives, I sneak a glance at my boys, both of them donning different expressions, but equally lost in a trance while they watch my every move.