LUCIANO
Luciano pulledup to Willie Boy’s restaurant in Alexandria, drove around back. The hatred he’d been carrying around finally had a target. Never once did he suspect his own cousin was behind the deaths of his family.
Teddy parked beside him. In silence, the men got out. Luciano keyed their way in through the back fire door. They entered Willy Boy’s private salon to find it dark. Teddy flipped on the lights. No one was there.
“He’s always here,” Teddy said. “Do you think someone tipped him off?”
“Who?” Luciano said. “Dante is dead. No one else knew.”
They exited, walked through the restaurant. It was empty. No patrons, no wait staff.
“What the hell is going on?” Teddy asked.
“He’s on the run,” Luciano said.
“Maybe someone offed him,” Teddy said.
“And his entire staff?”
Just then, the front door opened and Tara the hostess entered, then startled. “Oooh, you surprised me.”
“Where’s Willie Boy?” Luciano asked.
“A few days ago, he told us he’d gotten a job in Las Vegas and went to live with his aunt. Anyway, he took off, leaving me in charge. I would have called you, Mr. Santini, but I didn’t have your number.”
“Where is everyone?” Teddy asked.
“The staff freaked out when they saw Willie Boy,” Tara explained. “He’d been roughed up good. Two black eyes. His nose looked broken. He might have lost a tooth too.”
“Don’t forget about his arm—” Teddy blurted.
“Right,” Tara replied. “His arm was broken. Oh, and his pinky. Anyway, everyone freaked and bolted. I just came in to get my things. I got a new job and wanted to clean out my locker.” She handed Luciano the key. “Do you mind?”
“Go ahead,” Luciano said.
Tara made her way toward the back.
“We’ve got ourselves a rabbit,” Luciano said.
“You gonna chase him?” Teddy asked.
“Hell, no. He’ll run out of money or get into trouble and come crawling back.”
“Is the restaurant in your name?” Teddy asked.
“The family owns it,” Luciano replied. “Do you want to run it?”
“Hell, yeah.”
“You got time? You’re already spread pretty thin.”
“This is our family’s restaurant, and it’s gone to shit,” Teddy said. “I would update the hell out of it. If I can’t turn it around, we’ll sell it.”
Luciano extended his hand and Teddy shook it.
Tara returned carrying a small box. “Do you want to make sure I’m not taking anything?”
“Teddy runs the restaurant now,” Luciano replied.
