Chapter 32
Chapter thirty-two
The blistering hot passion that scorched between us seconds ago morphs into ice as the realization settles around us like dead weight.
“Yes and no,” I glance at his face. If I had a dollar for everytime someone looked at me like I had three heads, I could walk away from this life tomorrow. But people like me don’t retire. “It’s not literally about her but what she represents.”
Reaching over to grab my phone off the nightstand, I pull up the photos I took of the stanzas. “The speaker is mourning the loss of his love Lenore and descending into madness over it. Just like the killer is mourning the loss of Francesca and the Marconi Family and is out for revenge over it.”
Dominic takes my phone and swipes through the photos. “It makes sense. After all, Francesca is the loss that started everything. The killer could be mocking how your father went mad over her death and killed the whole family. Sounds like something out of a dark romance novel.”
“That’s the kind of passionate love women enjoy reading about in books.” I take my phone back. “Would you do that for me?”
“Do what?”
“Eliminate a whole family for me?” I joke.
Dominic reaches over and brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “For you there isn’t a line I wouldn’t cross.”
“Even with your uptight law enforcement background?”
“Yes. I’d burn down the world for you, baby. But that would never happen because I will protect you at all costs and anyone who tries to take you from me will be signing their own death.”
I bit my lip to hide the silly grin that’s threatening to spread across and the giggle that wants to leap from my throat. I’m a little surprised at his response, but it sends a thrill of excitement through me nonetheless.
“Careful,” I tease. “You’re starting to sound like someone in the mafia.”
“I guess you’re rubbing off on me.”
I smile. I wish I could stay here for the rest of the day and be laid up with Dominic. But this realization means we need to do some serious research if we want to stay ahead of the killer.
I pull back the covers and slide off the bed.
“What are you doing?” Dominic seems slightly offended.
“Getting dressed,” I slide my shirt over my head.
“Why?”
“We need to find out more about Francesca. Right now there are only two people I can think of who would have been around during the time she was alive. I need to go see them.” Snatching up my pants, I start putting them on.
“Can you have your team do a deep dive on her please? Find out everything about her.”
Dominic nods. “I’ll get right on it. But do you have to leave now?”
“Trust me, I don’t want to. But once we figure out who this killer is, we will have lots of time to spend together.”
“Alright,” Dominic gets out of the bed. “At least let me make you a bagel before you leave.”
How I love a man that can cook.
“I’m sitting in the backseat of the tinted SUV munching on my bagel while Mario drives through a neighborhood filled with modest homes and manicured lawns.
He turns onto Allen Street. This is a familiar route that we have driven many times. I only hope this venture can give me the answers I seek. Finally he pulls into the driveway of a small ranch.
Looking out the window, I catch sight of the surveillance cameras mounted along the gutters and eaves.
There are motion sensors, reinforced locks, and infrared lenses, along with enough hardware to deter any enemy.
I don’t blame him. After me getting shot at the gala, and him taking a bullet to the head, no one can be too careful.
Mario cuts the engine and opens my door. Adjusting my coat, I step out onto the cracked driveway.
“Do you want me to wait here?” Mario closes the door.
I shake my head. “Go grab a coffee and come back in a half hour. This won’t take long. Besides, we don't want the neighbors to get suspicious.” My gaze sweeps over the aged brick.
The SUV comes to life as I climb the steps to the front door. Pulling my coat tighter, I ring the doorbell. My side still aches from the bullet wound but I feel stronger than I have in weeks.
Bruno’s maid Maria opens the door. A smile breaks out across her face.
“Ciao, Cipriani.”
She gives me a hug.
Maria has been Bruno’s housekeeper for as long as I’ve been alive. She’s from Calabria and in her mid-sixties, but has the energy of a teenager.
“Ciao, Maria. Where is Bruno?”
Wiping her hands on her apron, she guides me inside the house. “Bruno’s in the living room.” She closes the door. “He doesn’t understand the meaning of rest. All he does is pace back and forth, driving me crazy.” She gestures toward the living room and heads into the kitchen.
The smell of meatballs and pasta linger through the house. It makes my mouth water and my stomach growl.
“Would you like something to eat, Cipriani?” Maria calls from the kitchen.
“Yes, please.” I walk into the living room.
Jeopardy flashes across the screen as flames crackle in the fireplace. Bouquets of flowers are scattered about, lingering on the end tables.
I smile. Bruno never gave a damn about flowers unless they were lying on a grave. The boxes of cigars stacked high on the coffee table were more his style.
Bruno is seated in a large leather armchair with the footrest up. A blanket is spread over his legs. He’s wearing a robe along with comfy clothes. The left side of his scalp is bandaged and his eyes are glued to his phone. He looks pissed off and bored.
I knock on the doorframe. He snaps to attention. Turning to the door, his eyes catch sight of me and a smile breaks out on his face.
“Farfalla.” He opens his arms to me. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you, of course.” I lean over and hug him. “How are you feeling?”
“Like hell,” he grumbles, gesturing for me to sit down on the couch. “I’m sick of being trapped in this damn house everyday. I want to get back to work.”
“Bruno, you know you’re in no position to be working right now. The doctors pulled a slug from your skull.” I sink into the couch, then reach over and squeeze his hand.
He scowls. “Those doctors love being dramatic. The bullet grazed my head.”
“Even so. You need to rest and recover. Soon you’ll be well and back on the job again.”
“How are you feeling, Farfalla?” He looks at me.
“I’m still in a lot of pain, but each day it gets better.”
“And how are things going with you and that boy?” Bruno leans back in his recliner and folds his arms.
“It’s going okay.”
“Did you solve the case yet? Did you figure out who put a bullet in my head?” He raises his eyebrow disapprovingly.
“We have some leads.” I take a deep breath. “I know you don’t like Dominic, but I feel like him and his team can solve this.”
Bruno scoffs. “His kind solve things to put people behind bars. I don’t give a shit if he’s retired, that man still has connections. I’m sure the FBI would love nothing more than to slap handcuffs on the entire Capuano Family and lock us up.”
I smile and pat his hand. “Bruno, you should know by now I know how to cover my tracks. Dominic is not our enemy, someone in the family is. And if Dominic does betray me, I’ll make sure he never gets a chance to reveal anything.”
Bruno grumbles. “I’m sorry, Farfalla. I just don’t want to see you get hurt again. Law and our lives don’t mix well.”
“I know.” I shift in my seat. “The reason I’m here, Bruno, is I have some questions for you and I need answers.”
“What kind of questions?”
“The day you got shot in the head, what happened?”
Scratching his unshaven beard, Bruno leans back wincing.
“Sal and I took the boys down to the warehouse to assemble the chairs and make sure the legs were working properly before we took them away. Matteo has been fucking up on the shipment quantities so I wanted to make sure he got the order right. It’s embarrassing to show up and not give our buyers what was promised.
” He waves his hand dismissively. “But this time he did his job right. You know he’s been acting very amateurish.
That girl he’s messing around with has his head all screwed up. ”
“What girl? He broke up with his girlfriend.”
“He did and he was in another girl’s panties not even five hours later,” he shrugs. “The kid is young. You know he puts on that heartbroken act until another female pays him a bit of attention, then he has stars in his eyes.”
“So what happened at the warehouse?” I try to move the conversation back on track.
“Well, we were reassembling the legs. Then my phone rang. It was from one of the clients. So I stepped outside onto the dock to take it. You know you can’t trust anyone in this family now.
I was chatting away. Next thing I know the bullet comes out of nowhere.
I didn’t hear a shot, just a pinch on the side of my head.
I reach up and the side of my face is wet with blood.
Then next I’m waking up in the hospital with a bandage wrapped around my head like a mummy.
I only wish I had seen the bozo who wanted to kill me, I would have beat the shit out of him.
I’m still going to beat the shit out of him when we find out who it is. ”
Reaching into my pocket I pull out the rook. “Salvatore said that this was in your hand when they found you.” I hold it up.
Recognition flickers across his face. “Hey. I’ve seen that piece before. That’s from Vincenzo’s chess set. It was in my hand? I don’t remember that. Why the hell would I have that thing in my hand? I don’t even like chess.”
“Because you’re a rook and you’re a protector.
” I sigh. “Apparently someone from the past wants to kill all of us. Since I didn’t die right away now they want to play this sick mind game.
Dad’s chess set has been stolen and all the pieces are being sent to me.
Each one represents someone in the family and predicts who is the next person that’s going to die.
The rook appeared when they tried to kill you.
Then a bishop appeared the day Salvatore got attacked. ”
“Cazzo! Are you serious, Farfalla? Is it one of the families? Thank God Salvatore was okay.” His hands tremble slightly as he reaches for the glass of water on the table next to him.
“It’s someone associated with the Marconi Family.”
“The Marconis. How? They were all eliminated back in ‘95.”
“I guess one of them escaped.” I lean forward. “Bruno, when you were in the hospital you mentioned to me something about dead butterfly wings. Then you said the king wasn’t supposed to fall.”
Shock appears on his face. “Farfalla. I was on a lot of meds at the time. I don’t remember that at all.”
“The night Dad died, you were with him, right?”
“Yes, I was.”
“What happened that night?”
A faraway look appears in his eyes. “We had a meeting. Salvatore, your father, and I. A couple of guards were posted outside his private study. He wanted to acquire the building on Sixth Avenue, he said it would be a good place to put another nightclub. The owner wasn’t willing to sell, so he wanted to go over with a few of the boys and persuade him.
” Bruno pauses. “Vincenzo seemed irritated like something was bothering him. Then he asked us to leave because he had work to do. So we left.”
“Was anyone else in the house?”
“Your mother was out for dinner with friends. You and Gigi were off doing your own thing. The only other person in the house was Nonna. She was in the kitchen and saw us all leave. She was making soup, she offered us some, but we had work to do.”
“She made the soup for Dad?”
Bruce nods. “Yeah, I remember it was Pasta Fagioli, his favorite. She brought him the soup and went to bed. I guess he had a heart attack and when your mother came home she found him dead. He was sitting in his chair by the fireplace in his study with a glass of wine next to him.” He rests his chin in his hand.
“Why are you talking about this now, Farfalla? You never wanted to discuss it before.”
“Well, I have reason to believe that Dad didn’t die of a heart attack. It was murder.”
Bruno’s face goes pale. “I-I always suspected, but the doctors and the medical staff said it was a heart attack. It just always seemed suspicious to me.”
“I think whoever is trying to kill us now is associated with the person who killed Dad.” I take a deep breath. “I’m pretty sure it was cyanide poisoning.”
“Cazzo.” Bruno whispers.
“Did you know Francesca Marconi?”
Bruno shakes his head.
“Or anything about the assassination of the Marconi Family?
“That was before my time with your family. I started working for your father about a year after it happened. He had fired his other head of security and a friend of his recommended me. Your father never talked about what he did. Everyone said the Marconis had turned on the families and were working with the feds. They were selling information about the families so they wouldn’t wind up behind bars.
Salvatore would know more about it. He has been with your father longer than me. ”
I stand up. “Grazie, Bruno.” I give him a hug.
“Where are you off to now, Farfalla?”
“I have to go see Nonna. Make sure you stay home and rest.”
He scowls at me.
“That’s an order.” I lean over and give him a kiss on the cheek.
“Alright, alright. I’m going to gain weight staying home and Maria constantly cooking for me.”
“No, you won’t.” I chuckle and head for the door.
“Cipi?”
I turn around. “Yes?”
“When you find the devil behind all of this, make sure you kill him. Okay. No trial. No mercy.”
I give him a smile. “You know I will.”
He gives me a weak grin. “That’s my girl.”