Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
I can’t believe he’s doing this. Why would he freaking do this? And to make it worse, he expects me to just sit here and do nothing. Well, screw that. I’m never going to be the type of girlfriend who sits around and does nothing when her boyfriend is in trouble.
It’s my fault he’s even in this predicament. I need to go to the bar. I need to speak to Denny like I said I would. But I’m also dreading it. How do I tell someone it’s my fault his best friend is sitting in a jail cell?
There’s something else I have to do too. The cops are going to dig through every aspect of Tommy’s life. Which means they’re going to find out how he makes his money because he hasn’t hidden it well enough.
Shit. I could ask Papa for help. But right now, he’s pissed and currently closed in his office with his vory, planning an attack against the Ukrainians. I don’t know why they’re coming after me. Then again, I’m my father’s daughter. If they get to me, it hurts him .
Seeing as I’m running out of options, I pull out my phone and call my cousin. If anyone can help me sort out Tommy’s books so it doesn’t look as though he’s laundering money through the bar, it’s Dante. He’s seriously the smartest person I know.
“Hey,” he answers.
“I need help,” I tell him.
“What happened? Where are you?” Dante’s tone changes from annoyed that I called him to ready to jump into action.
“I’m at home, but I need to get to Tommy’s bar and I need you to help me fix his books.”
“What do you mean fix his books ?” he asks.
“I’ll tell you when you pick me up,” I say. “Please, Dante, I need to help him.”
My cousin sighs into the phone. “Okay, I’ll be there in thirty.”
“Thank you.” I hang up and quickly get changed. Then I walk out of my room.
Neo stops me with a hand on my elbow. “Where are you going?” he grunts.
“Out. Dante’s coming to get me,” I tell him.
“Out where?” he presses. “Papa said you need to stay here.”
“I have to do something.”
“Mabilia, you’re not leaving to go do something reckless in hopes it’ll save your boyfriend,” Neo says. “He fell on the sword for you. Don’t pull it out or you’ll just make things worse.”
“I’m going to his bar. I’m gonna have Dante go over his books to make sure the cops don’t find anything suspicious. That’s all,” I explain.
“I’m coming with you then,” Neo says. “I can’t let you go out alone when the fucking Ukrainians are after you.”
“Suit yourself, but he’s going to be here any minute,” I tell my brother before walking downstairs. I make it to the front door when two of my father’s men step in front of me, blocking my exit.
“Miss, boss says to keep you inside.”
“Well, boss can kiss my?—”
“It’s fine. I’ll take her,” Neo says from behind me, and the two men look to each other before stepping aside.
Huh, guess it pays to have a dick in this family. I groan as I push past the soldiers and walk outside. Just as I reach the bottom step, the gates open and Dante drives up before screeching to a stop.
I jump into the back seat and let Neo take the front. “Where’s Josie?” I ask, because it’s strange to see Dante anywhere without her. Those two are usually joined at the hip.
“She’s with Zio Theo,” he says, sounding anything but pleased. “Where are we going?”
“Don’t pretend like you don’t know where Tommy’s bar is.” I roll my eyes.
“I won’t then. Does he know you’re doing this?” Dante asks me.
“How could he know? He’s in jail because he’s an idiot with some sort of hero complex or something.”
“I mean, he kind of gained some points in my book for doing what he did,” Neo chimes in.
“I wasn’t seeking your approval,” I snap at him.
“Still, a boyfriend in jail is a good kind of boyfriend. He can’t touch you or knock you up from behind bars.” Neo turns in his seat and smiles at me.
“There’s such a thing as a conjugal visit, idiot,” I tell him.
“As if the family won’t have some guards in their pocket. You think you’re getting anywhere near whatever prison he ends up in?” Dante laughs.
“Shut up. Tommy is getting out on bail. Zio Matteo is not going to let him go to prison,” I say, even though I’m not sure I believe the words myself.
When we pull up to the bar, I sigh. I don’t want to tell Denny what happened. The reality that Tommy is in jail because of me. I also don’t really have a choice. I gave Tommy my word.
“Tommy’s friend helps him run the bar. Let me do the talking,” I instruct my brother and cousin as we exit the car.
Then I steel my spine and push through the front doors.
“Hey, Denny.” I smile even though it’s the last thing I feel like doing right now. Denny looks up at me, and then at the two figures behind me. “Ignore them, chaperones,” I say with an eye roll.
“Tommy’s not here. I thought he was with you,” Denny replies.
“He was. He… ah… he got arrested.” I keep my voice low as I lean over the counter.
“For what?”
“I’ll let him tell you that when my uncle gets him out on bail. But right now, I need access to the books.”
Denny laughs. “Yeah, that’s not happening unless I hear it from Tommy himself.”
“Well, if he could tell you himself, I wouldn’t be here asking. Do you really want the cops to come in with a warrant for them first? Because what they’ll find in there isn’t going to help him. I’m trying to fix them. I need to fix them,” I plead.
“You know about the books?” Denny lifts a skeptical brow.
“Of course I know. And so will the rest of New York if I don’t fix the crappy accounting you two have been doing.”
“Okay, head back to the office.” Denny writes something on a napkin and hands it to me. “Password to the laptop. Everything’s done on there,” he says.
“Thank you.”
“How much trouble is he really in, Mabilia?” Denny asks.
“A lot.” I sigh.