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NICO
“Assaulting a police officer.” Detective Chase clicks his tongue. “Not a smart move.”
I’m sitting back in my seat, still wearing handcuffs, as I stare at Chase and Morgan. The small interview room is hot, and all I can think about is wanting to get this damn tie off me and returning home to Aurora.
“I’m not saying another word without my lawyer,” I respond. I know Andrew will get me out. I have a lot of power in this city, including within the police. It’s just a matter of waiting.
“While we’re here,” Chase says, “mind telling us how you killed Giovanni Costa?”
I level him with a long stare and don’t say a word.
“You can tell us. We’ll make sure you’re taken care of, Nico.”
Bullshit. They want me in prison. I’ve built the life that I live without regrets, and I won’t let some small time scum-bag detectives ruin everything I’ve built.
The door opens, and the police chief walks in—we play golf together. He’s one of those cops on my payroll. Johnson is his name.
“Gentlemen, Nico Mancini is free to go.”
Chase sits up straighter. “But he attacked me. I’m pressing charges.”
“No, you’re not.” Johnson turns to me. “Come on. Let’s go.” He uncuffs me and leads me out of the room. I smile smugly at Chase and Morgan on my way out.
Chase looks like he could run across the room and attack me again. Johnson doesn’t say a word as he walks me out of the station, where I see Andrew waiting for me.
“That was fast,” I comment.
“Not fast enough.” Andrew can’t quite look me in the eye.
“What’s going on?”
“Aurora called me. She’s hurt. I told her to call 911.”
I grab Andrew and push him against his car. “Why the fuck didn’t you help her yourself?”
“I knew an ambulance would be faster. I needed to get you out of there.”
“Where is she?”
“I didn’t get an address. I’m not sure where she was.”
I stare down at the face of my second-in-command. “You know, sometimes I don’t like you very much.” I shove him away from me and pull out of my cell phone. I dial Aurora’s number but don’t get an answer.
“She probably went to see her aunt,” I say slowly. “I have the hotel address. Let’s go.”
Andrew doesn’t say a word as we get into his car. I take the driver’s seat. Within minutes, I’m at the hotel. I’ve always knownthe hotel room she goes to meet her aunt. I had Enzo, before he was fired, take pictures of her aunt, but I didn’t recognize her. I just needed to be sure Aurora wasn’t going to see another man.
But I trust my wife now. We’re going start a family together, and nothing could be better than that.
I run to her aunt’s hotel room and stop when I see the bloodstain on the carpet outside the door. I don’t have the key for the door, so I step back and kick it down. Once inside, I see more bloodstains on the ground but no sign of Aurora, Jeremy, or her aunt.
“Let’s go to the nearest hospital,” I say to Andrew.
Andrew has a look on his face I can’t quite understand.
“What?” I growl as we run back downstairs.
“I’m just curious to know what happened here.”
