Chapter 49 – Amanda #2
I pursed my lips and watched her leave, one of the guards splitting off to walk her out. I didn’t regret my position, but I had a feeling she would never forgive me for taking Vincenzo.
***
Another night of sleeping alone gave me a crazed rush of feeling when I woke. It only doubled when I walked out of the bedroom, nodded to the stone giant named Golia, and caught sight of what waited for me on the kitchen table.
My stupid heart did a little flip.
Damn you, Enzo. He was winning me over—and he wasn’t even around!
I brushed my fingers over the bouquet of flowers. I hated them. Or…I used to. After Vincenzo went to prison, broke our engagement, and didn’t respond to my letters, I decided flowers were just pieces of nature that died. That was how I felt. His fiore left to wilt and rot.
I’d spent years avoiding flowers like the plague. Even the prettiest blooms made me nauseated. I tried every so often to condition myself to them, stopping by a cute florist shop to browse, but it left me feeling sick.
Now, I didn’t dread the beautiful blooms.
Vincenzo sent them since work kept him on the streets. They were meant to brighten my day, to celebrate my new job. Lord, he was the perfect man. He knew how much I loved roses, and this was his way of saying he cared. That he paid attention to details.
He knows things are good between us.
Brushing my fingers once more over the bouquet, I left the loft with the guard. Another waited by the elevator. This one at least was capable of human interaction.
“Ready for your first day, signora?” Sam asked politely as he hit the button for the underground garage.
Golia braced himself against the back wall, eyes glaring at the closing doors.
I flicked a quick glance over my power suit, loving the way the white tailored slacks draped over my legs. “I’m ready.”
“Um, forgive me for mentioning it,” Sam hedged as the elevator slid open. Golia barreled out, swinging his thick head from side to side, assessing for a threat. “But you know where you’re going, right?”
Golia looked over his shoulder and grunted.
Sam nodded and ushered me out.
“Right.” I stepped out of the lift with my head held high. “Why do you ask?”
His face darkened with a blush. “I’m no expert. Don’t mind me.”
The silent guard ambled to a blacked-out SUV, but Sam led me to a sleek, navy blue sedan.
“No, tell me,” I insisted.
Sam only shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
Genuinely curious, I peppered him with questions, but he merely opened the car door. As I slid inside, I realized with a blinding rush of clarity that all these cars must belong to Vincenzo. The building was his, therefore the garage and the vehicles must be too.
When the guard slid behind the wheel, I changed the topic. “Who owns these cars?”
“Signor Messina,” he answered, confirming my suspicion. His meaty arms flexed as he adjusted the seat and mirrors.
“Alright, riddle me this: if the Morelli Famiglia is a non-ostentatious organization trying to stay under the radar, how is it that Vincenzo has so much money?” I pressed.
The guard squirmed as he slid the car out of the parking space. Golia’s blacked out SUV moved in front of us, and another boxed us in from behind.
Great. My commute just upgraded to include a small army.
“Signor Messina is a very affluent businessman.”
“What does that mean?” I pushed.
Sam looked like he would rather eat a box of nails. “No one knows how he did it, but when he came back from upstate, he built his own empire when he wasn’t working directly for the don.”
“How?” I leaned back, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Signora,” the guard groaned.
I didn’t let up. It was good practice, plus I was enjoying putting pressure on someone who looked like they could snap me like a toothpick.
“He either had capital, or he had friends with capital,” I hedged. “Who does he spend his time with in New York?”
The guard ground his teeth and turned up the radio. The news station crackled through the cab, the broadcaster prattling about the rain.
“What does your don think of his success?” I asked over the volume.
Sam pretended not to hear me.
“How long have you worked for Vincenzo?” I tapped my index finger against my arm. “Has your loyalty to the famiglia ever been questioned for prioritizing Messina’s needs, like guarding me, over more important work?”
“Basta!” the guard choked. “Signora, per favore. Abbi pietà!”
“Alright, I’ll have mercy, but answer one question,” I insisted.
Sam turned off the radio. “What?”
“Why did you ask me if I knew where I was going in the elevator?” I kept the smile of triumph from my voice as I cornered him with the question I truly wanted the answer to.
The guard sighed. He pointed to the windshield where fat drops were landing after falling free from the sky.
“McDonagh works construction.” Sam rolled his hand as if those two things made sense.
“And?” I rolled mine right back at him.
His voice was strangled. “And you’re wearing all white.”
Letting out a light laugh, I relaxed back into my seat. If that was all…. “Jeezes, you had me worried.”
Sam rolled his neck, as if there were a collar and tie suffocating him instead of a dark tee. “Yeah, well, like I said, it’s not my place.”
By the time we arrived, the rain was falling in a steady stream. My plan to dash into the building was extinguished the moment I saw the chain link fence, the portable offices, and the trucks working on site. The temptation to ask Sam if this was the right place was strong, but I bit my tongue.
“Samuele, are you escorting her to the gate?” a voice asked over the static walkie-talkie that I didn’t know was in the center console.
“Si, si,” Sam muttered.
Hugging my purse to my chest, I emerged from the vehicle before the guard had the chance to rush around with an umbrella. I strode to the gate where a surly worker in a neon vest scowled at me from under a check-in post.
“I’m here to see Mr. McDonagh,” I clipped out.
The woman scrunched her puffy cheeks and tapped on a tablet. “Name?”
“Amanda Messina.” A small thrill shot down my spine that had nothing to do with the rain pelting my shoulders.
“I don’t see an Amanda,” she muttered.
“Noel?” I offered, using the alias that once had been my cover so no whispers about me being in the underworld drifted to my father.
“Yeah, that’s you.” She held up her hand. “You’re going to need one of these.”
She thrust a yellow hard hat at me, not bothering to wipe off the dirt from the outside. I gingerly took it, ignoring Sam’s gaze. He was no doubt laughing on the inside at me for wearing all white.
“He’s not on my list,” the woman barked, jerking a thumb at Sam.
“Because I’ll be takin over from here,” a smooth tenor offered, and a giant of a man stepped around the opposite side of the gate booth. “The name’s Connor.”
“Pleased to meet you.” I gave him a nod, not wanting to get close to the man in the crisp suit with tattoos playing peek-a-boo over the collar. His energy screamed underworld, and if he was my escort, he no doubt worked closely with Liam.
“Let’s go. Boss is already in a kettle o’hot water this morning,” Connor drawled, sweeping his arm toward the fence.
I gave Sam a small wave that he didn’t return. He was no doubt glad to get rid of me for the day. It was a strange rush of excitement to venture into the construction site. Vincenzo must really trust Liam if he knew his goons wouldn’t be babysitting me all day.
He must trust me.
I felt more free, more alive than I had in a long time.
The anticipation for a new job, for a grand adventure, gave me a spring in my step.
Or would have, if I wasn’t too busy picking my way carefully over the temporary walkway that was just a bunch of planks strewn over the ground.
The spike of my stilettos threatened to catch with each step, and I focused on not face-planting in the growing pools of muddy water on my first day.
Around me, equipment clanged. Diesel exhaust plumed in the air, lending a certain vigor to the atmosphere.
From all directions, men shouted to be heard above the noise of beeps, buzzes, and incessant hammering.
It was a brutal, barbaric symphony, and I enjoyed the rush of energy.
This place felt alive. More so than any office I’d ever worked in.
“Liam’s in here.” Connor jogged up three metal steps and pulled open a door to one of the portables.
Angry voices rang out from inside.
I stepped past a fragile, crusty-looking secretary and followed my guide to the inner office.
The man behind the desk snapped his gaze to mine.
The blood in my veins stopped moving, frozen by the energy radiating from him.
It wasn’t a full mask; it wasn’t my masked stalker.
The half mask was reminiscent of something from the Phantom of the Opera, covering his eyes and the right side of his face.
I stifled a shudder because even though the mask was comical in broad daylight, there was something terrifying about the man.
Seeing him in Vincenzo’s loft had been scary enough. But with my own underworld monster protecting me, I hadn’t had this same rush of awareness. The same feeling of facing an apex predator.
Well, I’m a predator too. And Liam needed legal counsel, which evened the playing field.
“Ah, there’s my lawyer,” Liam growled, leaning over his desk. His fists dug into the flimsy wood, making it bend under his weight. “We’ll see what she has to say about it.”
“Won’t do no good,” the other man sneered, tipping his chin up. “The motion is set to be heard this afternoon.”
I marched into the space, shoulders back. “What seems to be the trouble?”
“He says there’s a fecking problem with the permits.” Liam’s words dripped with acid.
“Let me see.” I spoke over the rude stranger, whose cheeks were mottled with purple rage.
Liam tossed me a folder. I managed to catch it without letting the documents slip out. I thumbed through them, ignoring the city official’s rant. It was instantly clear what was going on, but I scanned each page to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
“These documents were filed with the proper department,” I said calmly, interrupting the tirade. “The committee signed off on them three days ago. There’s no problem here.”
“Take that up with Judge Parker,” the official said, puffing his chest. “He’s put a cease and desist on all operations.”
“I’m not paying a fee to continue working when my paperwork’s in order,” Liam snapped.
“Nor should you.” I closed the folder. “I’ll see Judge Parker this afternoon. You said there’s a hearing?”
“Three o’clock.” The official looked pleased.
“Good, well, that will give you time to make up an excuse for why you’re trying to extort my client for a fee that doesn’t apply to his permits.” I dropped the folder on the desk. “Trying to force a chunk of the profits is an actionable offense, Mr.—?” I arched a brow, waiting for the name.
“Maddison,” Liam supplied helpfully.
“Thank you.” I took a step forward, drawing my shoulders back and staring the official down.
“As I said, this is extortion. Otherwise known as blackmail. I can assure you, this matter can be bumped from a civil offense to a criminal charge very easily. I have several hours before I have to go see Judge Parker, and that gives me plenty of time to gather the information.”
“Well, now, wait just a minute!” Maddison held up his chubby paw, as if to stop me in my tracks. “I have forms that weren’t signed. That’s enough for me to bring in the authorities.”
“And what? Stop construction?” I laughed. “Not happening.”
“The cops are at the gate, boss,” Connor inserted from where he stood to the side of the room.
Liam bristled.
“Good,” I said quickly. “Bring them over, and I’ll personally see that Mr. Maddison is treated to a ride in the back of a squad car.”
“The forms,” the man said weakly.
“There was never any need for those forms, and you know it.” I planted my hands on my hips. “Now get out of here, call off your dogs, and I’ll see you this afternoon in court.”
The man scrambled around me, ducking out of the portable in a frenzied rush to escape.
I let out a short breath and plucked the file from the table. “Can I see any and all documents pertaining to this project? I need to comb through every step to make sure nothing was missed.”
“Have at it.” Liam stepped around his desk, shoving the keyboard in my direction. He took a seat in the folding chair on the opposite side.
I ran a hand over my hair—my drenched, limp hair—and folded into the rolling chair behind the desk. My short nails tapped against the keys as I began my search.
“He was all bluster, then?” Liam murmured.
“Mhmm.” I nodded, eyes scanning the lists of documents in the company’s server.
“Fecker’s dead,” Connor muttered.
I shot a glance to the door. “I would be careful making threats like that,” I warned. “Have you checked your office for bugs?”
“Had the exterminator out over the weekend,” Liam said coolly. “And don’t mind Betty. She’s deaf when she knows what’s good for her.”
The fragile secretary leaned over and flashed me a wink. I liked her immediately.
“Yeah, so this is smoke,” I concluded after looking through the initial proposal which was properly filed last year. “Do you have any competition for this project?”
“Several companies,” Liam confirmed.
“You’ll want to watch them,” I added, continuing my search. “But they no doubt enlisted that city official to throw your project a wrench. Did he say there was a cease-and-desist order?”
Connor stepped forward. “This?”
I scanned the document. “It’s dependent on the original fluff that does not apply to us. But until I get this sorted out, be prepared for more drama from the authorities.”
As if on cue, a knock rocked the door of the portable. Connor and Liam exchanged a look, as the secretary leapt nimbly to her feet to answer. Sure enough, it was a police officer. I pushed my hair off my shoulders, gestured him forward with a warm smile, and set to work to straighten out the mess.
Liam watched me from behind his half mask. By the time I sent the officer packing with an apology for wasting his time and thanking him for his service, the businessman had relaxed a fraction.
“Well, Missus Messina, it seems you and I are going to get along famously,” he said, standing and smoothing his tie. “I’ll have to thank V for letting me know you needed work. And I owe you an apology.”
I quirked a brow, fingers fidgeting with my wet trousers. “For?”
“I didn’t think a pretty little missus such as yourself was such a killer. I won’t be making the same mistake again,” Liam said with a nod and left the portable.