Chapter 4 #2
“Yeah, yeah, and I’m Mother Teresa. I’m not even going to waste my breath Cipriani, I know how smart you are. I know you have all the right people on your team who can cover your tracks, rework things, and make people disappear who get in your way.”
“Do you think I’m a monster, Dominic?” I glare at him.
“Yes, I do!”
I narrow my eyes. “Don’t pretend your hands are clean, Dominic Cartieri. We’ve both done unspeakable acts, I just don’t sugarcoat it.”
“I built my empire on moral ethics. You built yours on blood.”
“Enough with the clichés, Dominic.” I rise to my feet. He mirrors my actions, placing his hands on the desk. I get another clear view of his six-foot-two frame, broad shoulders, and athletic physique that hugs his blazer and slim-fitted dark trousers just right.
“You always thought you were better than me, Dominic.”
His gray eyes flash. “I am better than you, Cipi.”
I take a deep breath and restrain myself from smacking him. “Don’t. Call. Me. That.”
“Why? Does it remind you of who you were before you sold your soul?” he taunts.
I clench my jaw, heat rising to my cheeks. “That name is only reserved for family and close friends who know loyalty and don’t burn bridges for a job.”
His lips part like he’s about to say something but I don’t give him a chance.
“You think you’re Mr. Integrity,” I hiss. “Let’s talk about your brother Enzo.”
His fingers twitch. “Don’t go there, Cipi.”
I lean over the desk to face him. “We should go there. At least I’m upfront about the blood I spill.
You like to hide it. You could imagine my surprise when I found out that Enzo was involved with the Giordano crew eight years ago, stealing cars and running them through chop shops in the south end.
And if I’m not mistaken he has dabbled in the drug trade. ”
A flash of panic flickers across his face before it disappears behind the steel mask.
“You’re lying,” he growls.
“Nope. You must have been crazy to think your FBI badge would be enough to cover it up. You altered his file and destroyed police reports which allowed your brother to not be charged and he was able to start a new life. You, a respectable upstanding citizen who always does everything by the book, falsified evidence to protect your brother, a criminal. Imagine what your clients would think of that or your former employer?”
His jaw tightens and his eyes burn into me. “You have no proof.”
“Actually I do. See my tech guys were able to find the records that you deleted. Someone on your team was willing to give up the information for a hefty prize.” I flash him a grin.
“Everyone has a price even if you don’t.
I have all the evidence ready to go to show the world you’re not the amazing man you make yourself out to be. ”
Defeat flashes across his face and he steps away from the desk. Walking over to the window, he places his hands against the glass, and looks out the Chicago skyline. He doesn’t deny it.
Guilt sweeps over me. I should feel victorious, but instead I feel like shit.
I shouldn’t be angering the one person who can help me even if he is the most cocky asshole on Earth.
Once upon a time we were on the same side back when neither one of us had obligations.
Now we’re playing chess with each other’s sins.
“I’m sorry Dominic. I don’t fault you for what you did. I know how much you love your baby brother. You would risk everything for him just like I would do anything for my sister.” I take a deep breath. “I didn’t come here to blackmail you. I really do need your help. Someone tried to kill me.”
He whirls around. For a second I see a flash of concern and worry cross his face. “What did you say?” He walks over and stands in front of me.
I open my coat and lift up my shirt a little so he can see the bandage wrapped around my torso that leads to my chest. “I was shot in the chest. It missed my lung by inches.”
“When?”
“October 6.”
“Your birthday...” he mutters.
“At my party, in my own house.” I adjust my top and close my coat. “Someone in my inner circle is trying to kill me. Everyone at that party was either family, friends, or close associates. Everyone was screened and checked, yet somehow I ended up with a bullet in me.”
Dominic steps closer to me. “I’m sorry, Cipi. I had no idea. But why come to me?”
“Because I can’t confide in anyone around me.
Everyone is the enemy now and I feel like someone is going to try to kill me a second time…
and they might succeed if I don’t figure out who it is.
” I glance down at my heels. “In spite of everything, I still trust you, Dominic. I know you can find the person who did this to me. You take your job seriously and when you start something you always finish it no matter what.”
Dominic turns away from me and walks back to the window. By the way he shakes his head and clenches his fists I can see that he’s at war with himself.
I go against everything he stands for.
I make his morals look like thin glass that’s easy to shatter.
Helping me would make his principles collapse.
But stranger things have happened.
Finally after what feels like eternity he looks at me. “I’ll help you, Cipi. But since you’re asking me for a favor, it’s only fair you grant me one in return.”
His response catches me off guard. “What is it?”
“I need a date.”
“Excuse me?” I must have heard him wrong.
“I really don’t want to ask but I’m in a bind. I need a date for an event this Friday night. It’s a charity event. There will be a lot of rich people at this gala and I’m hoping to land a few clients and check up on some people who need investigating.”
“What do you need a date for?” I stammer.
“To make me look more personable.” Dominic smirks.
“You want to play dress-up and use me as arm candy when my life is at risk?”
“You said the killer is in your inner circle so I doubt the assassin will be at a charity gala with people who have no mafia connections.” He folds his arms. “Besides, you know how to talk to people and convince them to do things for you. I need that to increase my clientele.”
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
“Wear black,” he adds.
“Hell no. That’s the color I got shot in. How about a nice pink gown?”
He holds out his hand. “Deal.”
Reluctantly I shake it then wince as a flare of pain courses through me.
“Are you okay?” Dominic stares at me.
“Yes, I’m fine.” I step back and lock eyes with him. “We will start investigating tomorrow at my house. Around nine will be fine. Everyone will be out and about tomorrow so no one will see us.”
“Are you afraid of your family seeing us together?”
“I just took a bullet to the chest and survived. I’m not afraid of anything. Are you forgetting that my whole family hates you and would love nothing more than to put you six feet under.”
“Your father always liked me,” Dominic retorts.
The door opens before I can reply and Matteo pokes his head in. “Everything okay, Cipi?”
“You brought your whole entourage with you?” Dominic scoffs.
“We just finished, Matteo,” I reply as I turn to my cousin who has entered the room. He gives Dominic a nod, but the disgust is clear on his face. “Dominic has agreed to help me.”
“How wonderful. Now let’s get you back home so you can rest.” Matteo takes my arm.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Cipi.” Dominic walks back around his desk and sits down.
“Tomorrow?” Matteo repeats as he closes the door behind us. “You’re not wasting any time, are you, Cugina?”
“You never know when the enemy will strike.”
The soldiers swarm around me as I exit the office and head to the elevator.
As the heavy doors close, I try to erase the memory of how good Dominic looked.
He hates me and I should thank my lucky stars he is even willing to help me.
A sickening feeling turns in my stomach.
Someone close to me wants me dead. And to make matters worse, I invited the hater of all things mafia into my home.
In this weird game of real-life chess, I just put my piece on the board.