Chapter 25
Two days after our meeting, Marco comes by the house. We head to the office and he sits down, phone in hand, showing me some photos.
“I talked to the drivers. Some of them said Creta put a personal assistant on that truck heading to Takamura to help with loading and unloading.”
I rest my hand on my chin, thinking. It frustrates me not knowing what they’re up to. Are they trying to hurt Lola, me, or someone else?
“Marco, that driver you said was trustworthy—either he isn’t, or someone’s forcing him not to be.”
“Creta wouldn’t let our driver inspect the shipments. His guy checked everything.”
“Do you have proof of this?”
“I have camera footage showing only his authorized guy in the truck. And I recorded the drivers’ statements.”
“Excellent, hand them over. Remember that cop whose father we saved?” I open the drawer and put away what Marco gave me.
“Yeah, Lieutenant Vida,” he says.
“That’s the one. Have her come see me here at the house. I’ll fill her in on what’s happening. Since she owes us one, time to collect.”
Marco gives me a sidelong look.
“You think that’s a good idea?” he asks, skeptical.
“We need someone who can keep us in the loop on certain things. I’m just going to ask for some information about Creta and his cronies.” I stand up and Marco does too.
“All right,” he agrees.
He leaves. I call Paolo.
“What’s up, Don Lorenzo.”
“Paolo, do you know when you’re heading to Takamura?” I pour myself a whisky.
“I’m on my way. I’ll have news tomorrow,” he says.
“All right.”
I hang up and head to one of the clubs.
When I get home that evening, I pause in the living room. The doorbell rings and the cop is at the door. I greet her.
“Hello, Vida, how are you?” I extend my hand, but she gives me a kiss on the cheek instead.
I’m surprised by the kiss on the cheek, but I play it off.
“I’m great, Don Lorenzo. And as you can see, I came running.” She walks past me.
I close the door and when I turn around, I see Lola at the top of the stairs, watching me with a dead-serious expression.
“Please, this way. Let’s go to my office.”
The cop follows, and I blow a kiss to Lola, who doesn’t move a muscle.
We enter the office. I gesture toward the chair.
“Please, have a seat.”
She sits and looks at me with interest.
“Don Lorenzo, how can I help you?”
“Vida, I need you to investigate someone for me. Everything you can find out about him. And it needs to be fast.”
She looks at me, presses her lips together, and shifts in her chair.
“Who is it?”
“Teddy Creta.” I watch her face to see if the name gets a reaction, but I don’t notice anything.
“Of course. I’ll see what I can dig up as fast as possible.” She writes the name on a piece of paper.
“Vida, keep this off the record, please.” I hand her a card. “This is my number. Call me if anything comes up.”
“All right.” She stands up, shakes my hand, and we leave the office.
I walk her to the door and she turns and smiles.
“I’m so glad I can help. If it weren’t for you, my father wouldn’t be here.” She puts her hand on my shoulder, hugs me, and leaves.
I head upstairs to the bedroom, but Lola isn’t there. I go back down looking for her and find her in the living room. I walk over to her.
“Hi, beautiful.” I kiss her lips, but she doesn’t kiss me back.
She brushes past me and heads up the stairs without a word. I follow, confused. She goes into the bedroom and I trail after her like a puppy.
“Lola, what’s wrong?” I turn her by the shoulder to face me. “Did something happen?”
She crosses her arms and scowls, clearly irritated.
“Funny, Lorenzo. You call me Lola this, Lola that, but that woman you call Vida? Who is she? What’s Vida to you?”
I can’t help but laugh. She pouts, which only makes her more beautiful.
“Well, what should I call her? Tell me.”
“By her name. But judging by how cozy you two are, I’m the third wheel here, right?” She pushes me and starts to leave.
I grab her by the waist and pull her to me, pressing her body against mine, grinning like an idiot. Lola struggles, trying to break free.
“Hey, calm down. Cut it out. What do you want me to call you? Tell me.” She tries to pull away but I won’t let her. “Love, kitten, princess?”
“You can just call me by my name, since you already have a Vida.”
“Babe, stop being silly—Vida is her name.”
She stares at me, dead serious.
“What?”
I laugh again, still holding onto her.
“Her name is Vida—what else am I supposed to call her?”
She covers her face with her hand.
“I can’t believe it.” She laughs too.
“Were you jealous, Miss Aurora?” I kiss her.
“Jealous? Full of yourself much, Lorenzo?” She slaps me.
“Admit it, admit it and I’ll let you go.”
She looks into my eyes.
“I don’t want you to let me go. Ever.”
My heart races—this girl has a hold on me I can’t explain.
“I’ll never let you go.”
I kiss her passionately, and she matches my desire.