AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My car’s not the most comfortable place to spend hours sitting, but that’s what I’m doing, watching Avah’s building. She’s still in there as far as I know. Unless she’s lying in her answer to my text about being curled up on her sofa.
And I don’t see her as a liar.
What she is, though, is very much trouble I don’t need because I’ve looked her up.
Her father is a small fry compared to us, but he’s in the business. And he’s got dealings with Lowlanders.
Then again, so do most people.
Lowlanders don’t like others encroaching or appearing unless by invitation. I’m in a gray area as I’m not high up, and I’m deliberately not packing. But because they are a vital cog in so many things, and their outfit, as Diego calls it, is spread wide and within so many interests and levels of darkness, it’s troublesome.
Checking the time, I notice it’s already two. The activity on Avah’s street has died down for the night. No one is out and about watching. There’s no one around to be spotted. With a sigh, I start my engine and head home.
But tomorrow, I’m sure as shit following. There’s something about what Mia said about that lingerie that doesn’t sit well with me. That along with that note.
Miss Avah may not be up to something, but her father and whoever he’s in bed with just might be.
And some old-school mafia types don’t let their female property go easily.
If at all.
* * *
“That fucker,” I mutter to Tizio, “had a hard face.”
We’ve just finished some predawn work and dealt with a troublesome low-down-in-the-chain for the supply of drugs shipment we oversaw. I didn’t need to be here, and could have turned it down if I wanted, but I don’t do that shit. I’m there when needed. This isn’t just work, it’s family. And we always look out for family.
Besides, a little workout in the physical sense of cracking skulls is good to keep up, especially when those skulls are thick and moronic.
“You’d think they’d learn not to fuck with the De Lucas.”
I laugh and shake my head. Ordinarily, this isn’t our usual, but a point had to be made. We just made it.
“Diego says you’re messing about in areas you probably shouldn’t. For Mia and Scarlett?” Tizio probes.
“Something like that. You got a problem?” I cock a brow and wait to see what he’s gonna say.
“Not me, but he might.” Tizio inclines his head slightly toward the big man himself, Leo. “Don’t bring trouble down, not when we got out of that kind of shit. I’d like it normal for a while.”
“Normal?” I smirk.
“Yeah, you know what I mean. A normal that we’re all used to and not the bullshit that’s been going on here lately.” Tizio grunts and flexes his hands.
“I know what I’m fucking doing, Tiz.” And I do. I’m not a fledgling into our world not knowing shit about it. I know I’ve gotta tread carefully here.
He narrows his eyes. “Never said you fucking didn’t, Nico. And those ladies are hard to deny. Just be safe. Gotta feeling about this, and it doesn’t sit well.”
“You and me both.” I’m not sure what, but I think it’s got more to do with Daddy Dearest for Avah, and the less the De Luca family knows, the more plausible deniability if shit were to hit fans.
“Good luck,” Tizio says.
Leo De Luca leans against his car, impeccable in his suit, as he watches. He eyes me and with a sigh I peel away from Tizio.
“Boss?”
“Christian tells me you were making chit-chat with Mia and Scarlett last night.”
Fuck, this is where things get dicey. Obviously, Christian said something because just as obviously, Mia—Leo’s little sister—refused to tell him jack shit. I roll things in my mind, looking for the right angle.
