Kapitel 35: Chapter 35

From behind me one of the American intelligence officers cleared his throat. “I believe the man said, ‘Kismet,’ Jefferson.”

The other male voice responded, “Are yougoing to be the one to tell him that?”

Jeremy’s last breath sighed into my mouth, and he was gone. I held him to me, unheeding of the blood that covered me as well. My shoulders shook as I rocked him in my arms.

There was cursing from where the boy lay. I set my lover down gently, and before the Americans realised what I was doing, I was on my feet, a seized gun in my hand.

I toed the boy over, then stepped on his injured shoulder until he opened his eyes and glared into mine.

“You corrupted him. Youshould have been the one I killed!” he spat, and a torrent of gutter Italian spewed from his mouth. I recognized his dialect as that of the mountain country outside Rome.

“Why? Why did you shoot him?” Not that telling me would spare his miserable life.

“He got in the way. I was aiming for you. Him? He was nothing.”