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Rough hands hook beneath my arms and drag me into the street. I scream, the sound echoing in my ears. My shriek is muffled as a cloying scent invades my nostrils.
An endless void reaches up and drags me under.
CHAPTER26
Roman
On speaker phone, I bark, “What do you mean by Ricardo has gonemissing? Did you check his apartment?” This morning has been a shitshow. Ricardo wasn’t at the dock last night to receive and off-load the Casella shipment that finally arrived in port. Now I have to deal with an incompetent underling full of conspiracy theories.
“Um, no, sir. I haven’t checked there yet.”
“Then go. Check. I doubt he’d up and disappeared.”
Ending the call, I buzz for Eve. A moment later she pokes her head into my office. She knows I’m in a terrible mood today, so she patiently waits for instructions. She, unlike Ricardo, is efficient.
If he turns up alive, I’m going to flay him.
“Clear my schedule for the rest of the day. I have to get down to the docks because nobody there can do their fucking job.”
Eve nods. “Consider it done.”
“And call my wife. Tell her I’ll be home late.”
“Yes, sir.” She waits to be dismissed, then ducks out of my office to fulfill the orders I gave her.
I ring for a car, grab my briefcase, and head out to deal with this bullshit. I’m in the lobby when my cell rings. Fishing it from my pocket, I glance at the caller ID.
Shit. It’s Casella.
I consider taking the call, except that I know Don Casella and he’s completely unreasonable when anything goes awry. One detail goes wrong and he’s absolutely inconsolable. I’d rather get his goods unloaded and to him than admit we have a problem. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
His call goes to voicemail. The driver opens my door, and I get in right as my phone pings with a series of incoming texts.
Don Casella
My shipment has been sitting at the dock overnight?
Don Casella
Why isn’t it here?
Don Casella
Who’s in charge?
How the fuck did news of his shipment reach him so quickly? Sighing, I text him back.
Roman De Luca
I’m in charge and dealing with it. On my way to the docks now to unload. You’ll have your goods in a few hours.
Don Casella
A few hours?
Don Casella
This shipment has already arrived late.
