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“Okay, enough with the bullshit answers. What the hell is going on? Where is Annabella, Commerce?” She demanded to know.
Commerce took a breath and led her by her arm to another room. A private one the guards used to hang out in. No one was in there.
“I know something happened. I know, so don’t even think of blowing more smoke up my ass, Commerce.”
“Calm down. I don’t need to tell you shit.” She widened her eyes at him.
“But, I know you’re her best friend, that the others are all super close. I get it.”
“Do you get it? Does Ivan get it? Because I’ve called several times all week. It’s been days, more than a week since I haven’t heard a word from Annabella. Not since last Saturday night when she was working at Gables.”
“There’s a situation and we’re trying to handle it.”
She stepped closer and poked him in the chest, surprising him. He was over a foot taller than her and she was wearing high heels.
“Listen to me, buddy, that response, a situation and we’re handling it, does not fly with me. Now I have my own ways of finding things out, and word on the streets is that there was a situation at Gables Saturday night and the Russian mob is on a rampage. Given the bit of knowledge I have, from reading books, watching movies and hanging around your friends, I think that Annabella is in trouble and Ivan is looking for whomever took her. Am I right?”
He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“Where’s Ivan? I’ll talk to him.” She turned and he gripped her arm and pulled her back. She pressed hard, against his chest and he felt that attraction he was trying to avoid. She glared at him. “From reading books and watching movies and observing my friend and his family? Really? I’m not fucking stupid. Word on the “streets” is you got family connections too.”
“Maybe I do, so let’s drop the bullshit and let me help. Tell me what went down and where things are at?” he looked away.
She reached up and cupped his cheek. The sensation was effective to say the least. “Commerce, I’m serious, tell me everything and I will do whatever I can to help. Considering it’s been days since she disappeared from Gables, I’d say you need all the help you can get.”
****
“Are you out of your fucking mind? Do you have any idea how crazy these Russians are? Ivan Sokolov is one powerful badass mother…”
“Vincenzo, enough. She’s my best friend and Ivan and her are in love. That’s why this asshole Volkov took her. Now, the information I got from one of the guards is that she was taken by boat somewhere. They snagged up a guy who drove the SUV. What I was able to find out is that the guy who drove the SUV has a cousin who charters boats for the right price and no documentation.”
“Yeah that’s bullshit. They document everything that way their hands are clean if the cops or feds coming snooping around just like you’re doing.” Vincenzo replied.
“So you think the Captain on the boat who drove them wherever it was would give up the information?”
“If you take me along, hell yeah. Give me a few minutes to make some calls. We’ll go there together.”
Louisa was nervous about being here and asking for help, but this was her family although she tried to separate from them after the whole Mario situation. She didn’t need Mario or her uncle Paulie knowing she was asking for help. Then they would be in her business once again and perhaps pushing Mario on her all over again.
“We may need some back up.” Vincenzo told her as he grabbed his keys and they headed out the door.
She patted her purse. “Got backup right here.”
“You really ready to pile up the bodies Miss professional business woman who’s too good for the family businesses?” he asked, sounding like his cousin, her father, Antonio.
She frowned. “We really need backup?”
“When dealing with these fucking crazy Russians and Ukrainians, I would say yes. They can get nuts like the Cubans and Hondurans, though those guys don’t bother to ask questions and negotiate, they just machete the shit out of one another.” She was forced to listen to him carry on about the numerous gangs throughout the city and how much
things have changed the past two decades.
By the time she got to the marina, she was tired of telling herself she was doing this for Annabella and it would all work out. Instead she feared this would all lead to Annabella’s body. That made her feel sick as well as angry.
“Let me do the talking.” Vincenzo said.
“I think I can handle getting the information I need.”
“Not here. Not how we’re doing this.”
