Chapter 20
As soon as I lock Lola inside, I hear her calling out to me, but I ignore her, catching the sound of dry leaves being crushed underfoot.
The footsteps grow louder, and soon it sounds like someone's running behind the house. I go after them, running for a stretch until I spot a man up ahead. I don't recognize him—I just follow.
The son of a bitch runs like a rabbit darting between the trees, but he doesn't know I'm used to running these woods when I'm alone. And I know exactly what to do.
I take a shortcut and run to cut him off up ahead. I stop, staying completely focused, and hear his footsteps approaching.
The moment he comes around where I'm standing, I stick out my arm and he slams right into it. He was running so fast he falls hard on his back. I grab him by the collar and punch him in the face.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” He doesn't say anything. I squeeze his throat. “Talk.”
“I was just passing by and stopped…” He lies right to my face.
“Bullshit. How did you get in? This is private property.” I shake him by the collar.
“I didn't know,” he groans.
“You better talk, and fast.” I squeeze his neck a little harder.
He manages to throw me off and lands a punch. I hit back, and we trade blows—punches and elbows to his face—until he goes down again.
I pound his face with pure hatred, watching blood pour from his mouth, teeth coming loose.
“Tell me who sent you or I'll kill you,” I insist.
“I don't know. I was just hired by some guy I know to watch you and let him know when you left. He wanted the girl's routine, her every move,” he spills everything.
“The guy's name.” I press the gun to his head.
“Rick.”
“What do you know about this guy?” I pistol-whip him across the forehead.
“He works for a mobster, some guy named Accioly.” He spits blood onto the ground.
“And what does this guy want?” I say through gritted teeth.
“Let me go, sir, please. I'll never come back here.”
I punch him one more time and let him go. As soon as he starts walking away, he turns back and says:
“By the way, your girl's hot. He probably wants another little whore for his harem…” And he runs, barely able to stay on his feet.
Rage takes over. I can't think straight. Nobody talks about my woman like that.
I aim my revolver and fire, hitting him in the back. He falls. Further ahead there's a boat—maybe it's his.
Let's see what Accioly thinks when he finds out the guy his henchman hired is dead.
I wasn't going to let him live after that crack about my Lola anyway. He was already done for.
I get home and open the door. Lola looks at me with desperation in her eyes.
“My God, what happened, Lorenzo? Why are you covered in blood? Why did you lock me in here?”
“Calm down, my love, calm down.”
I take off my shirt and head to the bathroom. She follows me, looking horrified.
“Tell me what happened. Are you hurt?”
“No, I'm fine.” I strip off my clothes and step into the shower.
“For the love of God, tell me you didn't kill anyone.” Her eyes are full of fear.
“Lola, I'm a mobster. People mess with me because they want to.” I start soaping up, scrubbing myself while she stands in the bathroom doorway.
“My God, I'm shocked. Did he tell you why he was here?”
“On someone's orders. We're leaving today, and we're going to find out why he was here.” I step under the water, rinsing off.
“But the danger I was in—am I still in danger?”
“You are. The girls are going to stay where they are, and you're coming back home with me, but nobody's going to know you're there.” I step out wrapped in a towel.
She sits on the bed, looking at me with tears in her eyes.
“I'm scared.”
“Don't be scared. I'm here, and I'll bring down the world to keep you safe.” I go to her, cup her face in both hands, and kiss her. “Get dressed and let's go. I'll have someone pick up our things later.”
She gets dressed, grabs her purse, and we head back to our reality.
As soon as we arrive at the mansion, I leave Lola with Yná and head out. I call a meeting with my underboss, consigliere, and capo, and summon Accioly for an emergency conversation.
I brief my companions on what happened, and as soon as Accioly arrives, I'm furious—out of my mind, wanting to put a bullet in his mouth. He walks in smiling.
“What's up, Don. I hope this meeting is to tell me you guys changed your minds and decided to do business with us.”
“No, quite the opposite. I want to know why you sent someone after me, why they invaded my property, and why you're going after my woman.”
Marco, Giovanni, and Paolo glance at me in surprise but hide it. Accioly looks even more surprised than they do.
“I don't know what you're talking about, Don Lorenzo.”
“What do you mean, you don't? He told me your soldier, thug, whatever he is, hired him. Some guy named Rick.”
He looks at me and shakes his head.
“I didn't send that bastard to do anything. I'll find out what's going on and let you know. I didn't send him to follow your woman—I didn't even know you had one.”
“How do I know you're not lying?”
“Because I'm not. But hold onto this gold chain as a guarantee that I'll come back and tell you what's going on.”
He takes off the chain and hands it to me. I put it away, and as soon as he leaves, Giovanni speaks up.
“Your woman, Lorenzo? What's this about?”
“I'm with Lola.”
He smiles.
“That's great, brother. I'm happy for you. And by the way, after all this is over, can Carla come work for me?”
“If Yná and she both agree, it's fine by me.”
“Cool, then.”
“Let's go. I need to keep an eye on things because someone's after Lola, besides Veronica.”
“Or it could be her.”
“But she doesn't even know Accioly, I don't think.”
“Can't be sure.”
“Let's wait and see. I'm heading out.”
I head home, dying to get there and be near Lola.