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CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
So. All I know is that somebody who still wants me dead, knows the location of the new house.
The name that flashes up in my mind for what feels like the millionth time is Jerry. Even more insane-making, the name ‘Alessio’ jumps up right behind it.
I’ve had enough of all of this bullshit. It has to stop.
I call for a clean-up team while Mikey goes out to scout nearby for the vehicle that brought our uninvited guests. There’s not much chance they will have left any clues behind, but it’s worth a look. In any case, we’ll need to find their ride and have that disposed of, along with the guests themselves.
My glass of red wine feels well-earned, even at this time of day. Bruno calls. As soon as his name lights up on my phone, a wave of relief threatens to burst inside me. I take a breath.
Before I answer, I stand straight and wait. I want to have myself under control before I speak.
My effort is wasted. The moment I say, “Hello,” I can hear the snap in Bruno’s breath. He’s picked up on my tension.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Of course. I’m fine. We had a disturbance at the house, but it’s all taken care of. How are you?”
“I was just calling to let you know that a thing came up that I had to deal with and I’ll be a little late getting there. I should still be in good time for us to have brunch together, if you can wait. Are you hungry?”
“Yes.” My voice sounds brittle. “No. I don’t know.” My throat is tightening.”
“Don’t worry. Go ahead and start without me.” Then he’s quiet. Listening. Bruno has told me before that he can tell how I am by listening to my breath. I’m sure that’s what he’s doing now.
He says, “What’s wrong, zuccherina?”
“Nothing. Really. I’m looking forward to seeing you.” I don’t want to tell him anything more about the intruders before he gets here. It would only make him worry. We’ll catch up in more detail face to face.
“Tell me.”
“I don’t want to.”
That isn’t what I meant to say.
“Lucia.” I can’t resist him when he says my name like that. “Okay, straight answer? I’m going out of my mind. I need this business with fucking Jerry to be settled and over.”
“You think he sent the clowns to the house?”
“I think I’m tired of guessing what’s next.”
“What are you going to tell him?”
“What choice do I have?”
“Lucia…”
“I’ve gone to Chicago to meet with them. They won’t help me. I’ve tried to reason with Alessio, he won’t help me. Don Romano is hoofing the ground for what he believes this all is. Which makes me think he’s an idiot, by the way. I’d much rather have smart competitors, adversaries, and enemies.” I take a slug of my wine. “Idiots are so fucking unpredictable.”
My chest is humming as I tell him. “What choices have I got left?”
He says, “Carlo said he was on his way. Will you at least hold off until he gets here?”
“I don’t known, Bruno. Maybe.” A rise of tension in my core is making me buzz in a way that I don’t want. “On top of all of that, I feel like we’ve lost the Twelve Tribes and the Cascades development with them. that hurts. We had a real bond of trust.” My breath catches. “The way it feels right now, I don’t know if we’ll even get to keep our interest in Sun-a-do.”
“Maybe it can still be saved.”
“It doesn’t feel like it.” I don’t like the tone in my voice. I take a long, slow breath.
