Page 32 of Contempt

Yeah, Cree sounded pissed.

“Currently—watching a white car drive in front of my position,” Renzo replied dryly.

“Don’t you fuck with me, New York.”

“Nice to hear from you, too, Cree.”

Sarcasm was his best defense when he didn’t want to deal with one of Cree’s moods, to be honest. Plus, it just irritated the man even more when Renzo refused to feed into his attitude. A win-win, truly.

“You’re in New York?”

“How long did that take you to figure out?” Renzo asked. “I’ve been here for a couple of hours, now.”

“That wasn’t approved,” Cree spat.

“Listen, I told Dare I wasn’t a fucking babysitter. I’m not following that Italian everywhere day in and day out. Besides, I’ve got beads on him. I know where he is, and what he’s doing. The same shit he was doing for the last two goddamn weeks—nothing.”

“You have a job.”

“Yeah, I’ll get back to it.”

“Renzo!”

Ouch.

Full first name.

Cree was at his limit.

“Listen, I have something personal to handle, all right,” Renzo muttered, leaning against the brick wall as he eyed the shop across the way. “And then I’ll get back to the fucking Italian. It won’t be for long, and he is being watched. I’ve got people who keep me updated regularly. A day or two isn’t going to hurt, is it?”

“I have Dare on my ass right now about this,” Cree returned. “Calling me every five fucking minutes because you’re not where you’re supposed to be. I haven’t picked up yet, but trust that he’s left a voicemail each goddamn time.”

“So, lie.”

Cree said nothing.

Renzo almost chuckled.

“Why would I lie for you?” Cree asked, deathly calm.

That one seemed obvious, didn’t it?

“Because what I do is always reflected back on you, right?” Renzo did let out a bitter laugh, then, adding, “Wouldn’t want him to think I’m running wild when you’re the one who’ll have to answer for it, would you?”

Cree made a grunt. “You’re a fucking—”

“It’s not going to be for long,” Renzo repeated.

Although, he couldn’t say that was the truth. What he did know was that his five years were almost up—he was itching for it. This little side trip was just a taste of what was yet to come for him, and he planned on soaking every second of it up.

“Make sure your stupid ass is back on the job ASAP.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Renzo hung up the phone without a proper goodbye, and stepped out of the alleyway into the bright sunlight of the spring day. His first step toward his sister—practice, maybe, for what was yet to come.

Who knew?