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“I think she’d prefer Lia Fioreno,” I said and sent Ty a hasty text to call me immediately. “Or soon, it might be Lia Michaelson. That is, if you haven’t fucked everything up.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I brought Lia here, old man,” I said. “She’s been under Michaelson protection since the debacle at your house. Somehow, Ryan White got a hold of her and hired her to break in, to find your intel on Ty and all the other crime families. But you and I both know that White doesn’t have skin in the game—he’s a go-between. Someone hired him. And that was Hendrix. The same asshole who showed up here, roughed you up, and told you to tell Lia that Ty killed her mother.”
Mickey stared at me, his mouth open, and then rasped, “You’re right. I—Christ, what have I done? I thought I was protecting Marina’s kid. But you all… Of course. I’m such an idiot.”
“He came here, right?”
“Yes,” Mickey said. “Made all kinds of threats, beat me up, burned my fucking fingers—such a bastard. But the worst was that he said that he knew about Lia’s debt to theSons,Lou’s goddamn debt, and how this was her only way out. That he wouldn’t touch her, that his fight was with Michaelson. He’d even help her get out town…” Mickey swallowed. “I wanted to believe him, kid. I wanted the pain to stop.”
“I get that,” I said, surprising myself.
Mickey gave me a strangely compassionate look. “I’m sure you do. And I don’t know… I thought maybe Hendrix wanted to run Lia out of town to clean up his loose ends. I’ve been worried—but I’m also on serious pain meds, so it’s fucking with me. I didn’t know what to do.” He sighed. “I see the look in your eyes, though, for all that you’ve got a hell of a poker face. You think Hendrix killed Marina. And maybe even orchestrated the nonsense with Lou Goldin.” Mickey snorted. “Who the hell would give Lou the time of day, never mind money?”
“Shit,” I said. “And you didn’t think to—give Lia a heads up that you might be wrong? You sent her to Hendrix? He could’ve…” I swallowed hard, not even wanting to think what Hendrix did to pretty girls.
“I know,” Mickey said miserably. And I shook myself, realizing I should’ve been recording all this. On my phone, I swiftly went to the voice note app, hitting record, as Mickey continued, “I’m so sorry. God, I wish I could take it all back. But goddamn Hendrix, he had me pinned and was slapping me around. Said he’d go after friends on the force, my family, and Lia. That this was heronly way out, the only way he’d leave us alone. I thought I was doing the right thing... I didn’t know Michaelson was protecting her. Oh, God.” His eyes shut as his head fell back. “What have I done? Is she okay?” Now he opened his eyes. “Did Hendrix hurt her?”
“No,” I said, thinking about Jock. “Thankfully, it was a close call. But repeat what you told me before.”
Mickey heaved a sigh. “Hendrix has to be the one who killed Marina Fioreno. Lia’s mom. It’s his MO. I think he even sent theSons of Celtto fuck with her ex-husband, that’s why Lou skipped town recently. But I don’t think any of us thought he’d go after her kid.”
“I would,” I said in a tight voice. “And so would Ty.” I hit end record and shook my head. “Hendrix also killed Ivan Volksov recently. He’s about to embroil Boston in a gang war if we don’t stop him.”
“Shit,” Mickey rasped. “I had no idea.”
“Look,” I said. “I’ll get some guys to watch this place and keep you safe. You—you could’ve lied about this, and I appreciate that you didn’t.”And you treated me like I’m human.“Call me,” I said, picking up his phone and jabbing in my number, then flashing him the screen so he could see Dan Michael on the screen. “If you think of anything or—just anything.”
Mickey gave me a searching look. “Shit, kid. You’re ten times the man your father was.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re related.”
“Don’t try to sweet-talk me, Weiss,” I said in a flat voice.
To my surprise, Mickey chuckled. “I actually meant it, but no worries.” He gave me a worried look. “Please—please keep an eye on Lia. Keep her safe. Marina… She didn’t deserve that, but God, don’t let that monster take her daughter, too.”
Who sent her into his lair?I almost asked but refrained. Mickey looked old and worn and was giving me a fervent, drugged up look.
“What is going on?” A nurse came storming into the room, her eyes flashing around. “Visiting hours ended twenty minutes ago, young man. And who are you? I didn’t hear that Mr. Weiss had a visitor.”
“Rookie on the force,” Mickey said. “Don’t worry about it, Anna.”
Anna scowled. “Why is your heart rate so high? And that doesn’t explain why we weren’t notified of a visitor.”
“He’s on a special list,” Mickey said with surprising gravitas for a man in a dressing gown. Thanks, kid. You can go now. Give my best to Lia—and your cousin.”
“I will,” I said. “Thanks, Mick.”
With a nod, I left the room and sent another text to Ty, followed by a call. But he didn’t answer. I rushed outside, mentally calculating how fast I could get to the venue where the Mobster’s Ball was being held. I threw myself into the car and pulled out the garage, racing down a side street, and calling Ty again when he answered, sounding pissed.
“What?”
Shit.He’s still mad at me. I whipped the car over and threw it in to park. “Are you home?” I asked, my mouth suddenly dry, hating that I had to tell him this. “Is Lia there?”
“Yeah.” In that one word, Ty sounded wary and less pissed, more alert, and my gut twisted.He knows something is wrong.“Why?”
“She’s working for Hendrix.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
