“So, you’re not here to start shit then?” I ask her with a small smile. My eyes however stare into hers.
She squirms on her feet. “No, we’re here to get coffee,” she insists. Her eyes narrow. “Awfully convenient that you’re here too.”
“And that Carmine Dresvanni is too, huh. How’d that happen?” I ask, grinning at her.
“Why do you care?” Jackson asks. “Oh, right, you Fiorellis are shacking up with them now. This is none of your business.”
“It’s Christmas. You wouldn’t really be about to go in there and cause that poor old lady some bullshit on Christmas,” I shove my hands into my pockets, my gun on my hip.
“Look, buddy—” Jackson starts, but I cut him off.
I move my jacket to the side and show them my gun casually.
“Now, Vic, at the club you sure seemed interested—” It’s Victoria who cuts me off this time.
“You know what, this ain’t worth it, Jack,” she insists, her eyes flaring with panic.
Jackson huffs. “I can take him,” he steps closer. I put my fingers on my gun. I’m prepared to pull it out if he makes another move.
“Let’s just go home. I got that special outfit, remember?” she persuades him.
Jackson smirks and looks over at her. “Alright. You’re right, this jackass ain’t worth it.”
They both eye me before turning around and heading back where they came from, to their car down the block. I hear Jackson ask Victoria as they’re walking away, “What was he saying about the club?”
I roll my eyes and turn toward the shop. “Jackass indeed,” I mumble.
During our conversation, I didn’t hear the bell ring, so Carmine must still be inside.
Quickly, I head back to my car and sigh as I sit back in the seat. A second later, he comes strolling out with not one coffee but two.
“Goddamnit, I hope those are both his,” I hiss. Then shake my head. “Nevermind. Fuck.”
I look back to the shop. Do I actually want to risk getting some coffee myself and then catching up to him?
My answer is already made for me as I turn the engine and follow after him a half minute later.
It should be expected that he’s heading back to the Dresvanni estate, but for some reason I’m surprised when he pulls into the driveway toward the gate.
And disappointed.
I can’t go any further. Not without drawing attention to myself.
All I can do is pull off and park nearby out of view, open my phone and the app to view the cameras. Now that I’m connected to them, I can see them from anywhere at any time. As long as they’re connected to the internet.
With a flick of my wrist, I pull a cigarette out and light it up as I swipe through the different cameras.
It seems they’ve got all the mess from the night and day of Michaelis’s death cleaned up now. There’s no broken and tattered Christmas tree in the family room, but there’s also no tree at all. Just a few strings of lights, and stockings on the fireplace.
I should be heading home. Pretending that I actually want to participate in whatever half-assed Christmas traditions my uncle wants to put on.
Instead, I watch the cameras until I see Carmine walk through the front door. Alessio greets him first. He doesn’t look happy, but Carmine hands him one of the coffees and his shoulders relax. He pats Carmine on the shoulder, and motions toward the direction of the family room.
I switch to that camera and watch Carmine walk in, his brothers all in there, as well as a few other people. Not just guards. Men, women, and two children. I don’t remember ever seeing them before, I don’t even know their names.
“They must be hiding them.” I open my glove compartment and find a pen and a receipt, writing down what I can see about the children.
1 girl, looks about 8 years old. Dark hair.
