AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Of course not," she responded, her tone filled with satisfaction.
I nodded, confirming her assumption. "Exactly."
Sophia sighed in relief, her annoyance dissipating, but I knew this wasn't the end of it.
"I don't think Carmella will let it slide," I added, anticipating the trouble that might follow.
Sophia's face dropped in annoyance, mirroring my sentiments. "Of course she won't. She'll probably go complain to the boss."
"Let her," I said with a shrug.
"But what if the boss demands we hand it over to her?" Sophia asked, concern creasing her brow.
"We can't hand over something that doesn't exist," I replied matter-of-factly.
My plan was straightforward: pretend we had already purged our findings on the Johnson case. Since we were no longer actively working on it, there was no reason to keep the information, let alone hand it over to someone as undeserving as Carmella. Absolutely not.
A glint of realization flickered across Sophia's eyes, and then she smirked. "Devious, Griselda. I didn't know you had it in you."
I laughed and shrugged. "Desperate times call for inventive measures."
I leaned back in my chair, feeling a strange mix of triumph and frustration. "If the boss didn't want Johnson's case to be messed up, then he shouldn't have taken it from us and handed it over to Carmella," I stated, voicing my exasperation.
"Let's get back to work," I suggested, trying to shift our focus away from Carmella and her antics.
As we immersed ourselves in our tasks, I made a conscious effort to ignore the memories of Emilio that fluttered to the forefront of my mind without any warning.
Why couldn’t I forget him?!
I had work to do, and cases to handle, and dwelling on him would only complicate matters. So, whenever his image or the fleeting moments at the club flashed in my mind, I'd firmly shove them aside, pretending he didn't exist.
Was there a point in thinking about a man who ran – well, more like sprinted – to get away from me?
No.
Chapter 5
Emilio
Silently,Itrailedmytarget through the barely lit streets, careful not to alert him to my presence. He seemed convinced that he had successfully evaded me, and that was precisely what I wanted him to believe.
I followed him until he reached an old Chinese restaurant. The building had an air of faded grandeur about it, its exterior adorned with peeling paint and weathered wood.
The neon sign that once proudly displayed the restaurant's name had flickering letters, barely lighting up the darkened street. A few Chinese characters were still visible, hinting at its former identity.
The atmosphere seemed somber, almost mysterious, giving me an eerie feeling. It was the kind of establishment that had witnessed decades of stories, its walls echoing whispers of secrets long kept.
I positioned myself behind a car parked across the street, providing me with a clear view of the entrance and enough distance to avoid detection. The street was nearly empty, the only sounds coming from the distant hum of traffic and the occasional rustle of leaves in the night breeze.
My curiosity was piqued as I huddled in the shadows, peering through the dim light. What business did the mafioso have here? Why this shabby Chinese place? Was it a rendezvous point? Or is it a front for their shady deals?
I decided against confronting him right away. By staying put and observing without tipping him off, I could gather additional intel. Waiting to see what this was all about could prove even more useful.
Mancini’s man knocked on a door, and after a few moments, it creaked open. The dim light made it hard to see details, but it revealed a person who appeared tall and well-built. Mancini thug stepped inside, and the door closed.
My mind raced, debating whether to venture closer for a better look. However, the fact that he had to knock and wait indicated this was more than a casual visit. It was prudent to tread carefully and not alert them to my presence.
As I contemplated my next move, I noticed a faint glow in one of the windows of the restaurant. Shadows danced, hinting at activity inside. My curiosity burned brighter.
