One too many, it seems.
Greg chimes in. “I suppose I should thank you for putting a bullet in the fat fucking pig’s head,” he says to me before turning his eyes on Cecelia. “Or should I thank you now that my mother lives in a mental hospital? And the cherry on top? I’m now power of attorney over a bankrupt empire.” He bites his lip, his eyes on Cecelia, his intent clear. “We could have had some fun, you and me, and we were going to until your fucking thug boyfriend showed up and told me your little love story. Thankfully for me, stepdaddy dearest wasn’t at all concerned about his trail. Once I found his contacts, and Antoine and I had a little chat…it made it a lot easier to put the pieces together.” He takes a menacing step forward, and so does Cecelia, hand steady as she keeps her gun trained on him.
Greg scoffs. “You going to shoot me, sweetheart?”
“Yes,” Cecelia replies without hesitation.
“And then what?” Greg looks around the room, knowing he’s got us.
Cecelia shrugs, her intent clear as she inches forward, her hand steady.
There are guns aimed at us from every adjoining room, except her bedroom, which is where it appears she came out, gun blazing.
One fucking day, we needed one fucking day for our protection to kick in.
Think, Tobias.
“Cecelia,” I warn, and she doesn’t so much as glance my way.
With the lift of Antoine’s hand, Greg steps back, but Cecelia remains where she is, and I join her.
“Common enemies, Tobias, you advised me on that,” Antoine jeers. “Between you both, I would say you’re gathering quite the list, well that is until you started ticking them off before you got here—”
Cecelia cuts him off. “Some random asshole with a pretty face shows up to my café out of nowhere four days in a row and takes an interest specifically in me? It was amateur.” She clicks her tongue at Greg. “I was onto you day two, and certain by day four,” she says, projecting her voice to me, “gotta love Ryan.”
“You called fucking Ryan and didn’t tell me?” I grit out.
“He’s my partner in crime, good at finding out who the leeches are, and you and I have had quite the failure to communicate on this front, haven’t we? But don’t worry, your old business partner has introduced himself.”
“You hid her well, Tobias.” Antoine’s eyes rake over Cecelia, who stands stoic beside me, alert and ready, before she returns her gaze to Greg, a defiant lift to her chin. Antoine’s eyes drift back to me.
“Let’s save each other some time by stating the obvious. You were expecting me.”
“At some point, but I was hoping you would spare me the headache. However, I knew you would come when you found the right leverage.”
“My leverage is beautiful,” he sickeningly assesses Cecelia, and it’s all I can do to keep from lunging at him.
“She was never a part of our arrangement.”
“Ahh, that’s where you’re wrong. My body may be turning against me, but my mind has not, Tobias. I remember our conversation well. You broke our agreement a long time ago, and my trust.”
“Our business has been over for some time. You aren’t here because of broken trust.”
“No? Then do enlighten me. Why am I here?”
“Because you’re close to your expiration date. Because you have nothing left to live for now, other than your bitter grudges, and you’re inventing them at this point.”
His eyes flash with fury as Cecelia bristles next to me, her hostile eyes on Greg, who only smirks.