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“Don’t even try to lie to me, Rocco Di Angelo. Or do you go by another name now, so the FBI doesn’t know who you are?” I tilted my head, and the man flinched, swallowing hard as Soren’s eyes widened. “I guess he didn’t tell youhowinvolved he is in the family, did he?” Pointing to his right hand, I smirked. “Makeup? Is that really how you try to hide your true identity these days?”
“I—Miceli, I didn’t know.” Soren glanced between us. “He approached me for this meeting. When we discovered the connection in the cases, I wanted someone who could navigate the findings, not blow the case apart.”
I waved off Soren’s worries. No one knew of Rocco’s association—for now. The ruthless bastard played the part of bodyguard/boy toy/agent to a T. I wondered if Kira had seen him, yet? “He played you. I’m not mad. I’m intrigued. So, out with it, Rocco.” I cut my eyes back to his hand as I opened the drawer beside me to retrieve the pack of wet wipes I kept there before throwing them at him. “While we’re at it, wipe that crap off. You’re defiling our lineage by hiding who you really are.”
“I understand this isn’t the best way to be meeting Mr. Daidone. I also realize you have no reason to trust me. However, I won’t disappoint you.” Rocco grabbed the wipes and, like a good little assassin/agent, began removing the makeup from his hand. “I don’t even want to know why you have these in your office.”
I stared at his hand as he spoke, then shook it. “Those were an interesting choice of words, Rocco.”
“Miceli,” Soren chided. “Don’t be an asshole.”
Again, I cocked a brow, this time at the man who I called a friend. “Considering I have more information than they do... Plus, there is the fact he is an assassin like I used to be...” I shrugged. “Everything is a ‘see to believe’ at the moment. For all I know, we’ve been lured into a trap. "
Soren nodded as he stood. “Point taken. I guess I will have that drink after all.” He crossed to the liquor cabinet. “Where are your guests?”
“I didn’t ask them to come. They’re exhausted and healing. We should talk awhile before I send for them.” I glanced at the Agent Di Angelo. “When I’m satisfied I won’t have to kill anyone, then I’ll decide when he meets our guests?”
Rocco threw the used wipes in the trash can beside my desk, his tattoo now revealed to my PI friend. “Soren said you have some information on the Hollis murders. Can we begin there since that has been the agency's focus for the last year?” He pulled a small notebook from the inside pocket of his government salary suit. Not the ones we both knew he’d become accustomed to over the years.
“Fine,” I agreed. “Have you checked Theo Hollis’ office for any type of recording device? Cameras or audio?” If he wanted to play the agent for now, I’d allow it. I’d press for more direct answers later when things were settled between the three of us.
Rocco stared at me. His topaz eyes were vacant, holding none of the answers I needed, or he carefully shielded himself from giving anything away. Neither of which would endear me to him, especially when I knew the truth about him. When he didn’t speak, I looked to Soren, who gulped down the rest of his drink, appearing a tad bit anxious before pouring himself another finger of whiskey then returning to his seat. Good, if he was nervous, that meant my plan was working.
“Agent,” I snapped, growing tired of his inability to answer the question. A simple yes or no would suffice for the moment. “I see no need to continue this conversation if we can’t be frank with each other. We were co-workers at one time, as it stands. The point of you being here is to grant some assurances for the two people staying in my guest cottage, both of whom are tired of running.”
“You said you would help,” Soren pushed. “Don’t make me lose face here with my friend Rocco. Particularly, after you lied to me about you really are.”
“No.” Di Angelo frowned. The simple answer didn’t go far enough. I wanted more.
“No? Never?” If the agency is saying no, does that mean police haven’t either?
Rocco cleared his throat. “The police have been tight-lipped about the case. They went against the bureau’s wishes when they announced Stephanie Hollis was dead a few months ago, along with saying her brother died the day her parents were murdered. We’re not working with them.”
Finally, an answer. “Do you believe they are dirty or someone within the higher up ranks is dirty?”
He frowned again. I’d hit a sore spot. “That’s a complicated answer.”
“No, it’s not. I knew several officers were on the take with different families. Their inability to clean house for this case is telling.” Yes, I had eyes within the department as well, but I never asked for anything illegal to be done for me. I only cared about information I could use against other families and then for my Rosalina after her death.
Agent Di Angelo—that still stuck in my craw—cut his gaze to Soren, who shrugged, giving a curt nod. “There is a virus infecting the police department, slowly spreading to even the officers who have the best of intentions.”
I hummed, acknowledging what I’d already figured out over the years. “Indeed, there is. It’s a pervasive sickness within the ranks. Someone should cut the cancer out before it continues to spread.”
“Likely wouldn’t happen,” Rocco grunted. “There are protections in place. Umbrellas open. Several families at the table who pay too much for their protection.”
Again, not something I didn’t know. However, the confirmation bolstered my confidence in Rocco. “So, you’re hoping to bypass them by gathering information from me?”
“Among others,” he agreed.
“Kira.” He didn’t have to say another word. Her world had blown up in her face longer ago than mine had. She’d been a bebe. Eighteen, getting ready to go to college. Then her world imploded. She single-handedly razed the ground within her family, along with those she knew without a doubt had something to do with her family’s murder. Had we not stepped in to cool her yearning for blood, we would have all gone down because the body count was that high. I couldn’t allow her grief to snuff us all out.
“Again,” Rocco stated, cutting off me off before I could delve deeper.
“You should know her brother is making incredible strides within the Crimson Jackals.” Rocco’s hands flexed into fists, and I knew I had him. “Onyx runs a tight ship, but the boy has spirit.”
“Stop baiting him, Miceli,” Soren admonished. “This isn’t the road we should be on.”
No, it wasn’t. However, we all understood how he left Kira after the tragedy. More so when he popped up as the right hand of Sebastian Goff at the Southside 9’s table. The weasel was like a fucking chameleon, changing his colors as he pleased or as the agency directed him. He had no loyalty to any of us anymore. I suspected he never did, considering the fact he was in a fucking suit.
