He opens the door with a soft click.
“Have a good day, gentlemen.”
And then he’s gone.
Leaving the room thick with an uncomfortable mix of tension, irritation, and confusion.
Bones slowly slides his knives back into their places, grumbling under his breath, “Didn’t even take ’em all the way out.”
Tank snorts. “Pretty sure he could feel you reaching for them.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Pretty sure we were all just politely kicked the fuck out.”
Spike exhales. “Let’s just go. We’ve got shit to problem-solve.”
Enzo appears in the doorway, smiling like he’s been waiting the entire time.
“If you will follow me,signori,” he says, bowing faintly. “Il Donthanks you for your visit.”
“Visit?” I mutter. “That felt more like a job interview for the Hunger Games.”
Enzo pretends not to hear me.
And we head out, every one of us feeling the same thing.
We came looking for answers.
We’re leaving with more questions.
And one hell of a secret lurking in these halls.
We follow Enzo through a maze of marble hallways and gold-framed artwork, our footsteps echoing like we’re inside a damn museum. The air smells like money and lemon polish.
We’re almost to the front foyer when something tiny darts out of a doorway.
A little girl…maybe five…dark curls, big brown eyes, wearing a pink dress with glittery shoes.
She plants herself right in front of me with no fear in her eyes and hands on her hips like she owns the entire estate.
“You’re big,” she says, staring up at me with absolute seriousness.
I blink. “Uh… yes, I am.”
“You’re big like the Don,” she says with a proud nod.
Tank snorts, and she spins toward him.
“You’re big like the Don, too!”
Tank gives her a soft smile. “Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Then she turns and sees Maverick.
Her eyes go HUGE.
Chuckling, Maverick moves to kneel down until he’s eye level with the little girl.
“If they’re big like your Don,” Maverick says with an easy smile, “that must meanIam too. Right?”
