“Nah, that’s all I could find right now.” Nico heard the paper flip over the phone. “Do you need anything else?”
“Yes, I have another favor to ask.”
“They’re pourin’ in like rain, eh?” Mario snickered over the line. “Yeah, sure, I’m done with the task for Ma, anyway.”
“Miss Taylor left for Boston. She had to meet with someone. I want you to make sure no one follows her.”
“Is this one a keeper, bro?” There was genuine curiosity in Mario’s voice. But Nico knew better than to tell him anything. The man flapped his lips like a damned gossipy old woman.
“I guess you’ll have to wait and see.” Nico’s lips twitched. “Just keep her safe. I’ll be there tonight. Do you need a picture?”
“No, she’s been on the news a few times today. I’ve got a fairly good idea who to look for.” There was a pause, “You takin’ her up to see Ma?”
Nico turned to his desk and leaned over it with his elbows on the edge. He tapped his fingertips together. “Tell Vera to make room for two more.”
“You do realize they’re going to make a big deal about this, right?” Mario snorted over the line. “It’s gonna be a party, Nic. Ma, and Vera are gonna invite the entire family. Theprodigal sonhas returned or some shit like that.”
Nico chuckled. “Maybe, it will be fun.”
“In a pig’s eye,” Mario grumbled. He sighed, then muttered some choice words in Italian. “All right, I’ll keep an eye on your girlfriend. You owe me, bro.”
“You know I’m good for the money.”
“Yeah, yeah,pronto. Bye.”
“Pronto.”
Nico hung up, the smile still on his lips even as he checked his email. It diminished after he opened something from a federal email address. Autumn’s partner, Hererra, was playing nice.
From: Benjamin Hererra
To: Nico Scala
Message: Think your uncle and friends want to see this? FYI, I’d rather see this motherfucker in the ground than Autumn’s face on a missing person’s report. You better be keeping her safe. His name is Elijah Winters.
Nico opened the attached document. It was a screenshot of what looked like a surveillance video. It wasn’t from the same video he and Autumn saw in Navarro’s office. The red-headed man was looking straight into this camera.
Smiling.
Nico’s hands fisted on top of the desk.
He saw red.
You’re going down,figlio di puttana.
Nico saved the picture, then texted the Big Three.
Nico: You want the scumbag who killed Catarina and Anastasia? He’s right there. I’d keep an eye on Lydia’s gallery.
Arturo and Cyrus wanted their pound of flesh. All they had to do was look in the underbelly of New York City. Elijah Winters would show up.
Nico stood and paced back and forth to his desk. He felt like a goddamned caged animal. He couldn’t get to Autumn since she was at least an hour out of the way.
He could always leave. He still had to plan for clothes. Go back to his place, pick up a few things, and an overnight bag. He wasn’t driving into Boston and returning after going to Luna’s. Not only would she be angry, but she would also be insulted on top of it.
He thought back to the memory he just had.
“Promise me you’ll never get into the life, Nico.”
