The glass door with the engraving, Cartieri Investigations, is right across the hall staring at me.
It’s showtime.
“Are you okay?” Matteo whispers to me.
“Yes, let’s do this.” I look at each of my men dressed in crisp suits that hide their weapons. Their steely expressions wait for my command.
I nod at them and they open the door for me. I step onto the polished marble with the grace of royalty and the hint of a tornado about to form.
The waiting room is clean with chairs lining three of the walls and a coffee table full of magazines in the center. We approach the desk on the opposite side where a young secretary sits at a computer talking on the phone. Her sandy blonde hair is pulled up in a bun and a pair of oversized glasses are perched on her turned up nose.
As we wait for her to finish her conversation, I take in her appearance. She’s the kind of girl that Dominic would like. She has a slender, curvy frame. She works a respectable job. Her money is clean.
Why am I thinking this?
Who gives fuck what kind of girl Dominic likes.
“Good morning, how may I help you?” The woman hangs up the phone and eyes my men in suits.
“We would like to see Dominic Cartieri,” Matteo informs her.
“Do you have an appointment?” She glances at the screen on the computer. “What’s the name?”
“We don’t have an appointment,” I reply.
“Well, Mr. Cartieri doesn’t see anyone without an appointment,” she replies.
“I guess he’s going to have to make an exception.” I tap the top of the monitor.
“Is he with a client now?” Matteo asks.
“No, but he doesn’t take walk-ins,” the secretary protests.
“That’s a shame, well I guess he’s going to have to see this walk-in,” Matteo drawls, moving his blazer aside to reveal a gun in its holster. The soldiers mirror his movement.
The secretary’s eyes widen.
“Don’t worry, we’re not going to harm you. We just want to see Dominic.”
The secretary points to the frosted glass door that reads: Dominic Cartieri, Private Investigator.
I turn to the two soldiers. “Post up outside the door and make sure no one comes in, please.”
They nod and walk off.
“Do you want me to go with you?” Matteo asks, his eyes full of concern.
“No. I need to do this myself. Don’t worry I’m not going to kill him,” I whisper.
“You might not but I sure would,” Matteo grumbles.
“Stay here and keep the secretary company.” I glance over at the shaken woman. “Show her we aren’t as bad as the movies make us out to be.”
Matteo smirks. “Of course, Cugina.”
I smile and turn toward the office.
Here goes nothing.
