Chapter 27
Shane
I arrive at the precinct and spot Mike in the lobby, deep in conversation with a uniformed officer. The moment he sees me, he waves me over.
"Alright, first things first," Mike says, his tone brisk and businesslike. "We need to ensure your nephew is safe while we proceed with the investigation. Follow me, and we'll get some details from you."
"Of course," I reply, my voice tight with concern.
They lead me to a small interrogation room, the sterile atmosphere making the situation feel all the more real. Mike pulls out a pen and notepad, ready to take down information.
"Alright," he begins, looking me square in the eye. "Where is Jaime now, and who's he with?"
"He's at the Fullmont Resort with his nanny, Gladys Moore. Room 803."
Mike nods, jotting it down. "Good. Hotels like the Fullmont have solid security, especially ones that are as upscale as that. Can you call them now?"
"Yeah, but I don't want Jaime to know anything about this. He can't find out he's in any danger."
Mike gives a reassuring nod. "Don't worry. We'll make sure Gladys knows what's going on, but we'll do our best to keep Jaime in the dark. He doesn't need to know any more than he has to."
I pull out my phone, hands a little shaky. I dial Gladys and try to remember how Mike suggested I explain the situation. As the phone rings, I glance at Mike for reassurance.
"Gladys," I say, keeping my voice steady. "There've been some threats made against me... serious threats, but the police are involved, and I'm with them now."
There's a sharp gasp on the other end. "Shane, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, we're fine," I say quickly. "They just want to take precautions, so you need to stay at the resort. They'll send an officer to keep an eye on you, but everything should be alright. Just... let's not worry Jaime, okay?"
"Of course," she replies, surprisingly calm for someone who just learned of the threats. "You're sure you're okay?"
Just then, I hear Jaime's voice in the background. "Is that Uncle Shane? Can I talk to him?"
I smile despite everything. "Sure, put him on."
"Uncle Shane!" Jaime's excitement crackles through the phone. "We're having so much fun! Gladys said I can swim in the pool all day."
I can hear the splashing of water and children playing. It's surreal how his world is still so carefree while mine is anything but.
"That's great, buddy. Have fun," I say, trying to keep my voice light.
"Did you find Nicole yet?" Jaime asks, his innocent curiosity hitting me harder than I expected.
"We're working on it, bud. Just enjoy the pool, okay? Listen to Gladys."
"Okay! Love you, Uncle Shane! Bye!"
The phone clicks, and Gladys is back on the line. "He's gone back to the pool."
"Alright, Gladys. It's really important that you don't leave the resort." Mike steps in, his voice firm. "I'm putting you on with an officer now who'll ask you some questions and stay on the line until our guy arrives."
"Yes, officer," she replies, her tone steady but concerned.
"I'll call you soon," I add, feeling the weight of it all.
"Take care, Shane," Gladys says softly.
I hand the phone to the officer, who nods and promises to return it once he's done talking to Gladys. Mike motions for me to follow him.
"Let's go to my office," he says, leading me out of the interrogation room.
Mike's office hasn't changed since the last time I was here. The same tattered chairs and dusty shelves still smell like a brand-new car after someone has just smoked a carton of cigarettes in it.
"This guy is really something," Mike says, sliding a file across the desk toward me.
I pick it up, reading aloud. "Raffaele."
"Yeah. This guy's neck-deep in all kinds of shit. Flipping on his bosses back home, planning hits here. A classic Tony Montana wannabe."
"Scarface?"
"Yeah," Mike snorts. "That movie is like the fucking American Dream to guys like him. But, just like in the movie, they always bite off more than they can chew. Same ending, too. Maybe not as dramatic, but they all go down."
Mike leans back in his chair, tapping the desk as he talks. "He's tied up with a new group over here—Le Ombre, or Obsidian, as they like to call themselves. He's making some serious moves. Big targets on his back."
"This is the guy Nicole's with?" I ask, my voice tightening.
Mike nods. "Looks like it. And apparently, she's known him for a while—way before she ever came to America."
"You think she's working with him?" The question comes out before I can stop it, my stomach twisting with the thought.
Mike shakes his head. "Nah, not unless you're working with him, too," he says with a smirk. "We don't have her tied to anything criminal. She's clean, from what we can see."
"So arrest him," I demand, my frustration bubbling to the surface.
Mike sighs, rubbing his temples. "It's not that easy, Shane. If I tell you we've been after him for years, just assume we've tried everything. Nothing sticks. The guy's got a silver tongue and a Rolodex full of lawyers. Half the time, we don't even know where he's gonna pop up next."
"So you know he's committed all these crimes," I say, pointing to the file in front of me, "and you can't do anything?"
"Yeah, that's how it works," Mike says, leaning forward. "We need something solid—something that sticks. If we grab him now on suspicion or whatever, he'll see it coming. He'll adapt, go underground, learn our patterns. The last thing we wanna do is make him an even better criminal. We need something undeniable, something he can't talk his way out of. Once we have that, maybe his connections will turn their backs on him, too."
I look over the file, feeling its weight sinking into my chest. He doesn't look like Nicole's type. At least, not from what I know of her. But then again, I'm starting to realize just how little I've ever really known her at all.
Mike's description of Raffaele sends my mind spinning. This isn't just some thug trying to make a quick buck. This guy is dangerous and deeply connected. I can't help but think about what it must've been like for Nicole to be involved with him. The fear, the control. How long has she lived in his shadow, constantly watching her back? Maybe that's why she couldn't let her guard down around me, why she seemed distant, never willing to get too close. She must have been terrified, traumatized, even. And here I was, thinking it was something I did wrong.
As if reading my mind, Mike clears his throat. "You know, Shane… it's possible Raffaele's got a personal vendetta against you."
"What do you mean?"
Mike taps the file again. "You remember that deal you busted up ten years ago? The one with Robert?"
I nod, the memory flooding back like a bad dream.
"Well, Raffaele was tied up in that, too. We didn't know it at the time, but his fingerprints were all over it. He lost big when you pulled out of that deal. It's not impossible he's been waiting to make his move ever since."
I stare at Mike, the pieces slowly clicking into place. "You think he's using Nicole to get to me?"
Mike leans back in his chair, arms crossed. "It's a possibility. He knows your connection to her, knows she's been close to you and Jaime. That's a lot of leverage. And if he's as desperate as it seems… yeah, I'd say you're a target."
A cold chill runs through me. Jaime . My heartbeat races as I think about my nephew and how vulnerable he is. "What about Jaime? What if Raffaele comes after him?"
Mike's face softens. "Don't worry, Shane. We'll make sure Jaime's protected. He'll be under our watch. But you—" Mike pauses, choosing his words carefully. "You need to be smart about this. We'll handle Raffaele, but Nicole… we might not be able to do anything about her."
Anger flares inside me, a heat I can't suppress. "That's not good enough, Mike. I can't just sit here and let you handle it. I'm not leaving Nicole to fend for herself."
Mike raises his hands in a calming gesture. "Shane, I get it. But you need to think this through. If you go after Raffaele yourself, you're walking into a war zone. I'm telling you, we're working on it. But we need time."
"I don't have time!" I snap, slamming my fist onto the desk. "I'm not going to sit around while Raffaele threatens my family. I'll handle it myself if you won't do anything."
Mike gives me a long, hard look, his face unreadable. "You're making a mistake," he says quietly. "Don't do anything rash. I'll have eyes on Jaime, but you… you're on your own if you go down this road."
"I've been on my own before," I reply coldly. "I'll figure it out." Without waiting for Mike's response, I grab my coat and storm out of the office.
As I step out into the street, the reality of the situation hits me hard. Nicole is out there somewhere, trapped in Raffaele's world. Jaime's safety depends on me making the right decisions. But I can't sit back and do nothing.