Page 264 of Valentino

“Step out of the vehicle, sir.”

Val rolls his lips, I can feel the anger rise within him.

“What’s the problem?” Luigi gets out of the car and closes the door behind him, we all stay quiet and I get the feeling that they don’t want them to see us in the back seat.

“I received a tip-off that there were some Ferrara men eating at Marlo tonight.”

With his elbow resting on the window as if to shield his face, Valentino’s jaw clenches.

“No idea what you’re talking about,” Luigi replies. “Who’s Ferrara?”

“Don’t be funny, asshole. License.”

Knock, knock.

The policeman taps on my window. “Step out of the car,” he calls through it.

I look over to Val and his eyes flicker red.

Fuck.

I get out of the car and close the door behind me, I don’t want them to see Val either.

“Hello, Officer.” I smile.

The policeman looks up and the earth moves beneath me.

His eyebrows flick up in surprise. “Anna Russo.”

Oh no…it’s him, that mean policemen from Milan, I would remember that face from anywhere. Worse part is, he apparently remembers me too.

He immediately walks around to Valentino’s side of the car and taps on the window, and with no other choice, Val climbs out.

“Well, well, well.” He smiles like the cat that got the cream. “Mr. Leone, I wasn’t expecting to find you tonight.”

Valentino glares at him. “What the fuck do you want, Mauro?”

He turns to his colleagues. “Search the car.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Cars fly by and horns sound as the policemen search the car by flashlight.

And we, we stand on the side of the road like criminals.

“There’s a weapon under the seat,” one of the officers calls as he pulls it out.

“We have a concealed carry license,” Luigi replies. “The certificate is in the glove compartment.”

“Get it,” Mauro snaps.

“Please,” Gino fires back. “No need to be rude, where are your manners?”

“Shut. Up.” Mauro mutters under his breath.

Luigi and Gino snicker, completely unrattled, and amusement fills me, seems like Gino and Luigi are quite the comedians.

I glance over to Valentino who isn’t taking this so lightly, he’s glaring at Mauro through murderous eyes.