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Lorenzo and I share a glance. I’ve had my hounds work tirelessly on this case and to advise me the moment they find anything. The surveillance from the warehouse for that period had been cut. My hounds had since found a lighter in the warehouse that had been left behind. Unfortunately for Ricky it was the same eagle inscribed one he flipped the lid of often. It all felt too easy. It could’ve easily been placed as a set up. He was most likely just another pawn to take the fall.
“I don’t really care if you live or die. By being in this room- you’re most certainly going to die. The only thing that doesn’t sit right with me is the fact I don’t think you’re smart enough to try and underhand me. I thought life had become considerably cozier for you and your family since we employed you?”
“This has nothing to do with my family. Please,” he begs.
“Which brings me to my next point. That if someone were to blackmail you and threaten your family, you would most likely die for them.”
Silence.
He’s defeated.
Nothing but a bag of bones who’s relinquished to his fate.
Something painful twists in his expression because I’m most likely right. My men had given me all the details of the supposed mastery he’d confessed to, but it still doesn’t add up. Ricky is the type who can only takes orders, not deal them, which means someone else is involved. A name he hasn’t handed over yet.
Frustration boils my blood. This shouldn’t be taking so long.
This should’ve been dealt with on the very same night I’d flown back into town.
“Are you acquainted with the Barone family?” I ask Ricky.
His eyebrows scrunch in confusion. “Aren’t they some rich family who live locally or something? I think I’ve seen them on TV before.”
Ricky is a dead end.
Whoever is actually pulling these strings still hasn’t been found.
“Keep looking.,” I say to Lorenzo before walking toward the door. “Do whatever you want with him,” I offer to my hounds because I don’t feel particularly moved to take an innocent man’s life today. We still have to see it through as a warning.
If this is his way to protect his family, so be it. I need the puppeteer on the other end to think we’ve fallen for the bait.
38
ARA
“So did you meet someone the night we went out?” Romi asks Lily.
I hide my uncomfortable wince from Luca making my ass black and blue yet again. Although there are no complaints, the marks he left definitely make it difficult to sit comfortably.
Lily noticeably turns a shade of pink. “Well sort of. I mean I was pretty drunk.”
“So, did you fuck him? I had average sex with Michael’s friend. It scratched the itch. I’m not kidding though, the moment he left my apartment I had to use my toy to finish the job.”
“Romi!” Lily exclaims and looks around to see if anyone overheard.
I take a sip of my sweet vanilla caramel coffee. It’s always stifling having mundane conversations like these opposed to everything else that’s happening behind closed doors. The difference is night and day. I sometimes consider had I chosen a “normal” path, perhaps this was what my life could’ve looked like. But from the first time I sat down with these women, I’ve always reminded myself this momentarily calm has an expiry date.
Admittedly, I’ve come to enjoy it ever so slightly as of late.
“So, who was it, Lily?” I coax as I set my mug down.
Today Romi is wearing a sweatshirt that says, “C’mon inner peace I don’t have all day.” I find it ironic considering the aggressive drunk version I’d discovered last time I saw her.
“Well after you left with Luca, Ara, it was just us girls and we were dancing and having fun. Sienna and Michael went home. I was grateful for that because they were basically having sex in the booth. Although Romi was with me I kind of felt third wheel vibes. Then I started feeling sick, so I wanted to go outside for a little bit for fresh air and well…you know the guy who’s sometimes around Luca was there. Kind of looks like more of a bodyguard then a friend.”
“Lorenzo?” I ask.
Her face lights up. “Yes! That’s him. He was super polite and told me Luca told him to make sure we all got home safely and I thought it was kind of sweet he did that, you know.”
