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“I can’t go right now. I’m at work. The kids will be arriving any moment.”
As if in response to her prediction, I hear the sound of voices the other side of the door, little kids talking, adults too. “We’ll talk when you finish work,” I say, turning and grabbing the door handle.
“Wait, what if I’m in danger?”
“I’m the one they sent to take you out. As long as I’m around, no one will hurt you.” I open the door and step out, blending between the arriving parents, weaving my way through them until I’m outside.
I’m not waiting until she finishes work. I need to know if she has the key. With that, I may be able to do something about this fucked up situation.
I head for her house, passing the childminder’s place. I want to knock on the door, meet my daughter. I don’t do it. It would only scare her. She’s never met me before. Maybe she never should.
I could have said something to Clarissa, told her I know about Sophie. I didn’t do it. Why not?
I get to Clarissa’s place and look for points of entry. In less than five minutes I’m cracking a window and slipping inside, ready to begin my search.
9
Jack’s sitting on my couch when I walk in the door, acting like he owns the place, rifling through paperwork from my dad’s file.
“Who dat?” Sophie asks, frowning and pointing at him as I kick the door shut behind me.
“Just a friend of mine,” I say, fixing a smile on my face as I look down at her. “But he was just leaving, wasn’t he?”
She yawns loudly. “Come on.” I scoop her up into my arms. “Nap time for little munchkins.”
She yawns again and I glare at Jack, but he shows no sign of moving. He just sits there, smiling up at Sophie.
I carry her through to her room, taking off her shoes and then lifting her up again.
I sing to her in a low voice and her eyes sag. As she grows heavy, I lower her onto her back, putting Mr. Bear into her arms before stroking her head. “Night night. See you soon.”
She’s already rolling onto her front. I head out, flicking off the light and closing the door before storming straight back through to the lounge. “Get the fuck out of my house,” I snap in a low voice. “You’ve no right to be in here.”
“You look cute when you’re mad,” he replies, still not moving.
“Then I’m about to look fucking adorable.” I march into the kitchen and grab the biggest knife I can find, walking back through and pointing it straight at him. “Get out or I turn you into a sieve. I’m not kidding.”
He gets up at last and I think my bluff has worked, but instead of leaving he walks up to me, taking hold of the knife and pressing the tip to his stomach. “I’ve met a lot of killers,” he says. “You’re not one.”
“You don’t know a thing about me.”
“I know more than you think. I know your real name is Clarissa Marino. I know your father was the Don of the Marino famiglia. I know your uncle is now in charge and I know someone wants you dead.”
“Bullshit.”
“Believe what you want. Now are you going to stick me or are you going to sit down and talk to me.”
“I swear to God I’ll do it if you don’t leave.”
He still doesn’t move, his eyes scanning my face. This close, I can smell him and I don’t like how good he smells. All musk and sandalwood and leather. “I’m curious,” he says. “Once you’ve killed me, what’s the plan?”
“I don’t have to tell you shit.”
“Got a body on the floor and a kid in there. Going to try to clean up the blood before she wakes up? Call the cops and let them deal with the body? Ever seen a stabbing? Lot of blood in a man. You happy watching all that soak into this rug of yours? Every time you sit down, you’ll remember it, remember what you did to the only man who could save you. Any consolation, you won’t be alive long to regret it.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I’m stating a fact. Though in a crappy house like this, maybe it would be a blessing.”
