Page 86 of Lorenzo

Anxious to get on with my other work, I lift the top as the delivery man instructed.

The stench hits me first.

Something copper and animal, like the back of a butcher’s shop in August.

Then I look down into the box and see it.

A dark, glistening pile, still wet, threaded through with something pale.

I don’t know what I’m looking at. I take one step back, then another, my heel catching on the tile, and scream.

CHAPTER 36

LORENZO

The moment Gina’s call comes through, I’m already moving.

Luckily, the video monitor had shown her enough of whatever was in that box to make her scream. I’d never heard Gina scream like that before.

Now, as I burst through the restaurant door, I have my hand on my gun by instinct.

Emily lies motionless on the cold floor, her face turned to one side. Her red hair has come loose from her updo and has spread out beneath her head like a halo.

Biscotti has pressed himself into the curve of her stomach, whimpering in a way that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

I gently touch Emily and she blinks awake. “Are you okay?” I ask, running my eyes over her body. I’m relieved there’s no blood, no outward injury.

I feel an overwhelming sense of relief. Little more than a week ago, I didn’t even know this woman.

Now, I’m very close to not being able to live without her.

I check her pupils, her breathing, mostly to keep my sense of control.

“I’m fine,” she says, her voice weak.

Relief hits harder than it should.

I help her up and guide her to one of the new sofas in the bar area.

“Tell me everything that happened.”

I listen as Emily tells me about the DHL delivery and opening the box.

“Who would do such a thing?” she asks. “What did it mean?”

I hesitate.

I could give her a bullshit story so she wouldn’t worry.

But Emily’s too sharp to believe anything but the truth.

I begin slowly.

“You know we’re at war with the Petrovs.”

“I’ve never heard it expressed exactly that way,” she says, as Biscotti comes trotting over to her. She embraces him and looks me in the eye. “Tell me more.”

“The bottom line is that the Petrovs are trying to get our casino. Its operating license, specifically. To force the issue, they’re attacking the things that we hold dear. Tonight, that happened to be you.”