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“Ben. That fucker who robbed the deli. He’s at the bar inside.”
“You’re sure it’s him?”
“Of course I am. It’s only been a couple weeks since I’ve seen him.”
“Did he see you? You didn’t confront him, did you?”
“No. I wanted to tell you first. I did contemplate swinging a full bottle of liquor at his head, but I held back. Should we call Detective Carthwright?”
I want to tell her no – that I’ll take care of him – but I know I should. With him and his partner robbing other businesses, it changes things. If it was just Frank that he robbed, then I’d handle it with the family. But the neighborhood needs to know the thieves have been arrested and that they’re safe again.
If we take care of the problem ourselves, then the community won’t know, and will still be weary and think they might be next. And I’m sure as hell not in the business of telling people when we take care of problems. Spreading that shit around is like painting a bullseye on our backs for people to look at us a little too closely.
“Yeah, I’ll call him right now.” Standing, I walk over to the railing where a table isn’t occupied, and pull my phone out.
“Carthwright,” he answers.
“It’s Vinny. I’m at South Dockside and Pastorelli is here at the bar.”
“He must’ve not wanted to go back to O’Connor’s since the cops were called on him last night. I’ll be there in ten.”
“Thanks. I’m on the upper deck. Let me know when you’ve got him so he doesn’t bolt when he sees who I’m with.”
“Understood.”
I head back over to the table and Lexi eagerly asks, “Is he coming?”
“He’ll be here in ten.”
“Good. Should we go down there to make sure he doesn’t leave?”
“No, we’re not going to do that. He’ll recognize you and bolt. Carthwright will be here soon enough. Ben’s not going anywhere.”
“You better be right.” Her eyes are telling me she’s giving me a chance to have her trust and to not fuck it up.
“I am. You can trust me.”
She doesn’t respond to that, but rather bites into one of the cannolis that was delivered while I was on the phone.
She still doesn’t trust me fully, and while I want to be upset about it, I understand. Maybe this will help gain some from her.
Chapter 22
Lexi
Vinny says I can trust him, and I want to, but I’m going to blame him if Ben leaves before the detective gets here. It’s already taken a couple weeks for anyone to find him. I don’t want him slithering back into the hole he’s been hiding in when he’s so close.
I eat the delicious cannoli and half of the mini mousse pie, sliding the rest over to Vinny who gives me one of his smiles that warms my stomach. “You can have it,” he tells me.
“I want to share with you. It’s good.”
“If you insist.”
“I do.”
“Let’s hope this isn’t the only sweet dessert you share with me tonight,” he teases, and I can’t help but smile.
“We’ll see.”
