3. Lorenzo
3
LORENZO
“ Y ou’ve been staking out the place for nearly a week,” Aurelio states as he crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his sleek leather office chair.
“I know, and I’m close–”
“But not close enough,” he says, cutting me off. The foreboding head of the family straightens his back and narrows his eyes at me, making me feel about five inches tall. “What’s taking so long? Stakeouts aren’t beneath you, are they? Is retrieving documents not worth your time?”
“No, it’s nothing like that, Boss. I’m just…” What the hell do I tell him? That I’ve taken my sweet time on this assignment so I can daydream about the curvy, radiant woman with red hair and pouty lips?
“I don’t need excuses. I need those documents. Do I have to remind you of the importance of this assignment?” Aurelio pauses for a moment, leaning forward with his elbows on his desk. He looks me straight in the eyes, pinning me in place with his gaze alone. “This could be the key to eradicating those asshole cops who keep getting in my way every time I turn around. They don’t want to be paid off and they sure as hell don’t want to protect and serve their community. Everyone in Vegas will be better off without those men in power. Understood?”
I nod wordlessly, not wanting any more of his ire directed at me. He dismisses me with a tip of his chin, and I file out of his office with my head hung low in contrition. No one likes being called out by their boss on performance issues. The difference is, my Boss won’t hesitate to remove those not meeting expectations by any means necessary.
I pass Enrico, the Underboss, on my way out the front door. I give him a nod, hoping to avoid a conversation so I can get to the task at hand. No such luck.
“I know that look,” he comments, his lips spreading into a good-natured smirk. “Boss lit a fire under your ass?” Enrico asks, already knowing the answer.
“He was just reminding me of the importance of timeliness,” I reply.
Enrico chuckles a bit and then claps me on the shoulder. “You know Aurelio. If he doesn’t have a reason to be upset, he’ll make one up. Today, my friend, you were a casualty of the Boss’ bad mood.”
I’m not used to hearing anyone speak so candidly about Aurelio Caparelli. Men have died for less. Enrico, however, doesn’t seem concerned.
“Take that look off of your face, Lorenzo. You know as well as I do he’s been particularly restless and agitated lately. I’m just brave enough to say it out loud.”
“I don’t know if bravery has anything to do with it. You guys are practically brothers. You can get away with calling him a grouch.”
“Brothers we may be, but don’t sell yourself short. He tasked you with a sensitive mission. Aurelio trusts you, which is saying a lot. The inner circle is growing ever smaller. He’s hard on you, on all of us, because he expects the best.”
I nod and Enrico finally steps aside so I can head out to my car. “Thanks,” I tell him, looking over my shoulder as I wrap my hand around the doorknob. He nods once, then disappears into the Boss’ office.
An hour later, I have my back pressed against the brick building of the Hanson relief. I can’t remember the last time anyone has been relieved to see me. I tend to have the opposite effect on people.
I silently plead for her to trust me, nodding my head once. She picks up on my intentions immediately, pasting on a smile and leaning into me. My arm automatically wraps around her hips, tucking her into my side. Fuck me , she feels so good right here, pressed up against me with my hand spread out over her hip to secure her in place.
“Sorry,” she says, still smiling up at me. “I was going to surprise you at the office.” She’s quick on her feet, which makes me respect the hell out of her.
“You know it’s not the safest out here,” I tell her firmly, hoping she understands this isn’t just part of the charade. I turn my attention toward the fucker who thought he had a chance with this stunning woman. “Any sleazy low-life could come out of the shadows and try to hit on you.” I don’t break eye contact, staring the man down until he backs away a few feet.
He doesn’t recognize me, but I sure as hell know who he is. Detective Dirk. He’s deeply embedded in the ring of filthy cops trying to destroy this city for their own gain. Yes, the mafia has several key members of law enforcement in their pockets, but these cops are an entirely different breed.
“I didn’t know she had a bodyguard,” he says, trying to play it off as no big deal. It is. It’s a very big deal. Not that he was hitting on her, though I’m livid about that as well.
The more pressing matter is that the cops know about the file and they must have some idea of who has access to it. If Detective Dirk knew Florence had the documents on her, he'd have snatched her purse and run. For now, he simply has his suspicions.
I don’t know what possesses me in the moment, but I find myself saying, “I’m not her bodyguard. I’m her boyfriend.”