Chapter Thirty Seven
Carly
I appreciated Gio’s concern, after I showed him the letter. It made me feel special to him, knowing he wanted to try to keep Eli and I safe. Was it stupid not taking him up on the offer I knew he was going to make? Maybe. But I refused to let some sick fuck scare me out of my own home.
When it was time to leave for work, I kissed Eli, told him to be good for Risa, and made my way downstairs where Gio was waiting. I’d convinced him to wait for me in the lobby because I didn’t want to scare Eli.
“You look beautiful as always,Tesoro.”
I rolled my eyes at his compliment. “Sweet talk isn’t going to change my mind, Gio. I’m not packing a bag and staying at your house. If I get another letter, I’ll take it to the police.”
I noticed a muscle tic in his jaw and gave him a puzzled look. “What?”
“I do not think the police will do much about it.”
“It’s their job, Gio.”
“Ah, but stalkers are not often a priority to them until they actually do something to hurt their victim.”
“I have more faith in the NOPD than that.” Why did he think so poorly of the police? I started to ask but stopped myself. It could be something as simple as all the bad publicity police departments across the country have gotten thanks to the bad seeds. Maybe I was an optimist. I preferred to believe that the bad seeds were only a small number of officers and the only reason the public thinks otherwise is because media sensationalizes their actions while ignoring all the good things the police did on a daily basis.
“We shall see,Bella, we shall see.”
Sometimes, the best course of action is to let a discussion drop. We pulled into a parking space not far from the club and I let Gio get the door for me. “Thanks for the ride. Let’s not walk in together. I don’t need any shit from the girls and if we walk in together there will be way too many rumors.” What I didn’t say was I didn’t feel like dealing with Chablis and she would be the one to start shit.
“They will find out eventually.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll deal with it then. It’s too soon.”
“As you wish.”
“Thank you.” My steps were sure as I entered the employee entrance of the club. The girls were rushing around, getting their outfits ready for the night, and out in front we were preparing to open the doors.
“Hey, Carly, looks like you’ve got an admirer. Some flowers came for you, addressed to Lola.”
Midori’s words sent a chill down my spine. It was too much of a coincidence for the flowers to not be from the same person who’d slipped the letter under my apartment door. I approached the bouquet Midori indicated and reached for the card. My hand shook a little as I opened the envelope.
Beautiful Lola,
I miss you on the stage. None of the others can hold a candle to you. Please come back, it’s where you belong.
~A
I stared at the card for several seconds before I picked the flowers up, carried them to the nearest trash can, and tossed them into it. I almost tossed the card in as well but stopped. I needed it, along with the letter, to give to the police. “Merda.” Gio still had the letter.
I stalked out of the dressing room and into the main part of the club just as the doors opened. Customers started coming in and I weaved around them until I reached the bar. “Tony, where’s Gio?”
“Hey, Boss Lady. He said something about going to your office to wait for you. Everything okay?”
“Not by a long shot.” I waved off his concern and slipped into the hall leading to my office. The door closing behind me muffled the music to an extent. At my office door I paused, to calm my nerves, and stepped inside. “I’m glad you’re here. I forgot to get the letter back from you. I need it.”
“You’re shaking. What’s happened?”
Fuck fuck fuck. I didn’t want him to know. I opened my mouth to tell him nothing, but that wasn’t what came out. “He sent me flowers.”
“What? Let me see it.”
He held his hand out for the card and after a beat I handed it over. “I want you and Eli at my house. Unless you want me sleeping on your couch until we find out who is sending these to you.”
