Chapter 9
Chapter nine
“The bishop watches from within? That sounds like something straight out of a horror movie,” Dominic snorts.
I don’t reply. I’m too busy watching the fabric of his shirt tighten against his back muscles as he moves down the stairs into my basement. The definition is unreal. I hate myself for looking. I hate even more how the memories of the good times we shared are slowly flooding my thoughts.
Fuck.
This is a business arrangement, Cipi. Get it together.
“Bruno was probably loopy from the painkillers and didn’t know what he was saying,” Dominic continues. “But I’m glad he’s okay.”
“It’s too coincidental.” I reach the bottom of the stairs and flick on the light switch. The naked bulbs buzz to life, casting shadows on the boxes and forgotten clutter. “He repeated the exact same phrase that was written on the bottom of the rook.”
“Because he probably saw it before someone shot him.” Dominic walks into the center of the basement and folds his arms. “Salvatore said Bruno had the rook in his hand when he found him. Now are you sure the chess set is down here?”
My footsteps echo across the concrete as I stand next to him. “I don’t know. It might be.”
“You should have just called your mother and asked her where the chess set is.”
“I can’t do that.” I place my hands on my hips and scan the area.
“If I randomly bring up a chess set that I haven’t talked about in years, it’s going to look suspicious.
Then she will start asking questions, and I don’t want her to get involved.
I can’t risk anyone else getting hurt.” I turn to Dominic.
“And Bruno isn’t out of the woods yet. We have no idea what the aftereffects will be from getting shot. ”
“The doctor told you he was drugged up. When the medications wear off, he won’t even remember what he said.” Dominic brushes some dust off a nearby box.
“Everything he slurred at the hospital was chess-related. The king wasn’t supposed to fall. The board wasn’t ready…”
“Bruno has always been a big chess fan. He was very good at it too, from what I remember,” Dominic muses. “Now where would this chess set be?”
“It’s probably in the box.” I run my hand through my hair as I look around at the cluttered basement.
“A box?”
“Yes… the box. Mama brought it over after Dad died. She said it contained stuff he wanted me to have. I never opened it. It was too painful. I was going through a lot and had to run an empire with no one by my side. I’m wondering now if the chess board was in there because we used to play together.
” I walk over to the stack of boxes and begin moving them.
“Check the ones on the shelves over there.”
Dominic strolls over to the left side of the basement and begins removing the clutter.
“Bruno also mentioned dead butterfly wings,” I mutter, lifting the cover of a random box only to find junk.
“Maybe he saw a dead butterfly on the ground after he got shot in the head,” Dominic offers.
“No, there are no flowers around the warehouse.”
“That’s never stopped a butterfly from flying anywhere before.” Dominic takes down another box. “Christmas decorations.” Then he puts it on a nearby table.
“Why are you not taking this seriously?” Frustration lingers in my tone.
“Because comments made by a man high on meds aren’t credible and it’s not helping us figure out who is behind this.”
I whirl around to face him. “Don’t you understand the dead butterfly is a reference to me. My dad, Bruno, and Salvatore always called me Farfalla, butterfly, he’s saying I’m going to die.”
“I’m well aware of your nickname, Cipi.” Dominic retorts. He takes out his phone. “If it makes you feel better I’m going to make a note to check on that. It sounds like he pulled these comments from a book or something.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“So Bruno is a poet now?”
“Just shut up.” I groan. “You’re not being helpful at all. I know there is a connection with the chess pieces and the attempted assassinations. I just don’t know how.”
Turning back to the task at hand, I read the faded handwriting scrawled across the lids.
Christmas decorations.
Halloween decorations.
Easter decorations.
Who knew I had this many decorations.
Then I see notes about old ledgers and surveillance backup tapes.
“I’m kind of hoping the chess set isn’t in here,” Dominic muses. “That would mean someone had to break into your house and come down here to get it.” He pulls down a few boxes from the top shelf.
“If it’s not then that means it’s still at my mother’s house and we’ll have to go over there to get it.” I open up another box but it’s a disappointment.
“It will be nice to see your mother after all these years.” Dominic opens a box. “Should I bring her flowers?”
“Absolutely not. If we do have to go over there to find the chess set, we’ll be sneaking inside.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” he retorts.
I freeze at his comment. My cheeks grow red.
“You know I vaguely remember a long time ago climbing through the window to get into your bedroom.”
His back is to me as he works, but I hear a hint of smugness in his voice.
My heart starts beating faster. Exhaling sharply, I trace my fingers across the metal shelf. “Yeah. I remember how much you liked sleeping in my bed,” I shoot back. “Until you didn’t…”
He stiffens at my remark. I don’t think he was expecting a comeback. “I liked a lot more than just your bed,” he mutters. “But any bed was better with you in it.”
Whoa!
This conversation just took a huge detour down a road filled with neon signs saying turn back now. I wipe my sweaty palms on my pants. The air feels heavy with everything we aren’t saying.
I set the box down harder than I mean to. Dust clouds the air and I cough. “Let’s just find the damn chess set,” I mutter. Even though I know in my gut it’s not here.
Dominic chuckles. “Always using sass to cover what you bury deep inside.”
I turn around and look at him. “You do the same.”
“I’m not sassy.” Dominic faces me.
“Oh, that’s right, you’re just bossy and you make decisions without consulting anyone.” I grab another box and groan as I see it’s labeled Invoice 2001-2004.
“What are you talking about?”
“You didn’t consult me when you decided to go play FBI agent and leave,” I snap. I don’t even know why I’m bringing this up.
“I didn’t have a choice, Cipi.”
I throw up my hands. “Don’t give me that crap Dominic. You always have a choice. You left me when I really needed you.”
“I was trying to protect you.” Dominic pulls another box off the shelf.
“How? By ghosting me?”
Silence.
Dominic walks over and places a box in front of me. The words Things for Cipi are written on the top. “Is this what you’re looking for?”
“Don’t change the subject, Dom. You didn’t leave to protect me. You left because you disagreed with what my family did and your job opportunity was more important.”
“That’s not true,” Dominic whispers, but he doesn’t elaborate.
I open the lid and shuffle through the contents. This is the box my mom brought over but there’s no chess set inside. “It’s not here.”
“Do you ever clean out this basement?” Dominic opens a corner cabinet and pulls out a dusty bottle of wine.
“No. I’m too busy running an empire and trying not to die.” I grip the edges of the box. The chess set has to be at Mama’s.
Dominic examines the bottle and turns to me. “Want a drink?”
I give him a look.
He shrugs and places the bottle on a large container. “This wouldn’t be the weirdest date we’ve had. We did a lot of crazy things back in the day.”
“Until we didn’t because you chose the law.”
“And yet here I am after all these years.” Dominic picks up a few of the boxes and places them back on the shelf.
I toss a crumpled receipt at his head which he dodges easily.
Lucia’s words flood my mind.
She’s right.
What the fuck am I doing?
Dominic and I have always had this interesting connection. We haven’t talked for fifteen years, and yet in this moment it feels like no time has passed at all.
I have to protect myself. Since we were young, he has always been able to slip past my defenses with ease.
I place the lid back on the box.
Dominic walks over. “Do you want me to bring this upstairs for you?”
“Yes, thank you.” I rub my temples. “This was a waste of time.”
We walk to the stairs. At the top, he opens the door for me. My arm brushes his as I pass and my heart flutters. I hate how familiar the touch feels.
Dominic places the box on the kitchen table.
I sink into one of the chairs. “The chess set has to be at Mama’s. I’ll do some digging and figure out when she will be out then we can sneak over there.”
“You know you can do it yourself. I don’t have to come with you.” Dominic makes a note in his journal.
“You have to come. It will be faster with the two of us searching the house.” I lie.
The reality is that this is a job I can do myself, but for some reason I want him near me.
“Well, I look forward to that adventure.” Dominic takes a sip from his coffee. “Did you figure out what you’re wearing tomorrow?”
I look at him.
“The gala, remember? It’s tomorrow night. You know the part of our deal that you have to help me with.”
“Oh, that’s right. What kind of charity event is it?”
“Future Frontlines.” He smiles at my confusion.
“It’s run by the Viscari Foundation. They partner with law enforcement and federal agents to fund scholarships and programs for the youth.
They want to give opportunities for students to get into law enforcement, cybersecurity, and federal intelligence. ”
My jaw drops. “You’re bringing me to an FBI banquet?”
“It’s not the FBI, it's a nonprofit. But the CIA and Department of Justice will have members there as well.” Dominic chuckles. “It should be a good time, nothing like toasting to the law with a mafia queen on my arm.”
“What do you need me for?” I ask.
“So I don’t look stupid showing up single with no date. Besides, having a beautiful woman on my arm makes me more legit.”
I roll my eyes. “What’s our purpose?”
“I’m meeting a potential client and I know your presence will land me the deal.
You always know how to read a room and pick out the people that are hiding things.
This gala is going to be crawling with rich people who behind the scenes have a lot of drama and skeletons in their closets. People will be in need of my services.”
“Having me there might deter people from taking advantage of your services.” I walk over to the fridge and grab a bottle of water.
“No one knows what your family truly does. You run one of the most upscale nightclubs in the city. I guarantee many of the people attending have been there.”
I take a swig of water so I don’t have to reply.
“Do you have an outfit? It’s black tie, you know,” Dominic adds.
“Of course I have an outfit. Do you not know me by now?” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
“You always did know how to make an entrance.” Dominic chuckles.
“I’ll pick you up at seven. I’m going to head back to the office and have my team start dissecting all of the security footage you sent me.
” He picks up his notebook. “Am I free to go, or do you have to make sure the coast is clear so no one in the compound knows I’m here?
Even though my car parked in your driveway is a dead giveaway. ”
“Next time I should have you park on the opposite street and walk through the woods.” The sarcasm is heavy in my tone.
Dominic is about to head toward the foyer when he stops and stares at me. He takes a step closer and reaches out to me with his free hand.
I freeze, not sure what to do.
His fingers brush my hair, and then move in front of my face. I see a piece of dust trapped in his grip. “You had this in your hair…must have been from the basement.”
He locks eyes with me and I feel my breath catch in my throat. My heart pounds loudly in the quiet kitchen.
I take a step back, breaking the tension. “Thank you.”
Dominic reaches into his pocket and takes out his phone. “Put your number in and I’ll message you later to let you know if I find anything.”
Struggling to control my pounding heart, I punch in my number and then hand the device back to him.
He smiles. “I’ll talk to you later. Take care of yourself, Cipi and keep watch at all times.”
Then he’s gone like a ghost.
I jump as my phone vibrates in my pocket. It’s Lucia.
Bruno is stable. They have him in a medically induced coma to try to reduce some of the swelling. Did you find the chess set?
No. It’s not in the basement. It must still be at Mama’s.
You went into the basement with Dominic?
Yes. He’s helping me with the case after all.
Are your panties still on or did they come off?
I send her the middle finger emoji to which she responds with the laughing hysterically emoji.
I put my phone down and scowl. What did I think was going to happen when Dominic pulled a piece of dust out of my hair.
Did I expect him to throw himself at me after all these years?
And who knows if he’s even dating anyone, but then again if he was, he wouldn’t be asking me to go with him to a gala.
I run my fingers through my hair. Lucia is right. I could never control myself around Dominic but I won’t tell her that.
How ironic. I’m going crazy searching for a chess board when I’m playing chess in real life.
What the hell was I thinking getting involved with Dominic Cartieri again?