Chapter 17
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
REVELATIONS
MINDY
Luca told me the truth even though it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. The man I’m in love with is a criminal. A high-ranking, rich beyond belief, fine as all get out criminal, but still a criminal.
I’m not on some moral high ground thinking that I’m better than Luca, or he’s worse than anyone else. But now that I know the absolute truth, I know he may be guilty of murder. The thing is, I’m not ashamed to say that I don’t care.
I can handle him being in an organized crime family. He’s probably committed unspeakable acts, and I know it’s wrong that I can excuse his bad behavior while holding Ross accountable for his. However, I’m tired of living by black and white rules when the world is so morally gray.
I love Luca. He’s saved me from unimaginable things without asking me for anything. I want him to be in my life, and I want to be in his. This thing with him is more than a fling or affair, it’s real.
I know he’s reluctant to believe me. It’s not every day that someone tells you life-changing news, but I’ve been through so much that I’ve learned to compartmentalize my feelings. I’ve trusted the wrong man in the past, and some might call me crazy for trusting Luca, but I don’t care.
Ross and Luca are two different people. The darkness in Ross is full of loathing and hatred, he’s evil just because he wants to be. And although I see the darkness in Luca, I still see the protectiveness and love he has.
I’ve spent the last week convincing Luca that I still love him, no matter what.
I told him that he didn’t need to tell me the ins and outs of his business as long as he was honest with me.
Some people may think I’m crazy for believing him when he said he would never lie to me, but people aren’t in this relationship.
When Luca had to go to a meeting with his attorneys today, I took the time to finally message Talia back.
I’m not sure what’s going on with her, but the least I can do is be a good friend.
Although she wasn’t aware that Ross was abusing me, she always made sure to text or call me, even though she didn’t know I needed her.
I look down at my watch and see that it’s almost eleven thirty. I agreed to meet up with Talia at a park that’s close to my job. I asked her if she wanted to meet at the brunch café, but she said that she didn’t want anyone overhearing our conversation.
It doesn’t take long before I see her striding toward me with urgency.
Talia is normally well put together without a hair out of place, and now is not any different.
She’s wearing designer jeans and a fitted t-shirt, with a large designer purse.
Her hair is up in a stylish messy bun with tendrils hanging in her light brown face.
Although at first glance she looks like her normal self, I can see the dark circles under her bloodshot eyes. Talia is also fidgeting with her bag while looking nervously around.
“Hey girl, how are you?” I question, trying to keep the worry out of my voice.
We greet each other with a hug and sit on a bench. The park is empty this time of day, so I hope that Talia feels comfortable telling me her news. She sounded so urgent on the phone that it stressed me out.
“Thanks for making time to finally see me,” Talia says in a bitter chastising tone.
“I’ve been busy. Life has been lifeing lately,” I respond, ignoring her tone. “So, what’s been going on?” I question, trying to keep from frowning.
Talia has no right to scold me like I’m a child. We haven’t seen each other, but I can already tell that her vibe is off. She’s not her usual bubbly self, and I can’t imagine what has her acting so out of character.
I will give her the benefit of the doubt because maybe she’s feeling neglected or something. I can admit I haven’t been a great friend to her lately. She’s still unaware that Ross was abusive, and I left him for good. She will definitely understand when I tell her what I’ve been going through.
“You’ve been too busy to see me?” Talia asks incredulously.
“I’m sorry that I’ve been neglecting our friendship, but I’ve been going through it.
I should’ve done better with telling you what was going on, and I am truly sorry.
I was just trying to make it through this situation without bringing anyone else into it.
But I’ll give you the tea on that later.
How have you been doing? Is everything okay with you? ”
“No, I’m not okay. I’ve actually been really worried about you. I heard you left Ross, but I also heard the stories about your new man. He’s a criminal, and you should do the right thing and tell the police what you know so you can get away from him.”
I school my face because only one person could be feeding her information about what’s going on with me. Ross. And if she’s talking to him, there’s no telling what bullshit he’s told her. I instantly go on the defense because I know this conversation is not about to be what I expected.
“I’m not sure why you would be worried about me. I came because you acted like something was wrong with you. ” I shake my head. “I promise, I’m good over here.”
“Listen, I’m trying to help you out. I know you don’t know him very well and any attention you get is probably new to you, but like I said, he’s a criminal.”
“And like I said, there’s no need for you to worry. It’s not your business who I’m dating anyway,” I nonchalantly reply.
Talia shakes her head, sucking her teeth. “Please believe that I’m just trying to make things easier for you. Now is not the time for you to get a backbone. Just do what I’m telling you. Contact the police and tell them what you know about the Dalonzo family.”
I sit back appalled. Talia’s audacity is at an all-time high. She must be out of her fucking mind to think I would do anything she says. I can tell that she has not only been talking to Ross, but she must be his messenger.
“You must’ve drunk Ross’s Kool-Aid. He’s the one who told you to come here, isn’t he?” I accuse. “I see you are his friend and not mine. You have lost your—”
“You know Luca Dalonzo is in the mob,” Talia interrupts.
“Girl, bye. You really have lost it because you sound crazy as hell,” I deny.
Ross deals with some questionable characters on the party scene, and I know Talia, being the party girl that she is, always finds herself in compromising situations.
Maybe that’s how they know about Luca, but I don’t care how they found out.
But it’s none of their business what Luca is involved with.
She’s obviously not my friend, and as soon as Ross signs those papers, he won’t be my husband.
They can both fuck off and never speak or see me again, so Luca being in my life shouldn’t matter.
“I’m not crazy, you are. Ross settled for you, and now you think a crime boss wants you. Do yourself a favor and just sign the divorce papers and turn Luca in. You’re complicating everything!” Talia shouts.
Talia’s face morphs into a disgruntled mask of hate. The evil look makes me lean away from her. I’ve never seen this side of Talia, and I now realize that just like with Ross, I ignored all the red flags when it came to our friendship.
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, but like our friendship, this conversation is over.”
I stand up to walk away from her crazy ass, but she stands as well, sticking her hand in her oversized bag.
“Bitch! You know exactly what I’m talking about. I know things, and I’ve been around the right people. What you need to do is tell Detective Wiley what you know about your little boyfriend, so he will finally be put behind bars where he belongs.”
How the fuck does she know about that bitch detective!
I shake my head because I won’t be telling anybody shit, especially that detective. But it lets me know that Talia’s involvement with the detective is bad news. I don’t know how they know each other, and I don’t give a fuck. It’s time for me to go.
I turn to leave, but before I completely turn around, Talia brings her hand out of her bag and points a gun at me. I didn’t even know Talia had a gun.
“Whoa. Listen, we both said some shit today. That don’t mean we gotta take it this far.” I look around for Jules because I know he’s here somewhere.
Hell, I look around for anyone who might see this bitch with a gun.
Where’s a Karen when you need one?
I keep trying to discreetly scan the area, but unfortunately for me, even though it’s broad daylight, there’s no one around. I look back at Talia, and she gives me a wicked grin.
“Your little bodyguard won’t be able to help you. I’m sick of playing nice. Now, let’s go.”
Talia leads me to a car that’s parked in a secluded area.
I walk slowly, trying to figure out a way to get out of this, but Talia is right beside me with the gun.
I don’t want to make any sudden movements because I have no idea if she knows how to use that thing or not.
But with the wild look in her eyes, it’s a good chance she will use it on me no matter what I do.
When we get to a secluded parking lot, I know there’s no way out of this. Before I can ask Talia why she’s doing this, I feel a sharp pain in the back of my head and everything turns to black.
When I come too, my head is pounding. I lift my hand to grab my head, but it feels as if it weighs a ton. I manage to sluggishly rub the throbbing knot on the back of my head. I feel something wet, and when my blurry vision clears, I see it’s blood.
I’m lying on my side and I know if I try to move, I’m going to throw up. My stomach is unapologetically swirling, and I can feel the bile rising. The last thing I want to do is be sick, but the pain in my head is making me nauseous.
I do my best to try to look around, but I can’t move my head too much. I have no idea where I am, but the dank smell puts me in mind of a basement. It’s dark in here, but not pitch black. There’s also a small window that has a little light coming through it.
I don’t know what time it is or how long I’ve been out, but from the light seeping through the window, it looks about dusk. I won’t yell out for help because Talia’s crazy ass might come in and shoot me. I still can’t believe she did this to me.
I sit up slowly from the hard concrete floor, andmy entire body is aching. If I get out of this, I’m going to beat the hell out of Talia. She smiled in my face and called me friend. All along, she was plotting.
“Why did you bring her here? How’d you get her away from the bodyguard? Cause I know you didn’t have help.”
The voices are coming from right above me, so I can hear them clearly. I still try to hone in on what they’re saying and if I can recognize the voices. I close my eyes and do my best to focus.
“Where else was I supposed to take her? And I did have help. You’re not the only one that can get their hands dirty, you know,” Talia responds smugly.
“I told you to stay away from Ross. He will fuck this up for us.”
“Ross didn’t help me. He doesn’t know anything about this. Your little friend helped me.”
“I’m surprised they had the time to help.”
“Yeah, well, they did. Now, you can use Mindy to get to her boyfriend, and most importantly, I can finally get what I want.”
I frown because I recognize Talia’s shrill voice, but I have no idea who she’s talking to. The voice sounds vaguely familiar, but the pain in my head is keeping me from pinpointing who it might be.
“You’ve always been selfish. Always worried about what’s in it for you.”
“Who else is going to worry about me other than me? I got you what you needed to get Luca Dalonzo arrested, and you fucked it up. How the hell did he get out so quick? You said if I told them about Matthew Besser, they would bury him under the jail.”
“Shut up, Talia. It takes more than the word of a cokehead party girl.”
“You shut up! I told them exactly what you told me to say. It’s not my fault that it didn’t work!”
“It would’ve worked if you gave them the right name, you idiot. You gave them a fake name that can be traced back to you. You could’ve blown up my entire case! This arrest would have thrown my career in the upward trajectory. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you to do shit.”
“Fuck you! It’s not my fault that you were fucking your informant and he disappeared. Just drop off what you know in an anonymous letter or some shit.”
“Bitch, you were the anonymous letter! Fuck!”
“Just calm down, Lisa.”
“You better be glad you’re my cousin Talia, or I would kill your ass right now.
Just lay low, and remember to stay away from Ross.
You two don’t need to be seen together. I’ll have to make it look like Dalonzo had something to do with Mindy dying since my case against him for Matthew is falling apart. ”
“Why do I have to stay away from Ross? I miss him,” Talia whines.
“’Cause I said so. Just shut the fuck up and don’t do anything else stupid. I have to go make some calls.”
I hear heavy footsteps before a door slams shut.
I tightly close my eyes, but the tears still manage to slip past my lids.
My only friend is sleeping with my husband, and is conspiring to kill me with a dirty cop and some other unknown person.
I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but this is some bullshit.
“How the hell am I going to get out of here?” I whisper into the dusty basement.