Chapter 13 – Althea
ALTHEA
It’s been three days since I’ve seen or heard from Enzo. Not that I care. It was a one-night stand. That’s all it can ever be. Especially if I find out that Bash Malgeri was telling the truth and the Venatti have been keeping secrets about my brother.
“Hey, kid,” Officer Doblanski calls from the lab doorway.
It’s the cute nickname he’s bestowed upon me since my acceptance into the internship.
He finds himself amusing. I find him annoying.
He’s always coming in here checking on me, asking me questions.
And not just about the shit I’m working on, which isn’t very exciting or important for him to know since he’s a street cop and I’m logging evidence from a local homicide from a year ago.
My forensic supervisor, who has made it abundantly clear he doesn’t trust me, thought it would be great practice for me.
So, he created a fake file, and I’ve been uploading duplicate photo images of the crime scene into the database for the last hour.
“We’ll go through them later, and you can tell me what you noticed about each frame,” were my instructions before he left me alone in the lab.
Now I get to deal with this nosy asshole, who I haven’t quite figured out yet.
“Good morning, Officer Doblanski,” I reply, pasting on my best practiced smile.
“Ah, come on now, kid. How many times have I told you to call me Tom?” he teases, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest. He’s an older man with short salt and pepper hair, a thick mustache, and thick gray plastic-framed glasses.
“Sorry. I’m still getting used to the rules. Not everyone wants to be so informal around here,” I say as I continue uploading the next group of pictures into the software program.
Tom chuckles. “Yeah, don’t take Michaelson so seriously,” he says, talking about my supervisor. “He’s always had a stick up his ass and thought himself better than everyone else around here because he’s a science wizard or some shit.”
I smile at that. “He is a very intelligent man when it comes to forensic science. I’ll agree to that, but between you and me, I think someone should give that stick a twist or two and loosen him up a bit.”
“I’ll ask around for volunteers.” Tom laughs.
“Listen, some of us are heading out to the bar after work, and I thought maybe you’d like to join us for dinner and a beer.
My wife can meet us down there if you don’t want to be the only female in the bunch.
I just thought it’d be nice for you to meet some of the guys you’ll be working closely with while you’re interning with us. ”
It seems odd to me that a street cop would want me to come meet his wife and have a few beers, but somehow, I don’t think turning down the invitation would be a good idea.
There’s something about Doblanski and the way he’s always showing up wherever I am during work hours that makes me wonder if he’s not on a certain family’s payroll and been sent to keep an eye on me.
Maybe they have him watching to make sure I’m not snooping around in things I shouldn’t be.
It’s definitely something Papa would do if he found out someone from another known crime family was suddenly working for our local police department. He’d be suspicious as hell and probably have their entire lives bugged and monitored.
Hmm.
I make a mental note to check my apartment and my car.
I wouldn’t put it past Enzo to have my shit under surveillance.
It would only be right since he already has a man following me around, watching my every move.
It’s actually sort of cute how he thought I wouldn’t notice.
Liam and Drew don’t seem to have caught on, but I can use that to my advantage.
They’re good guards and follow orders well, but it’s not hard to give them the slip when I want my privacy.
The beauty of it is, they will never tell Papa about my escape artistry or any of the shit I’ve pulled on them because they don’t want him to murder them for being outwitted by me.
Deciding I need to see where this goes, I agree to meet after work with the stipulation that I need to go home and change first and pick up my date for the night. I’ll bring Drew with me in case this is a setup of some sort.
Tom doesn’t argue. In fact, he seems relieved that I accepted his invitation. Which makes me wonder even more if he wasn’t put up to this by a certain Italian enforcer.
Making Doblanski befriend me—as a cop I’m now certain is on the Venatti payroll—would serve two purposes for Enzo. One, keeping tabs on me, and two, having someone Enzo believes I trust to keep me out of shit they don’t want me involved in. Things that I could possibly use against them.
Like evidence of kidnapping children.
Three hours later, I’m driving with Drew to the dive bar in central Dallas to meet Tom and his wife.
I spent most of the ride with Drew questioning whether I’m sure this is a good idea and if I shouldn’t see about another job since the Venatti won’t trust me to be involved in their cases or the lack thereof as it may be.
“What if they believe you’re here to stick a case to them?” Drew asks.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask, dumbfounded.
“What if they think Caspien planted you here to fuck with evidence and cause problems for their organization?” Drew suggests. “That would not only put a target on your back but could start a war between the families.”
“Which is why they should know better than to think I would do such a thing. I’m not about to start a war with the Venatti.
Although our empire is strong, they have more allies.
There would be no benefit to us in causing them any issues.
Besides,” I add. “I’m not looking into current cases to stir up trouble.
I’m only trying to find out if there’s anything here that could lead to finding my brother. ”
“Explain to me again how working in the forensics department is going to help with that again?” Drew says sarcastically. “It’s a cold case, Thea. And the evidence would have been at the Vegas PD, not here in Dallas.”
“It’s a shared databank.”
Drew sighs. “Yes, but wouldn’t you be better served if you used the men your father employs to dig that shit up for you rather than attempting to do it yourself and risking life in prison or worse if you get caught?”
“Ah, Drew. You’re worried about me,” I tease. Then with a cold, unwavering tone I tell him, “I know what I’m doing. I’ll be fine.”
We drive the rest of the trip in silence.
We’re pulling up to the parking lot when my phone vibrates.
Pulling it out of my purse, I open the lock screen and throw up a little thanks to the heavens that we drove Drew's car and not mine, so the Bluetooth wasn’t connected to my phone.
Otherwise, I would have to field a hundred and one more questions about the unknown number and the message they sent.
Unknown: Meet at The Landing Strip club at 9pm. Come alone. Don’t be late. I’ll tell you what you want to know about your brother
I don’t respond, tucking my phone back into my purse. Drew comes to my side, opening my door and helping me out.
“Come on, brat,” Drew teases. “Let’s go get this shit over with.” He ushers me into the bar and over to the table where Tom and his wife, along with three officers from the precinct, sit.
Oh, fun.
An hour later we’re all sitting at the table with our food, listening to the four officers reminisce about old cases and memories of their days as a rookie. Fascinating stuff. Drew looks bored out of his mind, constantly checking his watch. This time when he checks it, I take note of the time.
7:45 p.m.
Shit.
I have to be down near the airport in a little over an hour.
Given the time of night, the traffic, and the fact there’s a hockey game not far from here, I need to leave now.
But coming up with a plan to ditch Drew will not be easy.
Especially since he’s been counting down the minutes to the socially acceptable amount of time we need to be here before we can leave and not appear rude.
His attention to etiquette and social acceptability is strange, I’ll admit, but sometimes it can be helpful.
Like when you want to leave a dinner you don’t want to be at, but don’t want the people you’re with to ask you questions or make excuses for you to stay—or worse— want to do it again .
I’m contemplating my escape when a gentleman in the far-right booth catches my attention. It’s him. The guy Enzo assigned to keep watch over me.
My night is looking up.
I grab my purse and push my chair back to stand up, touching Drew’s hand to gain his attention. “I’m going to the ladies room. I’ll be back.” He nods, then goes back to playing on his phone, completely giving up on listening to the conversation at the table.
I pass the man in a suit on my way and give a small smile.
Upon entering the bathroom, I check that all the stalls are empty and then lock the main door.
I toss my purse on the countertop, removing my gun, two small flat dagger knives and two stiletto hair pins.
I gather my hair up off my neck, twisting it into a tight bun, using a hair tie to hold it in place and the two hair pins as accessories. Beautiful and functional.
Glad I chose to wear my short black dress and garters this evening. I slide the hem of my dress up and tuck each dagger into my garters. Hopefully, they won’t think to search me once I get there, but even if my daggers get confiscated, I’ll still be prepared.
I straighten my dress, check my makeup in the mirror, then shoot off a text to Drew telling him I’m not feeling well, and I’ll be a few minutes. Unlocking the door, I push it slightly open and find Enzo’s man is outside the bathroom in the hallway, pretending to be on his phone.
I sneak up behind him, my gun pointed at his back, and whisper, “You’ll need to do better than that if you wish to continue being my guard.”
He mutters a curse.
“Now, I assume your boss has you following me around to ensure my safety and not because he’s an overbearing, nosy bastard who thinks he deserves to know my every move throughout the day. Right?”
“Sure. If that’s what you want to believe.” The man says with a bit of amusement in his voice.
“Well, then tonight is your lucky night. You get to follow your boss’s orders while helping me sneak away from here in your vehicle,” I explain.
“Are you in danger, ma’am?” His voice turns stern as he stands tall, ready to defend me. It’s actually kind of sweet.
“Pfft. No. The only danger I’m in is of the punishment your boss will dole out when he finds out I’ve hijacked his guard and used him to my advantage.” I chuckle.
“That doesn’t sound good for either of us, ma’am,” he clips. “Enzo can be …”
“Ruthless? Yes, I know. But not to worry. I’ll tell him I took you as a hostage and take the brunt of the punishment on myself.” I mimic a shiver. “Mmm. The things that man can do with a cane.”
“I’m more concerned about what he does with his knife,” the man grumbles. Though he doesn’t seem truly afraid.
“Turn around and walk with me out the back door. I’ll explain further once we’re outside.
” He does as I ask, and once we’re out in the parking lot, I follow him to his waiting SUV.
“What’s your name?” I ask as he opens my door, ushering me in like a gentleman, not like a hostage being held at gunpoint.
He walks around the car, settling into the driver’s seat as he replies, “My name is Stavros, ma’am. Where would you like me to take you?”
I smile. “You know, you’re awfully calm for a man being held at gunpoint.”
“Where to, ma’am?” he asks, all businesslike now.
“The Landing Strip. You know the place?” I rattle off the address and watch as he enters it into his GPS. I take the moment to fish out my phone and power it off, then return it to my purse.
“With all due respect, Miss Drako,” Stavros says.
“Your shooting me is the least of my worries. In fact, you might be doing me a favor if, when this is all over, you could in fact shoot me. Maybe not killing me but putting a bullet in my arm or leg at least, so Enzo will be slightly calmed by my attempt to put up a fight before he finishes the job. Perhaps then, he’ll show mercy and end my life swiftly. ”
His phone rings through the speakers of the car. Stavros curses, and Enzo’s name flashes on the screen.
“I need to answer it, ma’am.”
“No, allow me,” I say, smiling as I tap the screen to answer the call. “Hello lover.”
“Althea? What are you doing with Stavros’s phone? Where’s Stavros?” Enzo’s voice sounds a bit on edge.
“I’m here, boss. Miss Drakos and I are taking a drive.” I glare at Stavros and whisper the word traitor while sticking my tongue out at him. To my surprise, he smiles.
“And where are the two of you taking a drive to?” Enzo growls. I should probably be concerned at the anger seeping through his voice, but instead I find myself turned on at the promise of what that tone means.
“Relax, lover. I’m just borrowing Stavros here for a few hours.
Since you provided me with one of your men as an escort, I figured it was only fair I should put him to work.
Besides, this way he’s doing the job you pay him for …
following me around … and I get a free ride to my destination.
” I shouldn’t poke the bear, but then what fun would that be?
“ Althea .” It’s a warning, I know, but I don’t fucking care. He invaded my privacy by sending his man to keep tabs on me, acting like a fucking caveman who has the right to know my business. It’s high time Enzo Venatti learned just how unnecessary his overprotective stalker tendencies are.
“ Enzo .” I mock. I hear clicking in the background and hit the mute button on Stavros’ phone.
“He’s tracking us, isn’t he?” Stavros smirks and gives a slight shrug of his shoulders. I take the phone off mute.
“Sorry, lover. We’ll have to talk later. I need to get ready for my next date.” With that, I hang up the phone, then power it down and toss it out the window on the highway. Stavros groans, swiping a hand down his face.
“Was that really necessary?” he grumbles. I smile, tapping his shoulder lightly with my hand.
“Yes, yes it was. And Stavros, since we both know he’s tracking your vehicle, I’m going to need you to park a little further down the road from the club. Okay?”
“Fuck.”