Chapter 26 Casablanca
Casablanca
“Everyone’s accounted for,” Isaac speaks over the phone.
“How fast will you be able to get prints back?” Enigma asks.
“Half a day,” Owen responds, arms crossed as he stands off to the side from the kitchen table. “Our contact has to be careful so Renato’s informants in the polizia don’t catch wind.”
“But you believe it’s Gabriel?” Jameson asks next.
Leo and I exchange a look. He answers, “Yes.”
The last 24 hours have been a whirlwind.
We announced that we left for Rome yesterday, having Carrie issue a publicity statement about it being a ‘long-awaited vacation’ before the new hotel opening.
Leanne helped on my end, by telling Nan and Trix that this was a surprise trip for me and had helped Leo plan it.
Otherwise, it was calm on the other side of the world.
While we had to deal with a severed head and securing a meeting with a rival mafia boss.
Trouble just follows me, I guess.
“He must’ve smuggled the head outside the postal service. Heads aren’t exactly on the okay flying list,” Enigma comments.
I snort, leaning back in my chair. It’s early evening, the whole day spent dealing with Roger’s head and Gabriel’s ominous warning.
No response from Vincenzo yet. I’ve had enough time to stop feeling like I’m losing my marbles.
Leo’s hand drifts over my thigh, lightly stroking it.
Animal sits across from us at the table, while Rudy leans against the counter.
The rest of the Crew are on this conference call.
“Three hotel employees handled the packages, all of them thought it was regular mail,” Animal says. “Someone must’ve dropped it off with the rest yesterday morning.”
“We need to find who smuggled them in,” Jameson mentions.
“And if it is Gabriel, how he found out you’re in Rome,” Isaac adds.
“Renato could’ve told,” Rudy says.
“Not enough time,” Owen counters. “Gabriel would’ve had less than two days to ship the head without being noticed. Not a lot of time to plan.”
“Unless Renato already knew, and didn’t say anything,” Rudy argues.
“Or one of Renato’s people,” I say softly, and meet Owen’s gaze. “Renato didn’t confirm working with Gabriel, but one of his own could be.”
“Perhaps someone loyal to the Marchetti family,” Jameson suggests.
“We can speculate all we want, it won’t help. Whoever it was, we trust no one,” Leo states. “This includes Renato and his people. We’ve no idea who’s working with Gabriel. Secure all communications, including all of you in the States.”
“We should send more bodyguards,” Chesty suddenly suggests. Rudy scowls. “I can fucking feel you from here, Ringer. There’s only three of you to protect the bosses, even you have to admit that’s chancing shit, especially if Gabriel knows where you are, and you’ve got to meet with Renaldi.”
“He’s right,” Owen agrees, glancing at the scowling ex-wrestler. “Too easy to be outnumbered. People know we’re here now, don’t have to be as inconspicuous.”
Rudy looks at me and I give him a reassuring smile. He grunts in agreement finally, while Animal shakes his head.
“Unless…you get on a plane tonight,” Jameson suggests.
“Not until I meet with Vincenzo,” Leo says. “And finishing things with Renato, whether it’s cutting ties or making him a reluctant ally.”
“No offense boss,” Animal says, clearing his throat. “From the sounds of it, doubt he’s gonna change his mind, unless you leave Autumn.”
Leo and I exchange a look. In my gut, I’m certain Leo has been preparing to split from the Salvadori organization since winter. Apart from cementing staying in the mafia, it also meant potentially creating another enemy. In another country.
“We’ll send more security,” Isaac says. “Although, if it is Gabriel, we should be worried about how long he had Caltz for. And how the fuck he grabbed him.”
“The clubs,” Enigma and I say at the same time. Enigma chuckles as I look at the phone. “Followed your advice, hermana. Pretty sure I caught Caltz near a club once owned by Rossi. Too grainy of an image to confirm, which is why I hadn’t mentioned it, until I got something better.”
“How long ago?” I ask.
“Couple months.”
“Rossi could’ve worked with Gabriel,” Owen suggests. “Hopes of Leo losing power, he gets in good graces with Gabriel. Way of trust could’ve been handing in a dirty cop who he knows is after Leo.”
“In comes Charlotte for more insider information,” Isaac adds.
I’m feeling sick again as pieces begin to click into place. Realizing, Gabriel was playing the long game. Hide in plain sight.
“Gabriel grabs Caltz, which explains his disappearance,” Jameson mutters over the phone. “Why hold onto him for months? If he’s gonna try fucking with Autumn, why wait this long?”
“He already has been,” I mutter.
“Meaning?” Chesty asks.
“Find the most recent photo of Gabriel, then send it to Nan for her to place him,” I say as anxiety pricks at my neck. “Enigma, send someone to check Roger’s basement. He had two large deep freezers.”
“Alright, seeing where you’re going,” Enigma says carefully. “But if Gabriel was around, someone would’ve clocked him. Or a body being dragged into Caltz’s house.”
“Except that was before multiple people turned on us,” I say bluntly, and they go silent.
“He also had one hell of a mole. Charlotte was feeding him information, so she knew when I’d leave for the bookstore and return to the hotel some days.
As for Roger’s house, she could’ve done the same having access to all of your offices, so he could’ve learned how to avoid the cameras. ”
“Fuck,” Jameson mutters, swearing in Spanish.
“Nan said it was a man with dark hair. She never met Gabriel before,” I add, and Rudy starts cursing in German. “And that blip in the feed may have been on purpose, along with Roger’s bank account being accessed to make us think he was still alive.”
He was doing everything I would’ve. I don’t like the sinking feeling knowing how similar we are in espionage.
Chesty grunts, “Son of a bitch.”
Leo’s stone still and quiet, staring at the phone with a scowl.
“We should’ve realized all of this sooner,” Owen mutters.
“You were busy with Matteo and Renato,” I say softly.
Gabriel was cunning and knew how to blackmail.
He was at the top of the food chain for a reason even with all his fuck-ups and being an addict, because he knew how to divert attention.
“Including the mobs, while thinking a rogue cop was snooping. That’s just the mafia stuff. ”
“Fine, he’s been playing us,” Jameson says roughly. “He could’ve used what he knew about you when they tried to overthrow Leo, why not? What Matteo and him did combined could’ve pushed for a complete takeover.”
“Except, Matteo essentially has no allies, and Gabriel has a shitty past,” I counter. “As manipulative as Gabriel is, would you believe an alcoholic, drug addict who lost millions if he said a random girl caused that breach? He knows that and didn’t have proof.”
Leo remains quiet. His hand hasn’t stopped stroking my thigh, but his movements have faltered a few times. I reach under the table, grabbing his hand to squeeze and he does it back.
“I’m with Miss Autumn on this,” Isaac says. “I’ll check with Nancy. We’ll move our searches to Rossi’s old clubs, see if there’s footage of Gabriel showing up. He might still be lurking.”
“Doubt it,” Owen says.
“Check manifests of transportation, contracted or connected to Renato and Matteo,” Leo suddenly orders.
“I want to know how that fucking head got here. No more than four on security, Isaac. Search Caltz’s house and find the rest of his fucking body.
And search Curione’s businesses for footage since we know he was involved with the coup.
We’ll be here indefinitely, until I know what my brothers are up to or get my hands on them.
Watch your backs. Jameson, we’ll speak tomorrow. ”
There’s no wait on a response before Leo shuts off the call and gets up. He stalks towards the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. The rest of us stay in silence.
Owen comes over to the table, sitting down next to Animal and leans back. “We should’ve listened to you weeks ago, Autumn. You knew something was wrong.”
“I just knew Roger,” I murmur. “He was a coward. Probably told Gabriel everything thinking it’d save him. There’s a reason he sucked in the field.”
“Piss poor excuse of a detective,” Animal mutters.
“Well, he did get detective because of me,” I murmur.
“Didn’t seem cowardly in the interrogation room,” Owen mentions.
I snort. “Cause he thought he had the upper hand.”
“Gabriel’s diabolical and takes things personally,” Owen comments, rubbing his head. “We’re up for a shit show.”
“We won’t know his motives until we find him,” Rudy chimes in.
“And Matteo,” Animal grumbles. “If he pisses off Gabriel next, it’ll be his head in the box.”
Inhaling a shaky breath, I get up from the table as the other three murmur ideas.
I go to the bedroom, opening the door quietly and find Leo sitting on the edge of the bed facing the window.
His expression somber. He doesn’t move as I shut the door, only his left hand moving as his thumb rubs his wedding band.
The breeze flutters the sheer curtains. My heart aches, wishing for that quiet morning we had back.
To have been trapped in that reality instead of this one.
I go stand before him, stepping between his legs as I place my hands on his shoulders. He grabs them, squeezing gently as he closes his eyes.
“I should’ve left for California.” My face falls as Leo looks up at me, exhaustion covering his features. “You gave us that chance, and I didn’t take it.”
“No, none of this is your fault. It’s your family doing this, killing—”