“We were hoping you could tell us. LAPD interviewed a hundred potential witnesses at the farmer’s market. Not a single one saw anything. Though that might also have to do with the fact that it’s all over the news that the shooting was mob-related, so no one wants to get involved now.”
“Was Juliette mentioned on the news, too?”
My captain nodded. “There’s a video of her walking into the hospital covered in blood that’s playing with the headline.”
Shit. That was going to blow the cover she’d spent years building in LA. Now everyone will know who her father is.
“Did you get a look at the guy who shot you?” my captain asked.
I hesitated. “Saw a guy who looked suspicious when we first walked into the market, but I can’t remember what he looks like now.”
Chief Olson chimed in. “We’re working the cameras in the surrounding area and going door to door. Doesn’t matter if you work in New York. I consider you one of my men while you’re working out here. We’ll find the guy who did this to you.”
“Thanks, Chief.”
“Anything else you can think of before we hang up?” my captain asked.
I shook my head.
“Chief Olson, do you think you can put a few guys on the floor to keep an eye on Officer Callahan?”
“Sure thing.”
I tried to lift my head but winced. “I don’t need anyone watching me.”
“I’m not going to leave you unprotected while you’re vulnerable, lying in a bed,” Captain Rourke said. “There’s the off chance that the bullet struck its intended target and someone might come back to finish the job.”
“You think someone was trying to takemeout, not Juliette?”
Captain Rourke frowned. “I don’t know, Wes. Did you do anything that might piss off the girl’s father?”
CHAPTER 22
Juliette
Detective Barkley sat across from me in a private room at the hospital. I shivered. The room was cold and spartan, and the gray walls felt like they were caving in on me. I just wanted to be with Wes and tears threatened to fall at any moment. The reality of what had happened today came in waves. I felt like I was drowning.
“What is your full legal name?” he asked.
I clasped my hands together to stop my fingers from fidgeting. “Juliette Valentina Ginocassi.”
“What is your relationship to Vincent Ginocassi?” he asked. He looked at me like he already knew the answer, and I was certain he knew a hell of a lot more than that.
I swallowed. “Vincent Ginocassi is my father.”
“Do you have any reason to believe someone associated with or in opposition to your father was behind the shooting at the farmer’s market today?”
I have every reason to believe that. But I needed to be careful with how I worded things. This was a nightmare. My stomach sank. “Honestly, I know as much asyou do.” I shook my head. “So I have nospecificreason to believe anything. In theory, you might think it’s suspicious because of who my father is. But unless you’re keeping something pertinent from me, there’s no evidence. I don’t remember much. All I really recall is Wes covering me. He sprang into action so damn fast—like he didn’t even have time to think about it. I never saw where the shot came from. And once I realized what had happened, all of my attention was focused on Wes. All that mattered was his survival.” I stared across the room in a daze as my lip trembled. “I went to buy honey, and the next thing I knew, Wes had saved my life.”
The detective looked into my eyes for a moment, then wrote something down. “Can you tell me where your father is currently located?”
“Vince doesn’t keep me apprised of his whereabouts.”
That wasn’t a lie. I never knew where my father was at any given moment.Certainlynever knew what he was up to. Didn’t want to know.
“Are you aware of your father’s ties to the mob?” he asked.
I laughed inwardly at that.Am I aware? It had only taken over my entire life and nearly killed the man I loved. It was only the bane of my existence.
