Chapter 8
Mattia
“Drop me off and circle the block to find a spot,” I say to my driver as he brings the car to a stop. There are several cars parked in front of the laundromat, and there aren’t any spaces available. “I’m not sure how long I’ll be, but I’ll text when I need you.”
I tell him I can get my own door and then thank him as I exit. As I walk to the laundromat, I check my phone and see that it’s past closing time. Leo will have the exterior locks engaged, but she’s probably not aware of the little trick where you can pop the pin under the handle and still get in.
It’s something her uncle showed me once when I was around six and I needed to do him a favor. He might not have been directly mafia, but he had connections all the same. Sometimes I’d run packages for him and I’d need to get into the shop after hours.
My guy Ernie didn’t let me know when they were leaving, so they are either still in the laundromat watching her or they’re out of a fucking job.
Ernie was supposed to keep me updated and let me know the second she closed up.
It’s been a while since his last update, and I’m annoyed.
Guess I’ll need to come up with a punishment for the next time I see him.
Reaching under the handle, I pop the pin, and the door opens.
There’s an energy in the atmosphere as soon as I step inside, and it has me reaching for my gun.
I can’t see the counter from where I’m standing because I’m blocked by a row of double-stacked washing machines.
Not knowing what’s ahead, I walk slowly and quietly as I raise my gun.
“Listen, lady,” I hear Ernie say, and I pause.
“No, you listen. This isn’t my first time kidnapping someone, but there’s no way you’re going to be as fun as that one. Oh, and you aren’t getting feet pics either. Those are only for my first victim.”
“What?” Ernie sounds so confused.
Uh, yeah Ernie, same. Why the fuck is she kidnapping Ernie? What the fuck did he do?
“The first thing you’re going to do is clean up all this blood,” Leo says and then gags.
Blood? Panic sends me into action, and before I can think better of it, I rush around the corner with my gun in hand. I’m ready to save Leo once again from whatever the fuck she’s gotten herself into.
As soon as I see her standing there holding the can of pepper spray, I know I’ve made a mistake.
Leo gets startled by my appearance and hits the button, sending a small stream of the stuff into the air.
The next thing I know, she’s tossing the can on the floor and pulling her shirt over her nose and mouth.
Thankfully she’s got on sunglasses so there’s something to protect her eyes.
“Shit, boss,” Ernie shouts before pulling his shirt over his face too. He backs up and starts coughing. “I tried to keep her calm.”
“This is all your fault!” Leo shouts at Ernie from behind her shirt before she turns her attention on me. “And you scared me!”
I glance around at the mess and shake my head. I’m far enough away that the spray makes my eyes sting a little, but I can still see. Thank god it wasn’t more than a tiny amount and the fans are going. There’s a dead body on the floor and blood everywhere, including on Leo.
“Ernie, go outside and get some air. When you’re good, call Ray and have him come help you clean this up. I don’t want anyone talking about this. All right?”
“I got you, boss,” he says before looking down at the body and shaking his head. “What the fuck was Jay Jr. doing on this side of town?”
“I have a suspicion, and it’s not a good one,” I tell him, and we stare at each other for a long moment. “Go get some air. I’m going to take her home while you guys clean up.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
As soon as Ernie is outside, I turn my full attention back to Leo.
“Come here,” I order her, and I know the anger in my voice is barely controlled. Thankfully she can sense that I’m not in the mood to be played with as she walks around the dead body and comes to stand in front of me. “Are you hurt?”
She shrugs one shoulder and looks away without answering. Reaching out, I push her sunglasses up so they rest on the top of her head and I can see her eyes. They’re a little red from the pepper spray, and I notice she’s shed some tears.
“Are you hurt, sweetheart?” I ask a little softer this time.
“I think that asshole bruised my arm when he dragged me over the counter.” She still won’t meet my eyes as I take her hand and examine her arm. There are spots of blood on it, and she must notice at the same time because she instantly looks away. “So you know that guy that was in here all day?”
“Yes, I sent him to keep you safe. Clearly you didn’t want to make that easy.”
“Hey, I told him I wasn’t doing feet pics. I’m not sure what else I could have done differently.”
“This is serious, Leo.”
“I’m being serious,” she says and rolls her eyes. “Maybe I should get a gun.”
“Fucking hell,” I sigh as I wrap my arm around her waist and lead her toward the back of the laundromat. “Let’s get you upstairs.”
“Oh, are we ordering pizza again? Because I really want to try their Hawaiian. Most people complain about pineapple on pizza, but I think it’s like jazz fingers. A little something extra and always great.”
“Later,” I say as I open the door that leads to her apartment upstairs. “You can’t stay here tonight. It’s not safe.”
She lets out a humorless laugh. “Okay, but like where else am I supposed to go?”
“With me,” I tell her as I practically carry her up the stairs.