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Things are moving so fast I can’t keep up. One minute I’m naked and chained to the bed of the most frightening man I have ever met and the next I’m pretending to be his girlfriend.
The fact it regards the creepy senator is the only reason I’ll play along, because of how serious this is. If Senator Billings never made it home, it’s probably because Domenico did something to prevent him and whatever it was, I hope it hurt like hell.
If anything, I’m glad of his protection as I walk beside him out of the room and notice a man sitting on the couch watching us approach.
He smiles kindly, but I see the hunger in his eyes and it’s not for me. He senses an opportunity to bring Domenico Ortega down and I suppose it’s my history that makes me angry about that. I have lived with the mafia for most of my life and have been schooled in the rules concerning that. We protect our own against them all. The feds, the cops and the system. We close ranks and deal with our shit in our own way and even though this could be my way out of a scary situation; I understand it would only bide me some time because if you upset the mafia, retribution will be quick, painful and resulting in a long-drawn-out death.
“Excuse me, Miss…” The detective stands and holds out his hand and then drops it as quickly at the low growl from the beast by my side.
“Corlietti, sir. Flora Corlietti.”
The fact his eyes are raised tells me he knows only too well where that name came from and the resignation in his expression tells me he already knows he will get nothing from me.
He nods toward the couch and Domenico sits down, pulling me beside him, anchoring me by his side as we face the detective together.
“Senator Billings.” The detective stares me straight in the eye and I can’t disguise the contempt in my own as I say wearily, “What about him?”
“He’s dead. Murdered.”
I glance up in astonishment and gasp, “But he just left.”
The detective nods. “An hour ago. I need to hear about your involvement with him.”
My mind is racing because what the hell do I tell him? The truth? I have nothing to hide, but then again, why would I be someone else’s date to my boyfriend’s party? Domenico’s hold on me tightens, telling me I need to play this cool, and I say wearily, “I was asked to accompany him here tonight.”
“Who asked?” The detective pulls out his notepad and starts to write.
“By my employer, Desdemona Gray.”
“Of the Barrington gallery?” The detective glances up, his pen poised above the page.
“Yes. She asked me to accompany him to secure his business. She was hoping I could persuade him to invest in more work and acting as his escort for the night would be in a business capacity only.”
“To your boyfriend’s party. Do you think I’m a fool, Miss. Corlietti?”
“I don’t know, sir. Are you?”
I play it cool because there is something a little creepy about the detective and Domenico’s low laugh almost makes me smile.
I say firmly. “I told you it was in a business capacity. It has no bearing on my relationship with, um, Dom, and he was fully aware it was business. They both did, or at least I thought the senator understood.”
“Why, what happened?” The detective leans forward, his eyes lighting with interest and I say with disgust. “The senator obviously had other plans for me, involving a few of his friends and when he attempted to assault me in full view of my boyfriend and his guests, he was thrown out for his trouble.”
The detective’s gaze falls on Domenico, who nods. “What did he expect? I’m sure any man would have stepped in and asked him to leave. You see, detective...” He leans forward and stares into the detective’s eyes with a piercing gaze that could kill a man’s soul on impact. “Nobody touches my girlfriend but me, and he overstepped the mark. But before you ask or insinuate that we had anything to do with his death, there are enough fucking cameras in my home that will prove we never left the building.”
Domenico leans back and pulls me with him and the detective nods, scribbling in his book before snapping it shut.
“We will need access to the recordings.” He says bluntly and then stands. “I trust you have no objection to our presence while we carry out our investigations.”
“None at all.” Domenico stands, pulling me with him so we face the detective as one unit.
“We will help in any way we can. If you need me, ask any one of my men and they will inform me.”
The detective nods. “Thank you. That will be all—for now.” He stares at us both for a good few seconds before a look of resignation enters his eyes.
“I’ll leave you to your evening. But Mr. Ortega, Miss. Corlietti…”
He glances around the room with a small smile on his lips before turning to face us and saying firmly, “Don’t go far. We may need to ask you more questions.”
