I kept my eye on the door. When it finally opened, Lenora’s mother rushed out and saw me. Her face paled. I put both hands up to let her know I wasn’t a threat, but she still calculated everything before she took another step. She was a sharp woman; she’d been married to Giuseppe long enough and was studying her surroundings, as she should. She put a finger up, and the man in jeans walked over. I cursed under my breath. I studied the man. He studied me. I knew I could take him down, but I also knew it would be a hell of a fight. Fuck my life. I didn’t have time for that right now.
“He answers to me, not Giuseppe,” Mrs. De Luca said as she walked over.
“Did he send you for me?” she asked quietly.
“No.”
Something flashed in her face. Concern. Sadness. “For my daughter, then.”
“No one sent me,” I said. “I’m here on my own.”
“Why?”
“A lot of people are looking for your daughter right now. It’s best if I find her first.”
She let out a harsh laugh. “Please. I know what you do. If I tell you where she is, you’ll take her back to her father or worse.”
“There are worse people than your husband?” I crossed my arms. “Enlighten me.”
She blushed and looked down with a sigh. “Look, my mother is dying. Every minute I’m here with you is another I’m not with her.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Nothing hurts as much as losing a mother.”
She swallowed and nodded as she asked again, “Why are you here? Where is Dominic?”
“Back in New York. We couldn’t risk being followed.”
“And you’re sure no one followed you?” She raised an eyebrow. My eyes swung to the guard next to her, momentarily wishing he’d vouch for me so we can just get this over with. I knew he was a jarhead like me. That alone should be enough reason for him to vouch for me. He didn’t.
“Look, Mrs. De Luca. . .”
“Sofia,” she said.
“Sofia, I need to get to your daughter before anyone else does.”
“What makes you think I know where she is?”
“Call it a hunch.”
She studied me for a moment. I wasn’t sure what she was searching for on my face, but I knew she wouldn’t find it. I waited patiently for her next question or statement. She’d either try to quiz me to figure out if I was telling the truth about her husband not sending me, or tell me to go fuck myself. Either way, I was prepared. I wouldn’t hurt her, but I’d need to plead my case until she understood that we were running out of time.
“Where’s Russo?” she asked.
“Back in New York.”
“You’re here completely on your own?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Did you volunteer to come?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” She studied me again. I knew exactly what she was asking me. As if to ensure I understood, she added, “Do you care about my daughter?”
Christ. I laughed quietly. I couldn’t help it. I was going to be fucked in so many ways when this fiasco was done. If I survived Giuseppe, I’d still have to deal with Dominic’s wrath. It was a fair question. It was also the only bargaining chip I had left to play with her mother.
“Yes.” It was a simple enough answer and the truth.
