10. Florence
10
FLORENCE
S omething rouses me from the most peaceful sleep I’ve ever had. The morning light filters through the small window on the other side of the room, and I blink away the grogginess from my eyes.
A loud crackling noise followed by the unmistakable sound of broken glass has me jumping out of bed and searching around frantically for Lorenzo and Sprinkles. I spot the cat hiding under the desk in the corner, but my man is nowhere to be found.
I quickly get dressed in a pair of leggings and a comfy shirt before throwing my messy hair up into a bun. Just then, Lorenzo bursts through the back door, gun in hand, rushing over to me.
“We have to leave. Now,” he says, the urgency in his voice scaring me.
I nod, grabbing my purse and the cat carrier, then turning to face Lorenzo. He surprises me by scooping up Sprinkles, and I’m even more shocked when my cat lets him. The two may have started out as enemies, but they’ve grown to have a mutual respect for each other. Each one knows the other will protect me, which is exactly what Lorenzo is doing now.
He motions for me to get behind him, and then he tucks Sprinkles into the jacket he has on, keeping the fluffy little monster close to him as we file out the back door. Lorenzo scans the area, wincing when he sees the rear window of his car is busted. Glass litters the ground as well as the backseat, but we don't see anyone around.
“I’ll cover you. Make a run for the car. Get in the front seat but stay low,” Lorenzo whispers. He kisses my temple and urges me forward. With my heart pounding and head spinning, I put all of my trust in Lorenzo and sprint toward the vehicle.
No sooner do I shut the passenger side door than Lorenzo is sliding into the driver’s seat, Sprinkles still stowed away in his jacket. We take off, the back wheels kicking up dust and sending glass shards spraying in every direction. I keep my head low, trying not to have a panic attack as we make our escape.
“I’m so sorry,” Lorenzo says. “I put my trust in the wrong person and they gave up our location.”
I nod, unable to speak at the moment. Sprinkles mews from his hiding spot and Lorenzo opens his jacket enough for the cat to crawl out and hop into my lap. I hold him close, burying my nose in his fur and letting his fresh laundry scent ground me.
Lorenzo takes a deep breath and rolls out his shoulders, looking in the rearview mirror to see if we’re being tailed. He nods to himself and relaxes the tiniest bit, letting me know we’re safe. For now.
His large, warm hand rests on my thigh, squeezing gently and then rubbing his thumb back and forth in a soothing gesture. We ride in silence for a bit, the desert landscape giving way to the strip malls of the suburbs and eventually, the streets of Las Vegas.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask where we’re going, but I’m not sure I want to know the answer. Lorenzo picks up on my unease, gently stroking my leg in reassurance. “I’m taking you to the Caparelli compound,” he says, answering my silent question. Every muscle in my body tenses, making Sprinkles look up at me with concern. “It’s the safest place in the city. Hell, the safest place in the state.”
“Will the traitor be there?” I ask, finding my voice.
Lorenzo growls and grips the wheel tightly. “Not for fucking long,” he spits out.
“What are we going to do about…?” I don’t even want to finish the thought, but Lorenzo knows exactly what I’m asking when my gaze drops to my purse, which is shoved between my feet on the floor of the car. We both know the file that started this whole mess is in there.
“We’re giving it to the Boss,” he states matter-of-factly.
“And he’s going to go public with it?”
“No,” comes the automatic response. I glare at him, remembering how we never finished that particular conversation yesterday. Or was that two days ago now? This entire week has been a blur.
I haven’t checked in at work yet, not a single call or email. It’s completely unlike me to not show up at work. I’m usually one of the first people in the office. On the rare occasion I’m sick, I always send an email and leave a voicemail for my direct supervisor. I guess none of that matters now. It’s not like I can go back to work for Mary and Larry Hanson. Not after everything I’ve seen and know.
“Why would he keep it a secret? Isn’t it to the mafia’s advantage to make the cops look bad? I know I’m new to this whole crime syndicate thing, but it just doesn’t make sense to me. Expose those filthy fuckers for what they are - greedy, selfish, lying pieces of shit who will do anything to silence truth-seekers. We have proof. Let’s take them down.”
I’m out of breath after I finish my rant and my face is flushed with anger and righteous rage.
“Why are you so determined to make this public?” he asks after I’ve calmed down a bit.
“Don’t answer my question with another question,” I snap at Lorenzo. I know I’m being a brat right now, but I don’t care. I have justice on my side, making me feel invincible, at least for now.
“I’m just trying to understand you, Florence. Something happened in your past, right? Something awful that exposed the truth about the few at the top who use their position to leverage power over the masses.”
I deflate when I hear his accurate assessment of my life. “Yeah, that about sums it up,” I murmur as I stare down at Sprinkles and stroke his fur.
Lorenzo doesn't press the issue, instead sitting with me in silence and waiting for me to continue when I'm ready.
“My dad,” I finally say, my voice barely above a whisper. “He was a journalist. He had been working on a story that would have rocked the city, exposing the Chief of the Las Vegas PD as a fraud who stole money from the pensions of his employees. My father was finishing up the last of the edits on his article at the table while I put the dishes from dinner in the sink. I’ll never forget that night.”
I pause, not sure if I can continue. I’ve never told anyone the whole story before.
“I’m right here,” Lorenzo murmurs. “I’m listening.”
I nod and take a breath, knowing I need to get it all out in the open.
“One second it was a peaceful evening with an Etta James record playing in the background while my father typed away at his keyboard, and the next second, our door was kicked in. A dozen police officers burst into the house, and my father barely had time to tell me to run before the men were on him. I ducked behind the kitchen cabinets but I still saw the whole horrid scene. They… they beat him up so badly I thought he was dying, then they dragged him out of the house with handcuffs on. That was the last time I ever saw my dad.”
“Florence,” Lorenzo whispers. “God, I’m so sorry you witnessed that. How old were you?”
“Eight,” I reply, shaking from the emotions trying to break free. “I went into foster care two days later when one of the neighbors came by to check on me. I saw in the news that the cops pinned several drug trafficking crimes on my dad, and he was sent to prison for life. He was only there for five years when…” My voice cracks and Lorenzo squeezes my leg before resting his hand over mine. “He was stabbed in some big brawl that happened in his cell block. I didn’t even know he died until weeks later when my foster mom announced that my no-good, drug-running father got what was coming to him.”
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters. “I can’t imagine going through that at such a young age. You’re so resilient, Florence. So strong and determined, with a sense of justice that rivals anyone I’ve ever met. You’re incredible, and I understand why this is so important to you.”
“So we can send the file to the newspaper?” I ask, peering over at Lorenzo.
He takes a deep breath, trying to figure out what to tell me. “We can talk to the Boss about the best way to move forward,” he finally settles on. “He might skirt the law, but he has a moral compass. The documents are important leverage for the family, but maybe there’s a way for everyone to get what they want.”
Before I get a chance to protest, we turn down a long driveway with a stone wall around it like a castle. The gate has a fingerprint scanner to open, and Lorenzo rolls down his window, placing his thumb over the lock pad. Just like that, the doors open to a vast property containing a giant mansion as well as several other buildings and houses.
“You can stay here while I go meet with Aurelio.”
“Uh, no way, mister. If I’m going to hand over this file, I need to know who I’m getting into business with. I’m meeting the big bad Boss whether you like it or not.”
I’m not sure what I was expecting Lorenzo to say, but when he tugs at my hand, I’m forced to look over at him. Admiration is shining in his deep brown eyes and he blurts out, “I love you so goddamn much.” My eyes widen a second before he pulls me in for a kiss. “Now let’s go meet the Boss.”