Vinnie was standing at a wet bar, mixing a drink. He glanced up when we walked in. “Mr. Delvecchio, what is so important that you felt the need to interrupt my evening?”
I glanced out the floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall. Even though the sun was starting to set, it would be awhile before evening arrived.
“I need to speak to you.” I glanced at the woman and then the guard who had escorted me up from the gate before looking back at Vinnie. “Alone.”
Again with the stares. It was as though I was speaking a foreign language or something.
Vinnie nodded and the guard left the room, shutting the door behind him.
I turned and looked at the female.
“She doesn’t leave my side,” Vinnie said as he went back to mixing his drink. “Ever.”
I glanced at the woman again. The sex kitten act had ended when the door closed behind the guard. While the woman was still beautiful, she no longer seemed to be as alluring as she had been mere moments ago. In fact, there seemed to be a hint of danger about her.
“Isabella is my bodyguard, Lieutenant,” Vinnie said. “Do not underestimate her because of her beauty. She is deadly. She is a former Mossad operative.” Vinnie’s smile was pure evil. “She could slit your throat and then paint her nails while standing in your blood.”
Graphic, but the point had been made.
Don’t mess with the sex kitten.
“Can I offer you a drink, Lieutenant?”
“Please.” I walked closer to Vinnie, keeping an eye on Isabella. While she seemed unconcerned with anything going on around her—the woman was filing her nails—I knew she was watching me just as carefully.
Vinnie handed over a glass of amber liquid. “Is this an official visit or…”
“Technically, unofficial,” I replied as I took the drink. I dropped my vest down on the floor, leaning it against the side of the bar. “Just understand, I might need to use what I learn here, so keep that in mind.”
Vinnie smiled as he walked toward one of the three couches situated around the room. “I always do.”
“I think Eddie is in trouble,”
Vinnie stilled. “Edward is in trouble?”
Here’s where things could get messy.
“I’m not sure,” I replied. “That’s why I came to talk to you.”
Vinnie started moving again, taking the last few steps to sit down on the couch next to Isabella. I walked over and sat down on the couch across from them.
Vinnie leaned back on the sofa, crossing one leg over the other. He stretched one arm out along the back of the couch. He held his drink in the other hand. He gave the impression that he was bored with the conversation, but I could see the worry in his eyes.
“What makes you suspect Edward is in trouble?”
“You remember that incident a couple of weeks ago where Eddie, Lany, and Lyn were taken hostage?”
“Of course.”
“There was another incident.”
Vinnie’s eyebrow rose. “Another incident?” he asked in a voice that was surprisingly devoid of emotion. “What sort of incident?”
“Eddie, Lany, and Lyn were at the gallery, setting up for the exhibit when some men came in and started trouble. Eddie and Lyn were in the back. Lany called me and let me know what was going on and I headed down there. By the time I reached the gallery, several paintings had been destroyed and they were knocking Lany around.”
Vinnie’s lips thinned as he pressed them together. “And Eddie?” he asked after a moment.
“Lyn and Eddie were able to hide in the back, but Lany was already out in the main room. They roughed Lany up, trying to get him to give up Eddie’s location.”
