Kissed by Fire (Book 5 of Wolves of Milano)

9.Murder on his mind

He got the book done in five days. 70.000 words for a novel on murder. It started out as a second chance book, but his imagination took him elsewhere. He is just not fit to write a romance. It might solve his dilemma about Vito. Maybe. Who knows? There are so many variables to consider. He can write a book, but can he pull it off in real life? Can he stage a murder to look like an accident? It came over as plausible in the book. He’s also seen too many episodes of CSI to help him get it that way. But, it’s a book! He is thinking about murder for real. There is more to think about. His mother, the pack, Lyana. Something needs to be done, but who and how? Is he really the one to do it? Too bad he has no one to ask. The wolf is rooting for it. The blood-thirsty beast is all about the kill lately.

The book is a success on the app. It got a few thousand reads already, and it’s only been posted for a few days. That is the beauty of insomnia and too much time on his hands. He posted it on several reading apps to get feedback. He’s just browsing through the comments to see if someone suggested something useful. He’s still not convinced that murder and a staged accident is the way to go. His wolf, on the other hand, is thrilled. There are even a few scenarios rolling through his mind. Creative, he has to admit. But, can he pull it off?

‘See? They like it. Maybe get a contract for it? There is never enough money for the things I would like to have.’ The wolf comments coldly. The things the wolf would like to have are alive. He’s dreaming of wildlife in the park. Just getting permits for that would be a bureaucratic nightmare.

‘I don’t know.’ He shakes his head. Did the wolf miss that he already has a contract for this book? His editor loved it. He knows that his eyes are red right now. The wolf is close to the surface. ‘Can we just bring Elio in on the thing? He’s ex-military. He might have a solution to the problem.’

‘Can we trust him?’ The wolf raises his head. The feigned ignorance is forgotten and the gleam in the animals' eyes is real.

‘I think so. It’s in his best interest to never find Vito. He’s been meddling in everything. He helped everyone else.’ He answers. He’s got a good feeling about the surly enforcer. There is more than what Elio shows people. That man has secrets. And competence. Was he trained to be the next Alpha before his father sent him here? He wonders what happened there? Why would they send him away if everything was alright?

‘Think about it. There is no harm in waiting for another day.’ The wolf shrugs. He makes a nice little den and goes to sleep. The wolf does what he wants.

Waiting doesn’t sound so bad. It’s all he does anyway. He waits for Vito to bite the dust and die. The old vengeful bastard just doesn’t give him the satisfaction. Even with his refusal to eat most of the meals, he still hangs on to life. Stubborn old fool that he is. It must stink to high heaven inside the prison room. Vito never once showered since he was there. He never changed his clothes either. How can he stand his own body odour? And why in hell did he have to ruin the walls? The deep scratches are showing brick. He can’t get out. The thing Vito doesn’t know is hidden inside the walls. There is steel reinforcement and another wall after that. All together, the walls of the cell are about 75 cm thick. There is no getting out. Unless you have a bomb. Maybe not even then.

He looks over at the clock on the wall. It’s almost time for another meal. Should he bother with something? What is the point if Vito never eats it? He can just give him a sandwich and some juice. In plastic. He never gives his prisoner anything that could be used as a weapon. He doesn’t have a belt or shoelaces. He can’t take anything in the bathroom apart and the bed is metal. No improvisation is possible. He sighs at his own thoughts. It seems like mission impossible. He’s waiting for his prisoner to die on his own, but he gives him nothing to accomplish it. Should he? What would it change if Vito commits suicide? What would it mean for the pack structure? What would it mean for him? Damn! He needs help with this. The politics of the pack never interested him much. He is vague about the rules. Is that something he should study? He’s got the time. He just needs the book. How much of the old rule book is still in effect? What did Vito change? He can’t get his hands on the new things on his own. He never goes home.

The question of the day is what is Vito doing all day down there? He sleeps, he sits on the bed…No activity whatsoever. Is the guy bored or thinking? Should he play with him? He can flip a switch and go rummage around the guy’s brain. But, does he want to know what he’s thinking? Is that safe? What if he gets sucked in and accidentally kills the guy? Or worse, let him go? This is not an option when he’s on his own. He needs someone to monitor him and pull him back before he does something stupid. He needs an ally. And it all comes back down to that. He can’t do this on his own. Who to enlist in his endeavour?

Lyana is out of the question for this one. She works in the hospital, she would not condone the action. She might leave if he even suggested something like that. She might leave anyway. She has said it a few times. Would her knowing the truth speed up her decision or make her stay? He can’t risk it. He needs to ease her in slowly. With the little stuff. Elio warned him about it. Now it looks like she is serious. She told someone else. She’s not only threatening him about it, she made it public. He knows Elio won’t tell anyone. He never told anything to Vito, so there is no reason for him to start spreading gossip now. But the situation is turning serious, and fast. He will have to let her know about him. He will have to explain his wolf. He will have to explain that they could afford anything. Not just sneak things in from time to time to replace the items she has bought.

Who else could he trust with this? His brother? Maybe Elio? What does he know about the guy? Can he trust his instinct? What if he’s wrong? He could endanger everyone with one wrong move. He needs to think this though. He needs more time. But time is not a luxury he has. His problems are piling up. He should just seal off the basement and forget about Vito. It’s what the old bastard would have done. But he can’t. He’s not like his father! He’s not crazy. He’s not self-centred. He still has some morals. He can still tell good from bad, right from wrong. He needs a solution.

‘What about Morrana? Could we trust the goddess?’ His wolf inquires.

‘I don’t know. She scares me.’ He answers. He still has the white card with her number, but he can’t bring himself to call her. Would she bring Marco into this?

‘Marco has to stay out of it. There is no use in dragging him down with us. He’s safe in Iceland.’ The wolf growls. They see eye to eye on that one. Marco has suffered enough for a few lifetimes.

‘Then we are left with Elio.’ He sighs. It’s a gamble, but it’s better than nothing.

‘Would you let me out? For a run? I need to stretch my legs.’ The wolf changes the subject. All is said and done for him. The conversation is over.

‘Do you promise to stay inside the fence? The city is not the place for a wolf.’ He asks. The chances are that the animal will hold to his promise, but there are no guarantees. It’s a constant risk for him. That is why he doesn't let the wolf out much. Just when it’s absolutely necessary to maintain the balance.

‘I promise. Just half an hour.’ The wolf’s red eyes flash in the mirror.

He gives in. Reluctantly. He is holding the wolf back too much. They both know that he doesn’t trust his own shadow. Trusting his alter ego is another matter. And he doesn’t trust him at all. He opens the back door of the mansion and leaves his clothes on the screened-in porch. The shift is fluid and fast. The wolf is magnificent. Dark red fur and blood red eyes, fangs long and gleaming white. A true beast, even in size. Probably scary and terror infusing to any human that he might meet. There really is no place to hide when you look like that. Not in winter. Not here. Sprinting over the clearing into the woods around the mansion, the wolf makes his rounds. He wants to make sure they are alone here. Intruders are not welcomed. This piece of land is only his. The wolf marks his territory before he returns to the mansion.

Is it possible to establish a routine with the wolf? Mateo is thinking of possibilities as he gets dressed. He does have the time and the opportunity to give the beast half an hour to an hour of time every day. They don’t have the safe room, but maybe they don’t need it? The park is fenced in. The mansion is huge and empty of furniture. Besides, the wolf likes it. He won’t go about destroying something he likes. He could give the wolf part a bit more freedom and shift regularly. Maybe that would calm the wolf a bit and he would stop with the murder ideas? Maybe that would help him sleep some more? Maybe that would allow for less magic? Keeping the wolf at bay takes a lot from him.

‘Maybe you should quit stalling and tell Lyana a few things?’ The wolf continues.

‘Maybe.’ Mateo sighs. He knows he should. He knows he’s running out of time. But what to tell her? How? When? How much?

‘One thing at the time. That’s how it’s usually done.’ The wolf scoffs.

‘Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who has to explain things to her.’ He sighs. The wolf is not helping at all. The suggestions are good, but the execution is lacking.

‘Need I remind you that you’re in charge of the execution?’ The wolf chuckles.

‘Would you stop imitating human laughter?’ Mateo yells at his wolf. ‘It’s off putting. I don’t like it at all.’

‘Sure. I’ll stop when you get Lyana to stay. Make us all happy and I’ll stop teasing you. I might even stop annoying you.’ The wolf answers. Like that’s going to happen. His wolf excels at annoying him. Sometimes, he thinks, the wolf is waiting for a perfect chance to do it.

‘Maybe…’ The wolf sounds amused and it pisses Mateo off even more.

Maybe and maybe, and empty promises. Can he trust the wolf? Can he believe that this time his animal alter ego means it? They have tried everything else. Is Lyana the answer to every question? Is there a chance at a normal life with her? He is afraid the wolf might hurt Lyana. Not just emotionally, but physically too. At least the wolf is not a total psycho. He listens to reason. He doesn’t try to break out and kill everyone. He has standards. Morals? That is debatable. But Mateo believes that even his wolf can be good, he just has to try it.