Nico observed her hands curled into the side of her chair.
Arturo shrugged nonchalantly, “I want to know who my daughter’s murderer is.”
Nico watched a muscle tic in Autumn’s jaw as she gritted her teeth. His uncle didn’t scare her.
She stared the mafia kingpin in the eye, “I can’t give you what I don’t have.” Her eyes drifted to Nico, “But there may be a new lead.”
Arturo smirked as he turned to Nico, the bowl of his glass held loosely in his hands. He poured the decanter and took another healthy swallow. “Ah yes, Michael Navarro,” his uncle nodded.
Autumn sent Nico an accusatory glare then turned to Arturo again, “You know him?”
“He’s an associate of sorts.”
“And you didn’t care to share this information with the police?” Autumn retorted. Nico watched her knuckles whiten as she held onto the arms of the chair. “You could have saved the authorities time, Mr. Casale.”
“You are the authorities, yes?” Arturo waved his hand, “It is your responsibility to find the answers, not mine.”
“You’ve deliberately kept this information from them.” A scowl moved over Autumn’s features. “Why?”
“Do not question me,strega!” Arturo’s free hand came down on his desk in a fist. “I ask the questions, not you! You made me wait for my daughter’s body!”
Both Autumn and Arturo glared at each other, as if in a stalemate.
Finally, Autumn asked, “Is there anything else you wish to share?”
“Get out,” Casale rasped. “And I better not hear you or your kind near my daughter’s gravesite,capisci?”
Autumn stood with a tilt of her chin. “I have no control over that part of the investigation.”
“Get out!” Casale roared just as he threw his glass over her head, where it shattered as it hit the hardwood floor.
“Basta!” Nico came off the wall and stated in a low, sharp tone, “Enough. What’s wrong with you,Zio? Stop with your tantrum!” Nico stated in Italian.
“Never bring her here again, Nico,” Arturo growled, his face turning a dark shade of red. “If I see her again, I can’t promise not to cut her tongue out!”
“We’re leaving,” Nico muttered back. With a deep breath, he looked at Autumn. “I’ll escort you out.”
They didn’t say another word as they left Arturo’s hidden den. They took a right instead of left, toward the steps where they walked up to a set of double doors that pushed outward.
“We’ve already questioned Navarro. Your little plan to get me there as your lover won’t work,” Autumn fumed.
“You asked if he saw anything out of the ordinary. You didn’t ask what his relationship with Catarina was.”
Autumn stopped. “They had a relationship?”
Scala turned to her, his lips slid up on one side, “Is that what I said? Maybe it was a slip of the tongue.”
“You could have told me.” Autumn glared at him. “You don’t have to be so goddamned secretive.”
Nico stopped suddenly and turned to her. He towered over her, walking her into the wall. He leaned down and whispered, “Now, where would the fun be in that?”
Nico watched her hands curl at her sides. She shoved him away and pushed open the door. He heard her sharp inhale when she was outside.
Nico put his hands in his pockets again, “Scared of me, Miss Taylor?”
Autumn snorted. “Of you? Now what makes you think that?”
With a shrug, he moved the hair from her loosened bun behind her ear, “You run away like a little bird whenever I get too close.” He cocked his head to the side, “I wonder why that is?”
