“All right, let me see what you’ve got,” Anthony says as he stalks toward the office. “Luca is held up, and I need to get back to Tatum.”
“Heard about the attack on your men,” Raphael says. “Hope you get the creep who did it.”
“Oh, we will.”
I snuggle further into Raphael as he leads us into the office and offers Anthony a taste of the cocaine. Usually, Luca is the one to do this, but Anthony sniffs it, rubs some on his gums, and then nods. “Good. Like usual. Can we discuss the Colombians? I’ve been hearing some whispers…” Anthony pauses and looks over at me. “You want to stay for this? Or do you want to wander?”
“Can I wander for a bit?”
“Go on,” Anthony says, and I leave the office while they discuss business.
I meander out into the large warehouse, seeing lines of people filling orders, masks covering their faces. Music plays from some portable speakers, and I bob my head as I make my way around the space. It’s large, but the space is clean and managed well. Raphael runs a great business. It’s no wonder Anthony kept him on.
Plus, he’s loyal and makes me happy every time he wraps his arms around me.
I’d keep him on just for that.
I chat with a few people in English and some in Spanish, asking them about their families and what their plans are for the weekend.
And then I hear things. Chatter among them. Concern about the dead body out back, the lethal drug circulating the streets. And before you know it, I’m huddled around several workers who are speaking frantically, worried about their children and spouses, and more importantly, about their lives. Because this drug is infiltrating the streets, and it’s being said that it’s coming from us. From the Costellos.
I hold up my hands, silencing them. “Who is saying this? Does anyone know?”
Several people begin speaking quickly, and I have to stop them with a snap of my fingers to get them to speak in turn.
By the time Anthony finds me, I’m awash in new information. Does Anthony know this? Oh, he’ll be so pleased with me once I’ve told him everything.
“Oh. Oh. Anthony, guess what?” I ask, bouncing on my feet.
Anthony peers at me and folds his arms across his chest. The workers scurry back to their places, getting back to work. Bouncing over to him, I link my arm through his and pull him toward the exit.
“I was talking to the workers, and they told me some interesting things.”
“What is it?”
“They were telling me about Pink and word on the street is it’s coming from us.”
“I knew that.”
“Yes, but did you know which club was saying it?”
Anthony freezes. “Which one?”
“One I’ve never heard of.”
“Name, Bane.”
“The Mavericks. Apparently, they’re based out of San Francisco.”
Anthony’s eyebrows rise, and I shift slightly. “I’ll have to ask my informant in the FBI if they know that club.”
“Good idea, and you could ask sexy Senator Ruiz, too. But also…they mentioned a guy with an earring. It must be he whom I refuse to name.”
“You mean Henry.”
I gasp, throwing a hand over his mouth. “Oh my god!”
He peels my hand off him. “And what did they say about him?”
