She sighs, shaking her head. “I wasn’t there, C. I don’t know the specifics. Just that in the past… your father took you with him for his business meetings. Something to do with Zinc Co. and the projects they were undertaking. Sometimes those business meetings happened at restaurants like Vecoli. Other times they were at lounges or clubs.”
I scrub a hand over my beard. “I’ve seen Nevaeh perform in the past… many times. I was just… I wasn’t well. I was under the influence of some kind of drug,” I say, speaking aloud what feels dream-like in my mind. “These meetings he’d take me on, how far back?”
“For years. Since you were just a young soldier.”
“Who was he making deals with? Nero?”
“I told you I don’t know,” she says. “But you were important. You were needed for these deals.”
“Nevaeh doesn’t know. That I’ve seen her perform.”
“I doubt she would.”
It explains my draw to her despite being unable to understand why. I didn’t dream her up out of nowhere. I had witnessed her talent and grace many times for myself in lounges like the one from my dream.
These moments I’d forget because I wasn’t in the right state. I might as well have been drunk. But why would Pa insist on bringing me to his meetings if I were unwell? How could I have possibly served any use?
“Your after-hours activities. Tell me what you’ve been up to, P,” I say calmly, despite the turmoil on the inside.
“I’ve been going on those strolls to clear my head… and if you must know, meet with my son.”
“Son!?”
“He lives in a cabin a couple miles out from here.”
“You have a son who lives in the woods outside my estate? Why?!”
She heaves another difficult sigh. “It’s a complicated story. Do you think I started working for your father by choice? It was never something I wanted. I wasmadeto work for your family.”
“The flesh trade?”
“I’m not proud of some of the things I was made to do when I was young. But what has always been true about this wretched world we live in, C? About a city like Dresden? You have the haves and have nots. I was a have not doing what I had to do to eat and keep a roof over my head—and yes, I had a son with one of the men at the brothel where I worked.
“We were supposed to be together. But it was all a lie. He never really loved me. He abandoned me with child and I had nochoice but to look for work elsewhere. I couldn’t stay there if I had a baby. That’s when I got mixed up with your father and he offered me a job as a caretaker for the estate… with a catch.”
My jaw clenches. “Which was?”
“I had a young boy that would grow into a man,” she sighs, wearing an expression of regret. “That’s always of use to men like Carmine Ziccardi. I had to sign his life away. I had to agree that my son would become a part of the system I had been born into and that I swore I would protect him from. He would become one of your father’s soldiers.”
“But?”
“But it’s not what he wanted. What he’s cut out for. My son is a gentle soul, C. He’s not a fighter; he doesn’t want to kill people for a living. His loyalty was questioned, and your father suspected him of being a spy for you. Because I’m still your employee. I knew you’d never trust him, but there’s a cabin miles away where he’s been staying. If he shows his face in the city, he’ll be killed. I bring him money and supplies to take care of his needs.”
“Explain the phone calls.”
“What is there to explain, Caelian? I never placed any phone calls to your father.”
“I saw the phone records.”
Even as the words leave my mouth, I’m not so certain I believe them. I did see a log that seemed to document regular calls being placed to my family, but how could I be sure they were Ms. Poitier? The calls were placed from within the house. It could’ve been anyone…
“C, you know it’s not me,” Ms. Poitier says slowly. “But you do know something’s up. I think you better be real careful. You and Nevaeh, in everything you do from this point on. You’re being played for a fool and they’ve got you thinking it’s the wrong people, like me.”
“You’re no longer locked up. You’re free to go. Head upstairs and get cleaned up and take some time to rest. I was…” I push aside the pride and ego that make it impossible for me to admit when I’m wrong. “I’m sorry, Ms. P. For the accusations. For keeping you locked down here.”
She’s stretched to her feet, rolling her neck on her shoulders. A faint smile comes to her face. “Don’t you think I’m letting you forget it anytime soon, C. You’re about to be indebted to me forever for the mess you’ve pulled.”
“I’ll send you on a paid vacation when this is all over.”
