The man paled as he looked at the spilled money. “I didn’t take any, I swear.”
“Do you believe him, boys?”
Both men laughed.
“Why did Dino and Chuckie tell me they saw you talking to my competition?” He watched George. “Cat got your tongue?”
George took a step toward the door, but Dino cut him off. Mr. Angelini tsked at the man as he continued pointing the gun.
“I didn’t talk to nobody. They’re lying to you.”
Dino rolled his eyes. “Uncle Joey, you know I’m not lying.”
“Shut the fuck up while I’m talking.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“George, if you’re honest with me, everything will be fine, but you keep lying to me, then it’s not.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Angelini. Johnny Bianchi caught me gambling up in Minnesota and took what I owed him from yours. I didn’t give it to him. He took it.”
“So, what you’re saying is Johnny stole from me?”
“Yes.”
“And you let him, George. You let that rat bastard steal from me!”
George stared wide-eyed at Mr. Angelini, not knowing what to say.
Mr. Angelini looked at George, shaking his head. “I don’t think you’re a good fit for our organization, George.”
The muffled sound of the gun had Kennedy running for the elevator. Her shoulder bumped into the tree, rattling ornaments and sending white flocking to the carpet. Hitting the button, she prayed it would hurry. Her wish was granted, and the damn thing opened with a ding. Looking in the direction of where the men were, Kennedy squeezed through the small crack as the doors opened. Hitting the close door button, she wanted far away from the office. When the door closed, she heard the sound of running feet coming closer. Leaning her head against the elevator door, Kennedy tried to not freak out. They had no way of knowing she’d been there. Who was she kidding? They could look at the security cameras and see she’d come back. They would see her on the floor and by the meeting room, watching.
The door opened on the first floor, and Kennedy chanted in her head to stay calm. She saw the security guy on the phone and waved to him as she walked out the front doors. Making quick work of the parking lot, she unlocked her car door with a shaky hand. And that’s when her phone rang. Not looking back at the building, she answered the phone with a calm, welcoming hello. “Hey, Mr. Angelini.”
“Kennedy, were you at the office a few minutes ago?”
She heard the question and ignored it for a minute while she started the car. “One second, sir, I can’t hear you.” Tugging out the earbuds, she asked what he’d said, buying herself time. “I’m sorry, I had my earbuds in listening to a podcast.”Stop talking. You never talk this much.
“Did you come back to the office?”
“Oh, yes, sir, I forgot my phone. Are you still here?”
“Yes, I had a meeting after the office closed for the day.”
“I wish I would have known. I would have walked down to your office.” She put the car in gear and started driving through the parking lot. “Oh, there’s your Town Car. I swear, if I didn’t have my head attached, I’d be lost.”Stop talking.
“Why don’t you come back up and join the meeting? I could use your input.”
Liar, liar. You just wanna kill me too.“I wish I had time, but I have a date.”
“You have a date?” Joseph Angelini snapped his fingers for Dino and Chuckie to go see if they could catch her. “You, who never dates, is going out?” He laughed at his comment, trying to see what the girl would let slip.
“It’s a blind date. A double date, to be exact.”
“Where are you going?”
Think fast, Kennedy.“Fredricks on Division Street. Have you heard of it?”
