Chapter 5 #3
She laughed even louder. “Yeah, I’m from New Orleans. Seventh Ward. Same as you.”
I wasn’t sure what to say next. I had to be careful. This felt like standing on a ground that was suddenly separated by sides. One side—the law—and the side my husband’s family operated on—outlaws. Which made me an outlaw too.
“If you’re telling me you were undercover that means…your work is done.”
She nodded. “There’s a bad drug out there now.
Daze is what the kids are calling it. It’s killing a lot of people.
Should have never got into the hands of greedy people.
It’s almost unstoppable now. But—” she opened and closed her hands “—local law enforcement has been trying to stop it from coming into our port. They were unsuccessful, and so are we. I worked at the restaurant because a few distributors are regulars. One guy even sold. So did Remy. But we never had enough proof to catch ’em in the act.
I wasn’t always after Daze. I was at The Port for another drug in the beginning.
If it’s not one, it’s another. A constant war. ”
“Oh? He who should not be named was in on it?”
She nodded. “Yeah, like I said, bad dude. He beat on women, Ari. Which is why I watched him closely with you. I even threatened him. Your husband’s family wants these drugs off the streets too, it seems. After Remy’s hand was taken, the main guy we’ve been after is closing shop, for the time being. ”
“Thank you so much,” I said, reaching across the table, taking her hand. “For having my back.”
“No one deserves to be treated that way.”
“Amen,” I breathed. Then I hesitated for only a second. “Let’s say it’s true about my husband’s family…they’re fighting against this drug…” I cocked my head to the side. “Seems like they might be the good guys too?”
She grinned at that. “The Fausti family operates by their own laws. Which is why we don’t bother going after them.
Even in Italy, they govern themselves. That family is old enough to have earned the right.
They quarrel amongst each other, but they won’t hesitate to fight against a threat.
For whatever reason, Daze is a threat to them.
You know something about this drug. You wrote about it in your book. ”
“My dad was the one who told me that.”
She shook her head. “Sounds like your dad told you something he shouldn’t have.”
I nodded.
She squeezed my hand, then dug in her purse.
She slid a card across to me. “If you ever need me, night or day, call that number. I wanted to give it to you a million times but couldn’t.
I didn’t want to pull you into anything that could get you in trouble.
The other number you have for me is a front. ”
I smiled. “I didn’t tell you I was leaving because I didn’t want to pull you into any trouble either.”
She stood and I followed, and we started walking toward the arched brick exit, which led out to the street. We locked arms, pulling each other closer.
She sighed. “I never in a million, no, a trillion years thought you’d be married to a Fausti.
” She stopped walking and looked me in the eyes.
“Your man knows who I am. He knows everything. That was why I laughed when he tipped me. He gave me money, yeah, but he also wrote on the bill: If you know my wife, I know you. I can see he loves you, Ari, but just be careful, okay? The life you’ve chosen is not an easy one. Always be careful.
“After you left, I followed your trail to make sure you were okay. I didn’t know what happened to my Sci-Fi girl.
We don’t get attached in this job, but like I said, it felt real with you.
I don’t have many friends either. Anyway.
Your trail led me to the storage place. I had a coworker go in and ask some questions.
The owner of the storage place showed the footage of the last time you were there.
You weren’t alone. Remy was there, but so was his boss’s people.
Your book really ruffled some of their feathers.
You’re okay now, but in the future, don’t take ideas for books from anyone—okay? ”
I pulled her in for a hug and she hugged me back.
“I’m leaving thrillers behind.” The emotion in my voice was thick. “I’m going for romance these days.”
“Just as dangerous!”
We laughed.
She tried to pull away from me, but I kept her locked up tight.
“You take care of yourself, Thandie,” I whispered. “Promise me.”
“I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, Sci-Fi,” she whispered. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Do you know where to find me if you need me?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “Your man gave me a number.”
“Good.” I released her. “I never want to lose this friendship. More than friendship. You’re all I have left of New Orleans, besides the memories of my grandparents.”
She swallowed, her throat tight, and I could tell she was struggling with the same emotions I was.
She pulled me in for another hug, making me gasp, then she was pulling away from me, rushing to leave.
My husband seemed to step out of the shadows, setting his hand on my neck.
I leaned into his strength, the solid feel of his body next to mine.
A solider escorted Thandie out, but I noticed he wasn’t stopping at the threshold of the property. He was following her.
“What’s he doing?” I asked.
Rocco shrugged. “He is attracted to her.”
I sighed. “I don’t think…I mean, she’s…law enforcement.” Actually, she didn’t specify who she worked for. She just said she was undercover. So maybe she was an intelligence officer?
Rocco kissed the top of my head. “This will not be the last time you see her.”
I nodded. “But it stills stings to say goodbye.”
He turned me to face him. The intensity in his eyes made my heart feel heavy, and my heart directed the next words from my mouth.
“No.” I shook my head, holding on to his arms. “You are more than enough, Rocco. It’s just that…
ever since I left for Italy, it feels like my life changed so fast, you know?
I just found out that my only friend was working undercover.
In the beginning, she was probably investigating Nonna and me.
That a-hole, you know his name, could have seriously hurt me. ”
Rocco’s hold on me tightened, and his eyes looked crazed.
“I know. I was lucky. But that a-hole aside, it just…hurts a little to let go of the life I had, even if it is for one that’s all mine.” I touched his chest. “Mine. Can you understand that?”
He shook his head. “You are all I see,” he said. “All I feel. If you are here, all is right.”
“Same for me, too,” I said. “But what about how you felt before me? I bet you didn’t recognize your life after, either.”
He said nothing, and neither did I, as we held on to each other.
Soldiers walked through the entryway, followed by Brando holding Scarlett’s hand. Romeo and Juliette were right behind. More soldiers followed them.
Rocco kissed my head again, breathing me in. “You will spend all the money you desire,” he said. “I will know if you do not, and this will insult me.”
“I’m not good with money,” I said. “I run from it.”
“You will not,” he said. “You will not run from anything any longer. You are with me.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
He held me closer.
He had a business meeting. The ladies and I were going shopping.
Rocco told me to pick out furniture for the shotgun house, since I’d be taking Nonna’s things with me to Italy.
New Orleans was often threatened by hurricanes, and I didn’t want to have to worry about how her things would fair.
So, I was going to buy furniture and things that were not as personal.
Juliette had also planned a spa day and teatime for us at a hotel in New Orleans that was Old World English inspired.
Scarlett took my hand as we left, whispering how wonderful it felt that all four of us seemed to feel the same way about leaving—our men watched us, and as we moved further and further away with the soldiers, it seemed like we were leaving our hearts behind.
As I sat in the armored SUV, I watched out of the window as Rocco and his brothers moved closer to us. They were all waiting by the threshold of the rental.
“Don’t ever let anyone tell you that this isn’t normal,” Scarlett whispered, staring in the direction of her husband. “We leave them, they leave us, hearts are missing.”
“So true,” I whispered.
A few cars pulled around us, and men I’d never seen before stepped out.
One of the men was tall, thin, and fair skinned with bright eyes.
But there was nothing weak about him. He seemed fast, strong, maybe even lethal.
He was probably around Rocco’s age. It was hard to tell.
Scarlett said his name was Lev. But he was opening the door for another man as our SUV pulled away from the curb.
Our eyes met through the window, but I doubted he could see me.
I’d seen him before, but where?
He looked so familiar, but I couldn’t place him for the life of me.
Throughout our shopping trip, after we arrived at the hotel and started our spa treatments, the man’s face kept plaguing me.
Scarlett seemed like she wanted to ask, but she didn’t.
Maybe she figured she couldn’t help me as much as she sometimes couldn’t help herself.
But I knew I was being quiet, my head in the clouds more than usual.
But my sisters of the heart, because that was what they felt like to me, didn’t try to make me talk or be someone I wasn’t.
Sometimes one of them would just grab my hand and squeeze or just offer me something to drink or to eat.
I knew I was going to depend on these women. We all had something in common.
We were married to the Fausti Four—Luca’s sons.
At some point, Scarlett’s friend, Violet, from Natchitoches met up with us. Scarlett introduced us, and in a rush, she pulled Scarlett to the side and they started arguing.
“You didn’t tell me about Rosaria, Sandy!” she whispered, but it was loud enough to hear. “And who’s the new chick?”
“Keep your voice down,” Scarlett almost shushed her, bringing her to a different area of the spa center.
Juliette smiled. “Violet’s nice, but she doesn’t keep in touch with us as much as she used to.
She gets her feelings hurt when something happens and Scarlett doesn’t tell her.
But she doesn’t always answer the phone, so…
It’s just one of those things. Violet’s husband, Mitch, was close with Brando, and when that asshole, Olivier Nemours, almost killed Scarlett, Mitch told Brando maybe it was for the best that Scarlett and Brando should part because trouble always seems to follow them.
Brando didn’t take kindly to this.” She waved a hand.
“We’re from a small town, and there’s always drama. ”
About twenty minutes later, Violet took a seat next to me, commenting on the colors of nail polishes I was torn between, cream or red, and then started talking her head off. She was good company, and nice, but my head was still on that man’s face.
I recognized him, but from where…?
During my massage, I sprang up, scaring the masseuse almost half to death. She slapped a hand over her heart and said in a panic, “Is everything okay, Mrs. Fausti?!” All of us had only women masseuses. Guido checked himself. Even for his wife.
“No!” I held the blanket tight to my chest, rushing to my purse. “I need my phone!”
At the same time, Scarlett came barreling into the room, holding her phone to her ear. “Something’s not right!”
“You have Brando?” I asked, dialing Rocco.
“Yes,” she said, her head almost bobbing, like she couldn’t control her muscles.
Rocco answered on the first ring. “Amora.” It sounded like he was already moving.
“That man!” I almost yelled. “Get him out of the house. Now! I know where I’ve seen him before.”
I told my husband exactly where I’d seen him.
In my nightmares.