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“I know, and I appreciate the fact that you covered me to protect me without a thought of yourself and your own safety. You’re an amazing friend and woman. I love you,” Tina said, and then pulled her into a hug. The sound of sirens could be heard in the distance and Toni mumbled her annoyance with the situation. Tina pulled back and smiled down at her. “Hey, if we’re lucky, either New York’s finest or New York’s bravest will be a couple of sexy, hot men. If that’s the case, then just follow my lead about my injuries. If you see me disappear into the back of the ambulance with a hunky EMS worker then let me be.” Tina winked.
Toni chuckled. “You are nuts.”
“So are you. You saved my life,” Tina stated very seriously as the ambulance and police car pulled up alongside the curb.
Toni felt the emotions clog her throat. “Hey, it was no big deal.”
“Either way, you risked your life, your safety for me.”
Toni gave her friend a smile as thoughts of the previous threats invaded her mind. Could this be connected to them? Would whoever was behind the threatening notes and the firecracker scare move on to more threatening tactics? The thought made her instantly feel sick, and then the dizzy feeling hit her. She grabbed onto Tina as two good-looking NYPD officers approached. Tina smiled wide.
“My boss is hurt, but I may need CPR,” she said as the paramedics headed closer. They were pretty good looking, too. The officers looked at both of them, but one stared right at her and eyed her arm.
“How badly are you hurt, miss?” he asked.
“Oh, she may faint. One of you should carry her to the ambulance to get checked out,” Tina said, winking. Then Toni heard Tina explain about what happened and how her hips and ass were probably bruised and that maybe the two paramedics should take her into the ambulance and check it out personally. Toni chuckled.
“Is your friend always so forward?” one officer asked as he looked at Toni’s arm and elbow. It was bleeding pretty badly. And as the other two paramedics assisted her, Tina rolled her eyes.
The officer spoke into his radio. “Your cousin is caught up in a double homicide in the Bronx. We’re going to accompany you home. But first I have some more questions,” the officer stated as he disconnected the call. Toni knew that her cousin, Leo, would worry.
“Is there anyone you can think of that might want to hurt you?” he asked.
Oh shit. I knew this was coming. I can’t let them know about Vince or his family. I need to handle this. I need to protect Leo, Uncle Vincenzo, and the family. If the cops think that Uncle Vincenzo and the Saggaretti family are back at it again, then this could cause some unnecessary tension and fighting.
“Not anyone I can think of. Not someone who would shoot bullets, and throw firecrackers at me and my employee.”
The cop eyed her over and gave her one of those interrogating expressions. It was like he knew she was lying, but she needed to hold onto some sort of control. She didn’t like feeling vulnerable. Another officer approached. She saw the stripes on his sleeve, and the gray sideburns despite his young face. He was a sergeant.
“This is Sergeant O’Riley. Antoinette DeLuca.” The officer introduced them.
“So, pretty exciting stuff tonight in SoHo. Not the usual activity around these parts, Miss DeLuca.”
She knew that tone, and the way the officer said her last name. He probably knew her family and the neighborhood well.
“I’d say so, Sergeant. Not exactly the type of thing that anyone enjoys being caught in the middle of.”
He raised one eyebrow at her.
“Any chance you might know who did this?”
“No.”
“Are you sure that no one comes to mind? An old boyfriend? A disgruntled employee? Enemies?” He pushed.
She knew what he was getting at, but she wasn’t budging. She wasn’t involved with anything illegal, or with any multiple Mafia family conflicts.
“Sergeant, I am the owner and operator of a pastry, coffee shop. How could I have enemies? Someone not like the jelly in the homemade jelly donuts? Please, this is quite upsetting as is. My friend and I thought we were going to die. Now, I don’t know who would think of doing something like this, but I’m glad we’re both safe.”
He stared at her as if knowing she was lying. She felt sick to her stomach. She didn’t like to tell lies. She had a bit of fear of law enforcement and distrust except for her cousin, because when her grandfather was killed, little was done. It was like he was just some street thug, a nobody, and involved with the mafia so no one cared. Meanwhile, he wasn’t. He was legit, but got caught up in defending the family and the storefront.
“How about the Saggaretti family? Your family and them been in battle for years. Perhaps they want you to do something for them and you’ve declined?”
She was shocked, but this Sergeant obviously knew the neighborhood gossip well. She needed to be smart here.
She squinted her eyes at him.
“That’s quite an assumption, Sergeant. First of all, I’m not in any position to be asked to do any favors for a known organized crime family. Secondly, as I said earlier, I run a pastry, coffee shop. What could I possibly offer to the Saggarettis’?”
