Our fingers graze when he takes the container. Brass knuckles decorate his hands, splattered in what I assume is blood. A discussion about healthier methods of information sourcing will be in our future.
“Do I want to know why there are four men and a dead body on a tarp?” I glance at the guy coughing up blood. Is he missing a hand?
“You want the truth?”
Do I?
“They’re involved in migrant smuggling in my territories,” Benny says. “I needed to stop by Eden, so we picked them up on the way.”
See. Logical explanation.
“Cut away, then,” I say.
“You didn’t answer my question, Trouble. Is dropping off food the only reason you’re here?”
“I don’t know what I’m doing anymore,” I whisper.
“Makes two of us, love.”
Benny lifts my chin and presses his mouth to mine. The kiss is slow, gentle. Men pleading for their lives in the background don’t drown out my racing heart. Nothing about this—him killing people and me prancing in here with lasagna—is normal. But it doesn’t scare me anymore.
“Luiggi will take you upstairs until I’m done,” he says, referring to the man I vowed to beat down on sight. “Thank you for the food.” He kisses the top of my head before sliding his mask back in place, digging his fork into the lasagna and eating with a nod.
My breath catches at his profile. The man is too fine for his own good, with the dingaling of gold Tamar and Toni once sang about.
“Ready?” Luiggi clears his throat. He’s in all black like Benny, wearing tactical gear and an earpiece.
My hand brushes over the gun Benny gave me that’s packed in my bag. I didn’t plan on shooting anyone tonight, but there’s a first time for everything.
“I’m sorry I drugged you,” he says with a tiny smirk as we take the steps to the upper level. “I was following orders.”
“Mhm.” These bullets will follow my orders in a minute.
Luiggi opens a door to an office overlooking the dance floor. Chandeliers reflect through a large window behind a leather sofa.
“Want a drink?” He motions toward the liquor in crystal bottles on the credenza.
“No, thank you,” I say to his back when he picks up a glass. “How do you know Benny?”
“I met him and Andrea after they came back from university. The three of us started in enforcement. I grew our security while Salvatore and Andrea built their businesses and dealt arms.”
“Do you feel left out?”
His hand hovers over his glass. “No. I like what I do.”
“Do you have family in the Scilari?” Tough leather groans under my butt. Has anyone ever sat in this chair?
“You ask a lot of questions.”
I shrug. “Just curious.”
Luiggi steps into my personal space. It’s not inappropriate, but my hand is on my Glock. His stare floats over a long sip of amber liquid. Two dimples appear. “Don’t Americans have a saying about curiosity?”
“Something with cats,” a woman purrs.
She walks toward Luiggi and plants a kiss on each cheek. “Are you almost done downstairs? A private party arrives in an hour.”
A blood-curdling scream reaches the windows.
