Blast From the Past

Tommaso

My heart pounded in my throat. Riccardo Marino had seen through my fucking ruse. He knew exactly what had happened, and he was going to bury me for it. Served me right for getting so fucking cocky after one win.

“How’d you hear that?” I asked, trying to keep my voice level.

Riccardo laughed. I could picture him stretched out in one of the back rooms of the Mansion, grinning to himself over the enjoyment he was going to get out of toying with me.

“Oh, Tony and I go way back,” he said. “I keep tabs on his operation, and he mentioned that you were heading over there tonight to dip your toes into the skin trade.”

I shuddered. “What do you want me to say? The cops broke down the door, and I bolted. My getaway was cleaner than his.”

“Interesting.” Riccardo hummed to himself. “Did you know that, other than you, that raid had a 100 percent fatality rate?”

“I didn’t.” I squared my shoulders and tried to project confidence. “I don’t exactly go hunting down statistics on crimes I’m tryin