Chapter 37
MIt has been a month since New Year’s, and the season is shifting from really cold to comfortably cold. In the past month, I have seen Lana numerous times, whether she wanted it or not. That part of my life has been blissful, but I can’t shake this feeling of unease.
I feel like I’m getting to know her, and in the same breath, she’s pulling away from me. In my line of work, I have been trained to recognize patterns of destruction and manipulation, and I hope my gut instincts are wrong, but Lana is teetering on that line.
She has been asking me questions here and there about my background, and I don’t know if that shit is usual in a relationship, but it feels odd.
And Oliver isn’t helping at all.
We are sitting in my penthouse, drinking coffee and discussing Marco’s case. While simultaneously talking about my obsession with Lana.
“So, let me get this straight. You are in a relationship with this woman?” he asks me, and I nod.
“And y’all have great, mind-blowing sex?”
“My gun isn’t far away, Oliver.” He puts his hands up in the air in defense.
“Apologies. But seriously, what’s your problem?” he questions me as he takes a sip of his coffee.
“I’m not sure what you are getting at.” And I’m being serious. This line of questioning is making my skin crawl.
“M, she is asking you questions about your family, likes, dislikes, and all that jazz, right?”
“Yes, and what’s your point?” I ask him. Oliver sighs deeply and shakes his head.
“You are a great boss, but an even greater idiot.”
“I can also stab you if that’s what you prefer.”
“Listen to me, man, she likes you.”
“What do you mean?” My question is genuine, as is Oliver’s facial expression. He is expressing genuine emotions of disbelief.
“Those are normal questions that are asked in a relationship, you asshole.” I know my feelings for Lana are fucking strong, and that I would move heaven and earth for her, but liking me? I haven’t even considered that.
“I feel like you are having an aneurysm, so let me ask you this. Why are you doubting her honesty?” His question conjures up a barrage of questions. Questions I’m not sure I want the answers to.
“Oliver, I have been answering her questions as much as I can, but she is still very secretive about her life.”
“Meaning?”
“She explained how she dropped out of high school because her mom died when she was a teenager.” I light up a cigarette and continue talking. “And that her father isn’t around anymore.”
“Do you mean dead or not around?”
“Just not around. Before you ask, Hana did a background check, and everything Lana has told me is true.”
“Interesting. So, where is her dad?”
“He went to jail in Italy because of some shady business practices. He has dual citizenship, and his business there collapsed a few years back after some fraudulent cases.”
“I thought you said Lana mentioned that her father was good?”
“Good to her, not to the country of Italy.”
“How long did he get?”
“About fifteen years.”
“Did Hana try to get into their prison system?” Oliver asks. I put out my cigarette and shake my head.
“I asked her, and she couldn’t get in. After a while, I asked her to stop. It wasn’t worth it.”
“I understand. When will we get to meet her, though?”
“Actually, I want to organize a get-together next Saturday at my house.”
“Works for me. Now, we need to talk about Marco.” I run a hand across my face because I want to avoid that asshole, but I can’t. The fucking pedophile has been keeping a low profile, but he is going to come out any day.
A new Sweet Day is coming up tomorrow.
“I have you and Josh following him tomorrow to his residence. Once you get there, make sure to stake out first and then call me.”
After a couple of grueling months, we have his schedule down pat.
Tomorrow is the day I finally get to murder that pathetic excuse of a human being.
But the first thing I’m going to do is bring Lana to her gig at the hotel.
She told me last week that she has a gig at the hotel tomorrow, right before Sweet Day starts.
And without thinking, I told her I would take her because she had been nervous about someone following her.
Hana and I checked the cameras from wherever Lana has been in the past month, and we couldn’t recognize who the man in the hoodie was.
And it’s been eating me alive. He has approached Lana two times while she was out and about, and this man was brilliant.
He came to her while she was alone or in the dark alleyway of the diner.
This motherfucker probably figured out we were trying to figure out who he was, so he stopped showing up. I should be relieved, but I am fucking fuming because someone was, or still is, following her.
But now that must wait because I need to finish a job first—Marco Jasarevic.
“I can’t fucking wait.” Oliver’s words cut through my thoughts, and his keenness to murder someone is infectious.
“But you are going to the hotel first, right?” he asks me.
“Yes, I am. After that, I am available.”
“Sweet Day starts at 4 p.m., and you are bringing her to work at 1 p.m., right?”
“Yes. I’ll drive up to my apartment and wait for your and Josh’s call.”
“Good,” Oliver says as he stands up and puts on his coat. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Have fun with Lana, I know I will with Josh.”
“Oliver, I swear to God, if you say anything about your activities, I will murder you.” Oliver is always flirting with Josh, and while Josh appears annoyed by it, I don’t think he is.
“Me? Never. I’m just going to blow—” I pull up my gun and point it toward him.
“Leave. Now.” Oliver blows me a kiss and heads out. The entire day I spend working out and cooking myself dinner. Before I go to bed, I check the cameras in Lana’s apartment.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, little hummingbird.”