I stood still for a few seconds, absorbing what he'd told me. "Duly noted," I said quietly as I walked toward the set of open doors. "And it's Michael. Michael Cappalini."
The night air was cool, the breeze brisk but every blood cell was on fire. I could feel a war was ready to erupt, staining the city with blood. For the first time in years, the thought didn't disgust me.
I was almost to the car when my phone rang. Shane. I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone from the police department. This was something I had to finish. When the phone rang again, I snarled before noticing the phone number.
Sasha.
"Yes?"
"She's asking for you."
The woman's voice had a silky lilt, one that very much reminded me of Francesca's. Even the accent was almost identical. Hairs stood up on the back of my neck. "Who are you talking about?"
"Why, Francesca of course. If you ever want to see her alive again, you're going to follow my directions to the letter. You will call no one. Not your soldiers. Not the bought and paid for cops. Come alone."
My hand was tightly wrapped around the phone as I slid onto the driver's seat. "I'm listening."
The end was near.
I sped out of the area, heading for the highway, but not before making one single calculated call.
One thing I'd learned after becoming an actor. Appearances could be deceiving. Tonight, I would hedge my bets. The warehouse was very much a reminder of one my father owned, the very one that I'll grilled Louis in earlier. I stood in the darkness, glancing at the ten plus story building. A single streetlight illuminated a series of scaffolding and other construction materials. The building itself was under renovation, various exterior walls ripped out, the interior exposed to the elements. The area was off the beaten track, the closest highway two miles away. This was a perfect location for an assassination.
I fully understood this had been a setup, an effort to get me to this particular location. I'd also venture a guess that Louis had made a few phone calls, possibly to the Slayer. A warning. Even thinking the name made me laugh.
No matter who was behind this concocted plan, I doubted that Sasha was here alone. I located a main door with ease, the padlock lying on the ground with no sign of forced entry. I took the stairs cautiously, listening for any sounds. There was a single light on coming through a door at the end of the hall. How brazen of her.
Or him.
I kept against the wall, but I had a distinct feeling that the parties inside were simply waiting, expecting me at any time. When I was near the doorway, I placed the gun in both hands before walking forward. The single light I'd seen was slowly swinging from the light breeze, mere framing and steel posts remaining where an enclosed space had been before. In front of me was a chair, shackles and chains completing the scene, as if someone had been tied and left to wait.
For my entrance.
From where I stood, I could see no one, but I pivoted just as another light was turned on. The woman standing twenty feet away was beautiful, almost as much so as Francesca, her long dark hair shimmering even in the harsh lighting. She was dressed as an assassin, black jeans and a matching tee shirt, which did little to hide her voluptuous figure.
"Good of you to come, Michael. I've heard so much about you from my sister. Did she tell you how close we were? Did she tell you how she betrayed me?" Sasha swaggered closer, holding the pistol in one hand.
Betrayed. I cocked my head, listening for any other sounds.
"I suspect she wouldn't. You were quite brave abducting her, although I doubt it was for the money. Revenge of your own?" Sasha laughed, the seductive sound free-floating toward me.
I remained quiet, more curious than anything. I could just make out another door, no doubt one leading to the interior of the floor.
"Well, you don't have to tell me. How sad that you're going to die. So tragic. Like a beautiful love affair simply slipping away." Her one hand fluttered to the side then she blew me a kiss.
I smiled as I took calculated steps closer. Even though I was a crack shot, I was no match for the two assholes waiting in the shadows. "How delightful to meet you, Sasha, but I have no fear of dying. I am my father's son after all, brutal in tactics and perfect in technique."
She laughed again, rolling her eyes. "Is that so? I might just have to test that arrogant theory."
I moved to within a few feet, shifting my weight, and I knew I was correct in my assumptions about the other assailants waiting in the wings.
"Tell me, how much were you paid to perform your duties? I will admit, your acting skills are actually quite good." My question seemed to confuse her, as if it hadn't been in the script.
Her mouth twisted and she made a fatal mistake. She darted her eyes toward the second entrance.
The opportunity was too good to pass up. Grabbing and yanking the actress's arm, the gun flew out of her hand, skipping along the concrete floor. She yelped as I dragged her, fighting to get away.
"Let me go. I'll have your head for this!" Sasha continued playing the part, except her accent was slipping. I'd know someone playing a part almost one hundred percent of the time. Why the elaborate scheme?
"Are there even any real bullets in that gun, sweetheart, or are you faking that part too?" The second I heard movement, I placed the barrel of the gun against the girl's head. "Come out. Come out wherever you are."
The scuttling sound made me bristle. A large man appeared, dragging Francesca with him, his thick arm firmly planted around her neck. As usual, her defiant spirit had kept her on edge, the light in her eyes full of fury.
"Mr. Cappalini. So good to finally meet you." The man's gruff voice held a genuine Italian accent, his sleek attire suggesting an expensive clothier. He calmly placed the barrel of his gun to Francesca's temple.
A standoff, one I wasn't willing to risk.
"Now that we have the pleasantries out of the way, why don't you tell me what this is really all about?" I moved in the direction of the open wall, the shift allowing me to steal a quick glance through the other door.
"I would think you should know by now," he said, obviously amused by my question. He scooted closer to the open hole as well, giving me one evil smile.
Right then and there, I knew I was going to kill the man. Whoever the hell he was.
"Let's just say I don't. Why don't you humor me? I will admit that the actress you hired had me convinced the assassin was a woman. Nice work."
"Yes, well, sadly, she's lived out her usefulness." With a snap of his wrist, he fired a shot directly into the girl's temple. As the girl crumpled in my arms, dying instantly, the brute laughed. "Good help is so hard to find in the States."