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“That’s what working alone means,” Allie says.
Stubborn and reckless. And apparently in a bad mood. She was nicer the last time I saw her. Still, it’s not enough to send me away.
“Let me help you,” I tell her.
The only way for me to know how much she knows is to work with her. Also, that way, I can keep her safe from the Bianchis and find out if they, too, are a threat to Orso.
Allie folds an arm over her chest and taps her chin as her forehead creases in a thoughtful expression.
“Now, where have I heard that before? Oh, right. The other day in my living room. And I answered that. What did I say, again? Right. No.”
I should have known she’s not one of those women who changes her mind easily.
“You’re here and I’m here,” I point out. “We’re clearly working on the same thing.”
“Or you’re stalking me.” She gives me a mocking grin.
“Which I already said I’m not.”
She holds up a finger. “Which is what a stalker would say.”
I let out a breath. Stubborn. She won’t even budge. I guess I’ll have to give her a reason to.
“I know the Bianchis want you dead,” I tell her. “I know who their godfather is.”
Allie’s eyes grow wide. Fresh flames burn in them.
“Do you know where he is?” she asks excitedly.
“No,” I answer.
The light in her eyes fades.
“But I know a few more things, things an agent like you can’t get her hands on,” I tell her.
She frowns. I know she knows I’m right, though.
“We can work together. Bring him down faster. Make him pay for all his crimes.”
Who knows? Allie might be satisfied with that and leave the Ursini family alone. Orso might be happy with that and leave her alone. The Bianchi family goes down. The Ursini family stays safe. Allie gets a promotion. Everyone wins. Except Andrea, who won’t get to kill anyone, but it’s not like him to whine over details or get hung up on hitches.
Allie folds both arms over her chest. “I thought you were investigating the man who was trying to kill me, not the man who sent him?”
“I find Sergio Bianchi, I find him,” I say.
“Ah.”
For a moment, she stays silent as she taps her arm. Then she shakes her head.
“No.”
Now she’s just being absurd.
“Allie…”
She turns her back to me and continues inspecting the room. I guess I’ve been dismissed.
Fine. I’ll investigate the Bianchis myself. I don’t know where they are, but I know they’re not here. Frankly, there doesn’t seem to be anything here to –
My thoughts stop as I hear Allie give a loud gasp. I look over her shoulder and find her staring at a symbol carved into the wall.
It looks like the letter C with some kind of little paint brush. Familiar, but I can’t tell exactly what it is.
“What is it?” I ask Allie.
She just turns to me with a grin like the kind the child sitting next to you in class gives you when she knows the answer and you don’t. Triumphant. Smug.
She wipes it off.
“You know, I believe I asked you to leave. I’m busy here.”
She’s found something, and now she wants it all to herself.
“Fine.” I head towards the door.
There’s no point in arguing with her. She’s made her mind up. There’s nothing stopping me from investigating alongside her and pursuing her lead, though.
Maybe I am stalking her. I don’t care. I’m going to finish this job one way or another.
Then again, stalking implies I’m behind her, and I’m not. I’m a step ahead. I already know where she’s going to be next – something to do with that strange symbol I saw just before Allie drove me away. Thankfully, I have a very good memory, and I’m able to sketch every detail on a piece of paper as soon as I get back to my car.
Now, I just have to find out what it means.
Chapter Five
Allie
Cerena.
My lips curve into a grin as I stare at the enlarged logo on my computer screen – the letter C painted by a nail polish brush and a tiny B right below it. I see it now. And I know what it stands it for, too.
Bianchi.
Cerena Bianchi. So that’s her full name. A former model who married a billionaire and then created her own glamour empire. Couture fashion. Elegant streetwear. Bags. Shoes. Makeup. Nail products, including her signature polish featured in her logo. Perfume. Beauty creams. Sunglasses. Jewelry. Her name is even on earphones and power banks now, all designed to look classy, of course.
Who would have thought such a sophisticated, successful woman would have ties to the mafia?
Not me, but I have proof now. I don’t know how involved she is in family affairs – I’m hoping not at all – but I do know she’s part of the family. I saw Sergio Bianchi’s name in that apartment, too. Now, I just have to let her lead me to him and all the rest.
