“I’m sorry Dominic. I don’t fault you for what you did. I know how much you love your baby brother. You would risk everything for him just like I would do anything for my sister.” I take a deep breath. “I didn’t come here to blackmail you. I really do need your help. Someone tried to kill me.”
He whirls around. For a second I see a flash of concern and worry cross his face. “What did you say?” He walks over and stands in front of me.
I open my coat and lift up my shirt a little so he can see the bandage wrapped around my torso that leads to my chest. “I was shot in the chest. It missed my lung by inches.”
“When?”
“October 6.”
“Your birthday...” he mutters.
“At my party, in my own house.” I adjust my top and close my coat. “Someone in my inner circle is trying to kill me. Everyone at that party was either family, friends, or close associates.Everyone was screened and checked, yet somehow I ended up with a bullet in me.”
Dominic steps closer to me. “I’m sorry, Cipi. I had no idea. But why come to me?”
“Because I can’t confide in anyone around me. Everyone is the enemy now and I feel like someone is going to try to kill me a second time…and they might succeed if I don’t figure out who it is.” I glance down at my heels. “In spite of everything, I still trust you, Dominic. I know you can find the person who did this to me. You take your job seriously and when you start something you always finish it no matter what.”
Dominic turns away from me and walks back to the window. By the way he shakes his head and clenches his fists I can see that he’s at war with himself.
I go against everything he stands for.
I make his morals look like thin glass that’s easy to shatter.
Helping me would make his principles collapse.
But stranger things have happened.
Finally after what feels like eternity he looks at me. “I’ll help you, Cipi. But since you’re asking me for a favor, it’s only fair you grant me one in return.”
His response catches me off guard. “What is it?”
“I need a date.”
“Excuse me?” I must have heard him wrong.
“I really don’t want to ask but I’m in a bind. I need a date for an event this Friday night. It’s a charity event. There will be a lot of rich people at this gala and I’m hoping to land a few clients and check up on some people who need investigating.”
“What do you need a date for?” I stammer.
“To make me look more personable.” Dominic smirks.
“You want to play dress-up and use me as arm candy when my life is at risk?”
“You said the killer is in your inner circle so I doubt the assassin will be at a charity gala with people who have no mafia connections.” He folds his arms. “Besides, you know how to talk to people and convince them to do things for you. I need that to increase my clientele.”
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
“Wear black,” he adds.
“Hell no. That’s the color I got shot in. How about a nice pink gown?”
He holds out his hand. “Deal.”
Reluctantly I shake it then wince as a flare of pain courses through me.
“Are you okay?” Dominic stares at me.
“Yes, I’m fine.” I step back and lock eyes with him. “We will start investigating tomorrow at my house. Around nine will be fine. Everyone will be out and about tomorrow so no one will see us.”
