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I smile and slip on my coat. Grabbing my purse and car keys, I leave the apartment.
As I walk to the car, the hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and I look around. There’s light traffic from those who get up early to get to the office before dawn, missing the worst of the traffic. Some people on the pavement are talking in quiet voices but nothing else to cause alarm.
I climb into my car and am about to start it when there’s a knock at my window, causing me to jump out of my skin. I hear my cousin's low chuckle and roll my eyes before I open my window. “Dominic Sorvino, you could have given me a heart attack.”
“I dropped Sofia off and decided to hang around to accompany you to La Club. It’s where Arianna is working on the reports.” He grins at me mischievously. “Good to know you’re on your toes, though.”
I roll my eyes again. “Will you follow me?”
“Yeah, I’m parked right behind you. I’ll follow you there,” he says, walking away.
“You’re still an ass,” I call, then realize the time, quickly start my car, and pull off with a slight giggle. Hopefully, I didn’t disturb anyone's sleep.
Dominic and I arrive at La Club, and he opens the door for me to get out. I left the reports in my car overnight, so I grab them off the back seat.
The bodyguard at the door lets us both in. The club is silent and a bit eerie. This place is normally pumping, but I know it closed about an hour ago. The staff is still cleaning up, wiping down bars and tables, and mopping the dance floor, and I hear someone complain loudly from the bathroom. No doubt someone threw up the little food they had in their stomach.
Rather them than me, I’m glad I work at the bistro.
We walk into the office where Arianna sits at a computer with piles of papers around her. She smiles at me. “Hey, I still can’t believe you’d get up at this hour to bring me reports.”
“As I said, I had to get up anyway. Today’s specials are fish based, and I need fresh catches. I’m going to be competing with all the other restaurants this morning at the dock.” I hand her the paperwork and stand back. “If you need anything else, just give me a call and let me know.”
“This should be perfect,” she says as she flips through the paperwork. “You’re really thriving over there. I’m so glad.”
The door behind us opens, and Carmine comes in with some coffee. “Hey guys,” he says with a grin, handing a coffee to Arianna and then one to Dominic. “You want one, Kira?”
“No thanks, I’m trying to cut down on caffeine.” I smile. “And I have to be off, you guys have a fabulous day, and I’ll chat with you later.”
They all bid me farewell before I leave and go to my car. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing again, and I glance around—just the usual amount of people going back and forth, regular traffic. I give myself a mental shake.
I climb into my car and drive toward the dock.
Once there, I park, get out and look around again. The sun is just about to rise, and I see several people walking between various fishermen to inspect their goods. I hurry along, not even locking my car.
I take the list out of my purse and smile as I approach the first area. A fisherman is packing out fish on ice, displaying his catches.
“Beautiful tuna,” I say, inspecting the large fish, “I’ll take this one and this one.” I point to two of the fish. “For The Italian.”
“Delivery, or will you take it now with you?”
“Delivery, please,” I say. “Do you have any sole?”
“None today, but Freddie got a haul of some decent-sized ones at the end.”
I smile at the man. “Thanks so much.”
I hurry along the dock and pause at another fisherman. I pick out ten lobsters and ten crabs for delivery and pause. I feel itchy, as though I’m being watched. I look around, but most people are engaged with the fishermen.
I shake it off and head toward the fisherman at the end. “Freddie?”
“That’s me, love.” He gives me a toothy grin.
“Excellent. Can I see your sole please?”
As he’s packing out his catch, I glance around. Down the wharf, two burly men casually walk down toward me. They are wearing jeans and coats, and their beanies are pulled down, so I can barely make out their faces, but I know their eyes are boring into me.
Once I’m done with Freddie, I walk to the other end of the dock, past the men, and up again. I glance back once to see they’ve changed direction and are walking after me.
