Chapter 29
CHAPTER 29
C armella
Death was inevitable. In the world that I’d grown up in, I’d known two dozen men who’d died, none by natural causes.
It was a dangerous profession and that’s why so many of the soldiers within at least my father’s regime had lived and partied as if it was their last day. It always could be.
However, I’d never really thought about death until recently. It was always there since I was a medical professional. I’d had required classes on how to deal with patient loss and grief, even guilt. But nothing ever prepared you for facing mortality.
I’d done so twice in one night and remained somewhat shellshocked.
However, the bombshell I’d dropped had to be proven without question or all hell would break loose.
With Santorelli gone, both Alejandro and I knew it was only a matter of time before other syndicate leaders began sniffing around the man’s holdings, likely already laying claim to his territories. I had no idea if news of the alliance had enlightened any of the other half dozen criminal organizations. I hadn’t been told about the politics or wanted to grill Alejandro on the particulars.
And now?
Now I could barely think straight, other than focusing on discovering the truth about Don Santorelli’s death and keeping my child safe. However, the fact Alejandro had a daughter and a sister, both also needing protection, was never far from my mind. He’d told me that Luis Santorelli had a heart condition, but I wasn’t buying his death had been his heart giving out. I’d stake my reputation on it.
“You’re certain you can trust her,” Alejandro said as he pulled up in front of a medical lab facility.
“She’s my roommate from medical school. She and I were very close. I would trust her with my life.” I wasn’t saying anything that wasn’t true. Yet I hated to put her in the middle, but what choice did I have? Alejandro refused to allow me to return to White Plains and my clinic for testing. I couldn’t walk into a traditional facility and not expect news to get out.
Including to the police.
No matter the circumstance or what had occurred or even the truth surrounding Alejandro, I wasn’t stupid enough to want any member of law enforcement involved. That would mean incarcerations if not death for many.
“Ensure she doesn’t talk to anyone. Tell her this is vital without providing her with any details.”
A slight hint of amusement rolled through me. I turned my head, noticing the heavy concern on his face. His brows were furrowed, his gorgeous eyes hooded. I’d never seen him so strained. “Alejandro, I wasn’t born yesterday. I do know what I need to do and what’s important. Okay?”
He softened somewhat and grinned. “I keep forgetting you have many talents.”
“Well, I suggest you don’t do it again.”
“What about the results? How long are we talking about?”
“She has a lab inside. I should be able to get the results within a few minutes.”
“Good. I need to know the truth.”
“Then what?” I asked. It was another moment where I didn’t really desire to learn the answer, but as with a horrific vehicle crash on the side of a road, I just couldn’t keep from asking.
“Then I’ll do what’s necessary.”
“Meaning hunt and kill.”
“If required.” When Alejandro turned so cold, devoid of all emotion, he frightened me, but not for myself. I feared he’d make decisions that he’d come to regret.
I’d already made a single phone call to Marsha to see if she would help. My words had been selected carefully and Alejandro had been standing in the room when I’d made the call. It seemed he was suddenly forgetful about the fact I was a mafia princess.
Even thinking the words brought another shiver. I’d contacted my father after being given the okay, pleading with him to keep my little sister and brother safe. He’d laughed, acting as if he had the greatest army in the world. As expected. My father truly believed he would live forever.
“Why does everything need to end in death?” I asked almost rhetorically. My father’s answer had been because that was the way of things. It had felt like when he’d said, “Because I said so,” when I’d asked him questions as a child.
“It doesn’t, Carmella, but in this case, an entire empire is being silently auctioned to the highest bidder.”
“I understand.”
“There’s something else you need to know.”
He handed me a folded group of papers from his jacket. It took me a few seconds to open them, another ten to comprehend what I was looking at. “Don of the Santorelli Empire?”
“Signed and sealed.”
“You knew about this ahead of time.” I heard the accusatory tone in my voice and looked away.
“You mean of his death?”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t insinuating you murdered him.”
“Yes, you were. You’re right, but not about Don Santorelli. I’ve killed several men, all of them deserving of their fate. To be honest with you, I enjoyed snuffing out their miserable lives. Crime syndicates don’t employ upstanding citizens, Carmella. At least not usually. Even though you’ve done a damn good job of pretending you didn’t care about or learn anything regarding your father’s empire, you and I know better. This business is ruthless, brutal, and unforgiving. However, there is such a thing as respect. If that’s not followed then the world of syndicates would turn even more chaotic, the people involved little more than Neanderthal thugs. That’s not who I am and it never will be. I’m sorry if you think otherwise.”
The silence between us was more gut-wrenching than we’d shared before. “I wasn’t trying to insult you, Alejandro. I’m just…”
“Surprised?” he snorted. “Trust me. So was I when he told me. I assure you there won’t be a single man within the Santorelli organization who doesn’t think they’d be a better choice.”
“Now I can chide you about being wrong. You don’t see what I see, utter respect and loyalty in the men who serve under you. Maybe Don Santorelli knew you were the wave of the future. If so, he was a very intelligent and perceptive man. I’ll be right back.” Even with my hand on the door, I remained rooted in the seat, my nerves getting the better of me. My suspicions were becoming burdensome.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just…” I had to tell him what I was thinking. “What if the substance that killed Don Santorelli came from drugs in my medical bag?”
“Why would you think that?”
“I had some samples that I’d received just before this entire charade began. I’d forgotten to remove them.”
“The drugs you kept could be used as a poison?”
“Any drugs in the right combination could. I just… I don’t know how it’s possible because the bottles are all accounted for.”
“But you’re worried since you managed to drug my men.”
I looked into his eyes and he was already mentally debating the possibility. “What if it gave someone an idea?” I was certain he’d be angry with me for insinuating one of his trusted men would consider something so horrible.
He wasn’t. As usual, he was merely storing away the information.
“As you said to me before, let’s not jump to conclusions. But we do need to find out.”
“I know. I thought the bag was well hidden, but the case wasn’t where I thought I’d put it.”
“Get this done so we can leave.”
“Okay.”
As soon as I climbed onto the sidewalk, a strange series of creepy-crawlies drifted down my spine. There was no real reason. Alejandro had ensured we hadn’t been followed. However, there was so much at stake.
As soon as I walked inside, I felt a little heartsick. Thoughts of my neglected clinic were stronger than ever. Marsha had been a good friend, a southern gal with a penchant for life. She’d learned about my father early on, but had acted as if down south, mafia families meant nothing. She’d also told me from the get-go that southerners performed their own brand of justice.
We’d become fast friends after that.
Our dreams had been similar. Open clinics where we could help those in need, underprivileged families who couldn’t typically afford health care. I’d been shocked when she’d come to New York instead of opening a clinic in her home state of South Carolina.
That’s what falling in love with a sexy professor could do. She would have followed him anywhere.
The world the two of us had envisioned seemed far removed from today.
“Hi, can I help you?” the receptionist asked.
“I’m here to see Dr. Thorn. I have an appointment.”
“My God. How long has it been?” Marsha suddenly appeared. “I’ve got this, Jenny.” She walked closer, dragging me into an embrace. When she pulled away, I could tell by her expression she knew something wasn’t right.
“Too long. I can’t believe you settled in New York. How’s Mr. Hottie?”
She blushed and immediately ushered me into the back. “He’s great, still a flirt, but I have him under control. What about you? You’re a married woman now.”
“Yeah, I guess I am.” I twisted the rings on my finger, even glancing toward the front window of the clinic before following her into a room in the back.
Alejandro’s truck was right there parked in front, the man determined not to let anything happen to me.
“You sound thrilled to death.”
“It’s just… family politics.”
She turned and faced me, folding her arms. “Which is the reason for this visit.”
“Sadly, yes.” I reached into my purse, pulling the three blood samples I’d taken. “I hate to burden you with this, but my clinic is unavailable.”
Her frown was followed by a nod. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“Nothing like that.” That wasn’t necessarily a true statement.
“Then why not take it to a typical lab?” When she saw my frown, she sighed. “I get it. Don’t ask too many questions.” She took the vials from me, immediately moving toward her equipment. Marsha had always been the researcher, checking and double-checking results for every experiment. While I’d been educated like every other doctor in the use of drugs for prescriptions, she’d taken great interest and additional classes in the subject. Her fascination with the workings of drugs, including illegal substances, had never appealed to me until now.
“It’s best if you don’t have but so many questions. What I suspect is that a poison was used to induce a heart attack.”
“Why do you think that?”
I couldn’t tell her the truth. At this point, I wasn’t certain I could trust my intuition any longer. “Call it a gut feeling even though the victim did have a history of heart disease.”
“Okay. I’ll buy that. You were never wrong. Let’s see what we have.”
While we waited for the results, we chatted about our respective accomplishments over a cup of coffee. It felt good to catch up even though after twenty minutes, I felt guilty as well as unnerved.
Marsha sensed my anxiousness and rose from the table. “I should be able to check the results. What if you’re right? What then?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.” Even if I was wrong and nothing had been taken from my bag, the seed I’d planted would ferment and grow in Alejandro’s mind, preventing him from forming another conclusion.
That could lead to an unwanted war.
But between who?
“Well, I think you’re off the hook unless you’ve taken to enjoying recreational drugs.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning you were right, but it appears that the substance used was a high dose of Ecstasy.”
“Ecstasy. You’re certain.”
Marsha nodded. “I ran two different tests. If your victim did have the typical issues often related to heart disease such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, even a moderate dose could prove lethal. If you want to know if and what the substance was cut with, that will take additional tests.”
“I don’t think matters at this point.” I looked away. “I’m right in that Ecstasy can be crushed into a powder and is soluble in liquid.”
“Absolutely. Another reason never to leave your drink unintended if you go to a bar.”
I sensed she was watching me very closely. Alejandro had also mentioned Don Santorelli usually had a cognac before going to bed. Every. Single. Night. Anyone inside the household could have slipped the powder into his drink and he would have never known. “Thank you for your help. I owe you.”
“Yeah, you do. How about lunch in a few days?” Marsha asked in her usual friendly voice, but I sensed she was picking me apart with her mind.
“I’d love that. Now, I hate to say it, but I need to go. I have someone waiting for me.”
“That handsome husband of yours?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact.”
“You better introduce me soon.”
We laughed and I waited as she returned the vials. I couldn’t allow any possible evidence to be left anywhere. “I will. Keep this between just the two of us.”
“You never told me much about your life, Carm, but I’ve lived in this city for long enough now to understand the woman I know as my friend isn’t the kind of woman who can thrive let alone survive in a world of violence. When I was goo-goo-eyed over my handsome professor, willing to follow him anywhere, you gave me a piece of advice. Do you remember what it was?”
“Why do I have the feeling you’re going to remind me?”
“Because you know me far too well. You told me that if I lost myself and my beliefs within the relationship, then I’d end up unhappy and very much alone. I’ve never forgotten that. I’m going to pay it forward and tell you the same thing. Trust in your instincts first long before you fall victim to your heart.”
I studied her for a few seconds before hugging her goodbye. “I’ve missed you, girlie. We’ll do that lunch.”
“I hope so.”
As I head out of the building, her words lingered in my mind. Sadly, if I followed my instincts then I’d run far away.
And never look back.
Maybe she’d seen something in me until now I hadn’t realized.
I was already following my heart.