Chapter 18 I watch him to ensure that that piece of information sinks in . And then I continue . " You will have your one million extra . Let me see the case . " Pepi begrudgingly pulls out his briefcase . He rests his hand on it . " Money first . I need to know how serious you are . You should know that these gems are not in the market anymore . " Tell me something I don't know . I pull out the case next to me and I open it up . Arranged inside in neat lines are rows of crisp cash . Pepi's eyes bulge as they regard the money . I snap the case shut . " The jewels , " I say . He opens the case he came with . This case is much smaller than mine and inside it are jewel stones arranged in the center . They are each as big as cashew nuts . When Pepi shows me the stones , I fold my arms in front of me for a second as I lean forward . It takes me just three seconds to snap . I reach for my gun and aim for the two men behind Pepi Filipepi . Before they have time to react , I shoot them in both their thighs and they fall to the ground , groaning . Pepi , noting my discontent , rushes to grab the cash and make a run for it , but then finds out that he might have to risk his hand for it . And so he heads for the entrance . But I'm faster and I pull him back , my hand around his neck as I choke the air from his lungs . His men are on the floor , rolling out of my way as I guide him back , holding him in that chokehold still . I give him a small avenue to breathe , but he uses it to speak instead . " I'm sorry . I'm sorry ! " Pepi screams over the bass of the music . " I have the original . They're in my pants ' pockets . " I ignore him . My gaze drifts to the men on the floor . They're crawling away from the seating area , 1/4 Chapter 18 towards the door , pulling themselves on their elbows with difficulty as their blood leaks on the marble . " Let's renegotiate , " Pepi is saying . " Please . From one man of honour to another . " Delusion . I shake my head . " I'm afraid that time has passed now . " Annoyance flits past my vision . " Like I wouldn't know that those jewels would be fake . I didn't need to be a pawn broker to know that . You know , this isn't the first time we would be doing business . Have you forgotten Boston ? " His eyes widen even as beads of sweat cover his face . Recognition floods his conciousness . " I have a very good memory , you know , " I continue . " Please … " " But not a lot of mercy . " " I still have the authentic ones in my pocket . Fucking let me show you - I- " My hold on his throat tightens and I pull out my gun . It's next to his ear in seconds . He struggles in my grasp . " Don't fucking do this , please ! " My phone rings in my pocket and I try to ignore it . It rings again and I drop the gun on the table and pick up the call . " Make it snappy , " I growl into the phone . " Sir , the woman you asked us to watch … " This sounds like Marco . I hadn't glanced at the caller ID . " Yes ? " " She's at Bada - Bang , " Marco says . " A club ? What is she doing there ? " I move my weight from one foot to the other . Pepi tries to escape from my hold and I crash my fist in his face . He's quiet . I pick up the phone I 2/4 Chapter 18 had dropped on the table . " I don't know , sir . But she's drunk . " " She's drinking ? " I ask . Why would she be drinking on a Tuesday night ? She hadn't drunk herself senseless even when she had lost her job . I knew that Bruni Santos had something to do with it , so his punishment was extra special . Naturally . But even then , she hadn't drunk herself senseless out of depression or desperation . The only other reason she would be drinking would be … me . She's only drinking because of me . Because I visited her yesterday . It is fucking hot that I'm the one making her drink . That I owned her thoughts so much that she had to drink to escape me ; escape my presence in her mind . Her face passes across my vision again . Fucking hell . I can't seem to own her fast enough . " Is she still there ? " I ask . " Yes sir . " " I'm there in thirty . " " Also , sir , we noticed some men from The Sacra hanging around . " My gaze thins to slits . " What do you think they're doing there ? " " They might be watching her too , " Marco says . " Maybe they know we have her on our radar . They might want to take her out so we can't use her against José Salvatore . " That makes a lot of sense . " Keep your eyes on her . I'm there in fifteen . " I hang up and slip my phone in my pocket . " She just saved your life , " I whisper to Pepi . He doesn't know who , but he doesn't ask . " Give me the jewels . " 3/4 Chapter 18 His hands rush to pull out a pouch from his pocket and he drops it in my palm . I pull on the draw string and my gaze meets the pristine and clear jewels . They're tiny , like pomegranate seeds . And I know they would look beautiful around her neck . I don't see much of the beauty now . But I know this is authentic . I pocket the pouch . I let Pepi go . I kick the briefcase towards him . I'm sure by now he knows he's not getting that extra million . That wasn't in our previous agreement . And if I might have been motivated to humour him earlier , he knows by now that I won't be so merciful . I slip my gun hand in my pocket . " Take the money and leave . And take your men with you . You have just one minute . That's how long this goodwill will last . " I give him a smile as I count . " … Fifty - nine … " Pepi grabs the case , and looks at his men for a few seconds as they groan on the floor … before he bolts .