“How the fuck did that lead to a hire?”
“That was the day Dante got shot. Seems it was a situation of right time, right place.”
“Dante lived as I remember it.” The man was loyal to a fault, one of my uncle’s best soldiers.
“Yeah, well, here’s the kicker. This Burch guy pulled out the bullet and stitched him up without hesitation. Just dove right in, even though he said he’d had no practical training. Old man Elio was there, and Antonio said he looked impressed. You remember how difficult that was.”
I huffed in agreement.
“So the old boss gave him work, but get this. Elio didn’t give him nothing doc related. Instead, he had him do several stunts to and fro with the Hell’s Outlaws.”
I sat up. “But he’s dead?”
“As dead as the maker ever intended.”
I scratched at the corner of my lips. “This sister, Ms. Burch…”
“Your little stalker?” Vinny restated. “I don’t think we need to worry about Ms. Burch. As far as research shows, her stretch in the life died with her brother. No severance package, no contact, nothing.”
“He might have told her something. This could be the lead we need.”
I swiveled my chair around and stood up, facing the bay windows that overlooked the crowded homes and estates in this corner of San Francisco. The setting sunlight glimmered off the crystal blue of the Bay. I twisted my neck around to relieve some stiffness. Two leads in as many days. We were finally getting closer to bringing Persetta home. I could feel it. And when she came back, no expense would be spared—doctors, care, aids—whatever she needed, she was going to have it.
I imagined what Persetta would think of my home here. There was more than enough space for her should she choose to live with me. No bad memories here. I sold the one we grew up in, in Pacific Heights, but this was still the city where our father betrayed her. Perhaps I would settle in more at my Santa Rosa estate once she was found. The vast vineyards and sprawling hills were probably going to be better than a city of people for her state of mind.
“Renzo, this…I doubt it. This girl is in no situation to—”
“Bring her in.” I cut him off, focused on the view. “Have the Santa Rosa estate cleaned up for its incoming guest. Whatever Ms. Burch knows, I want it out of her before tomorrow night.”
“Renzo, you’re not listening. She—”
“That was an order.” I turned to glare at him.
“Fine. You’re the boss. But between you and me”—Vinny massaged the bridge of his nose and rose—“I think you’ll regret bringing Ms. Burch in, and when you do, I’m going to say I told you so.”
“I won’t.”
“We’ll see, but I have to say something as your friend. I know you miss Persetta, and we all want to help, but she wouldn’t want you compromising who you are for her sake. We came together twelve years ago because of your values. So read the file. Get to know Ms. Burch before you consider breaking them.”
The moment the door to my office snicked shut, my mind was already focused on my next order of business.
Chapter 7
Marlenewassupposedtobe home from the hair salon by seven thirty tonight, meaning that I only had a good two hours after buying ingredients with money I’d stolen out of her wallet to bake the brownies I promised Boyan, clean up, and air out the house before she arrived. It was going to be a tight squeeze.
I took one step out from a small side street on the way back to the Hayes house, when a black SUV with tinted windows squealed to a stop at the curb. The passenger doors barely opened, and I was being shoved toward them from behind.
“Let go of me!”
Masked figures in suits poured out of the SUV. I threw the flour. It thumped into a white cloud against the car over one guy’s ducking head. Coughing overpowered the droning of cars driving by. I jabbed my elbow behind me but couldn’t reach whoever was pushing me. I slingshotted the bag of groceries like a tetherball. It thudded and cracked against the two meatheads behind me. Those two went sprawling, but three others came at me. I ran.
I didn’t get more than ten steps before my arm was jerked back hard. I yelped, tripping and falling. My captor yanked meupright before I face-planted. New aches burned through my shoulder. The throbbing in the left side of my back flared up from the Hayeses’ last beating.
“Help!”
No one did. People walked by the other side street access and glanced our way, but no one stopped for more than a second, if that. The number of passersby certainly didn’t intimidate these masked men from tugging and shoving me closer to that car. I dug my heels in, but my meager strength was no match for whatever truck of a man was pushing me from behind. If I got in, who knew where these people were going to take me? I had no money, no family. It would be the textbook definition of a kidnapping gone wrong.
“You’ve got the wrong person. I’m no one. Let me go.”
