Page 59 of Unlock My Heart

I nonchalantly accept the bills, tucking them inside my bra. Maybe I’ll be able to make payroll this week after all. “Now that I think about it, that name does sound familiar.” Motioning for the couch, I take a seat behind my desk.

“Please tell me this couch gets deep cleaned regularly,” Angelo says with a scrunched nose, giving my couch a close inspection before taking a seat.

“Angelo, you insult my honor and that of my husband’s, God rest his soul.” I make the sign of the cross, mentally flipping off the boss.

“Interesting how you married Michele right after Fabien went away,” he comments.

“Michele and I both realized this life isn’t promised, and to grab onto happiness while you can.” The parroting of Michele’s bullshit makes my stomach roil, but I ignore the sensation, going on the offensive. “Do you have happiness in your life, Angelo?”

“I have hit lists, Sienna,” he says in a bored tone. “Does that count?”

I laugh breezily, even though my name could very well be on that list. “For you, it probably does.” Searching through my file cabinet, I find the legitimate books. “Let’s see, a few months ago.” I flip through the ledger. “Ah, here he is: Ellis Harrell. Ohhhh, I remember him.” Pausing for dramatic effect, I continue, “He tried selling party drugs in our house. Instead of killing him, Michele had Ellis’ little side hustle raided by the cops.”

That’s revisionist history. The real story is that after I sent Ellis on his way following the world’s most underwhelming fuck, I called in a favor from my detective contact. Poor Ellis was left holding the bag. Several bags…of pure Colombian snow.

“Anything else you need?” I ask sweetly.

“The audit Nic has been repeatedly asking you for.”

“And I have all the paperwork.” I hold up my stack for emphasis. “Jade left things in quite a mess; it took me some time to sort through everything, but all invoices and monies have been accounted for.” And my feet never want to be touched again.

“Ms. Sienna, come quick.” Jermaine barges into my office, his eyes going wide at the boss. “Sorry to interrupt.”

“What’s going on?” Angelo demands.

“Well, you see…”

“Spit it out,” Angelo barks.

“Cops are in the lobby.”

“What?” I gasp.

With the boss hot on my heels, I enter the lobby to find one of my best clients being escorted out of the hotel in handcuffs, followed by a cuffed Merlot. “What is the meaning of this?” I chase after them.

“Ma’am, stay back,” one of the uniformed officers tells me.

“This is my hotel,” I inform him.

“Oh, good. Then you can come to the station with us to answer some questions.”

“Am I under arrest?” I challenge.

“Well…”

“Then no. All questions can be directed to my lawyer,” I tell him dismissively. Cutting Merlot a warning look letting her know she better keep her mouth shut, I stomp back inside the lobby.

The boss is nowhere to be seen.

Fuck, this is bad.

Nic enters my office, and I know I’m in deep shit. My only option is to go on the offensive. “The family is supposed to have NOPD in their pocket! How can I operate this business if everyone is afraid of law enforcement?”

Nic holds up his hands. “Let me stop you right there. I’m here to deliver a message from the boss.”

“You really going to kill me, Nic?” I call his bluff, all the while my heart’s beating out of control.

“Not today.”