I looked at the computer again, at all the non-information that I pulled up on Costa and Leone. “There are two people who were around back then besides your dad and Gino that might have some answers.”
“Who?”
“Rossi’s dad, and Costa’s mom,” I murmured. “I say we start with her. See what she knows.”
Romeo scoffed, “She’s a junkie.”
“I’m sure she wasn’t always a junkie, and her husband was around back then. And, if she was trying to score fixes back then, she could have been willing to sell information. I think she’s still worth talking to.”
Romeo sighed but agreed. “Fine. We’ll go tomorrow. In the meantime, go home and get some rest. You look like shit.”
I flipped him off and left the club. My heart wanted to high tail it over to Morelli Manor, but I knew I couldn’t, not yet. Instead, I went to my modest Brooklyn apartment that was only a few blocks from the woman who owned me. I hadn’t strayed far from Brooklyn, so I could stay close to her.
Goodnight, Princess. I sent her a text, knowing she wouldn’t be answering it, and then moved through my apartment, dropping my keys, phone, and gun on the dresser before going into the bathroom and stripping down.
I took a shower and washed off quickly, then grabbed the body wash that smelled like her. I pulled the cap open and held it to my nose as I took a deep breath. Her smell flooded my senses, and I longed to hold her.
Replacing the cap and soap, I put it back on the shelf and got out. I needed sleep because tomorrow was another damn day, and I had to figure out where our leak was and how the hell I was going to get this shit handled so I could be with Bianca.
***
I woke up at seven when my phone chirped, signaling I had gotten a message. A grin spread across my face when I saw Bianca’s name across the screen. She’d sent me a morning selfie of her in her dance outfit. Her hair was up in a bun, she had a flowing dress that the bodice was skin tight, but the skirt danced around her calves in wispy waves.
Bianca: Morning practice. Hope to see you later.
I grinned. Oh, she’d be seeing me later. All nine fucking inches of me. I was hard as a rock seeing her in her dance outfit. I was getting out of bed when I realized what she’d said. Dance practice. Who the fuck was taking her? I called her phone quickly, set it on speaker, and laid it on top of the dresser so I could get dressed while we talked.
“Hello?” she answered after the second ring.
“Morning, Princess,” I said gruffly. She’d picked up, so she wasn’t at practice yet. Hopefully, she hadn’t even left the house yet.
“Hey.” I could hear the soft smile in her voice through the phone.
“Is Rome taking you to practice?” I asked while I pulled on a pair of dark denim jeans.
“No,” she scoffed, sounding perplexed. “He never takes me to practice.”
“Who’s with you?” I asked quickly, maybe a little too harshly.
“Massimo.” I could hear the confusion in her voice.
“And?”
“And what?”
“Bea, change of rules. Unless it’s Rome or me with you, two bodyguards at all times.” I tugged a shirt over my head and reached for my jeans, quickly pulling them on.
“Why?”
“Until all of this is over, Bea. Two guards unless Rome or I are with you,” I declared as I was yanking on my socks and boots.“Where are you right now? Are you still at home or are you at the studio?”
“I’m already at the studio. I missed three days of practice over the weekend, and the audition is next week. I texted Massimo last night to see if we could get here early this morning. He agreed and came to get me.”
Fuck. Rome was going to talk to the guys this morning. He must not have had a chance to. “I’m on my way. Do not leave the studio, Bea.”
“I won’t.” She hesitated. “Lorenzo, do I have a reason to be worried right now?” she whispered the question into the phone.
“No, Princess,” I lied. I had no idea if she should be worried about Costa or not. “Just don’t leave. I should be there shortly.” I disconnected the call and dialed Rome as I left my apartment. Her studio was about twenty minutes away from her house. That was twenty minutes too far.
