Boys?
My brow dips into a frown. “Boys? You tell those boys your Uncle Julius knows people that’ll put ‘em on a blacklist for life, girl.”
She laughs softly. “I remember the rules, Uncle Jay. No dating till after high school. And I’m totally okay with that.” I hear the smile in her voice. “But it’s nice to have the attention.”
My heart swells with pride.
I love Keera like she’s my own. And Tonya was right. I do feel responsible for the both of them, but not in a burdened way. I would lay down my life for the two of them.
Keera’s a smart girl. She’s going to do great things in life. I can feel it.
Now, Tonya is smart too, but Keera was unplanned, and Tonya had her young. Keeping her meant there was no time for studying. My sister was thrust into work with a toddler by the age of sixteen.
Shit.
Now that I think about Keera being sixteen, and looking at how young she is… I don’t know how my sister did it.
“Happy birthday, baby girl. I hope you like your present. I know you’re going to be responsible with it, but I have to warn you it comes with conditions.”
Keera sighs. “They always do. Lay it on me.”
“Number one: you listen to your mama.”
I can almost hear the roll of her eyes. “I always do.”
“Number two: no boys.”
“I thought we just went through this.”
“Number three: be smart, baby girl. Use your head. Trust your gut.”
A moment’s pause before a hushed response. “I will. Thank you, Uncle Julius. You’re the best. I love you.”
I lean over the table, pinching the bridge of my nose. I utter a rough, “I love you, too, Keke. I gotta go. Work. Talk to you soon.”
“Bye, Uncle Jay.”
As the line disconnects, I stare into nothing, absently tapping my finger on the table.
I don’t know how long passes before Miguel enters the room looking wound up. “They’re here.”
I stand and advance.
Showtime.
Ling and I wait just outside the conference room as I watch the exchange between Miguel and the people who have just arrived.
A man enters first and, seeing Miguel, he reaches out to shake his hand. Miguel hesitates a moment before taking it. He’s a big guy. Not as tall as me, but tall enough. He’s built too.
By my side, Ling whispers out the side of her mouth, “Meow. That man is fine.”
Ignoring her, I watch a small woman come in behind him. She looks frail and haggard. She hides it well behind a black designer dress, black heels¸ and oversized sunglasses, but as soon as she sees Miguel, her face changes. She removes the sunglasses and smiles.
And that smile has me. Locked in.
This woman is beautiful.
No. Beautiful is too weak a word for her.
She is stunning.
With black hair piled up on top of her head into a neat, classy up-style, a single strand is left falling free down the side of her face. I can’t see what color eyes she has from here, but the smile aimed at her brother brings out a dimple in her cheek.
Alejandra Gambino takes a step forward, opens her too-thin arms and waits for her brother to make his way over to her. Miguel smiles hard, steps forward and embraces Alejandra in a bear hug. He envelops her. Cocoons her in a nest of safety, and she falls into him. Stepping up on her tiptoes, she clutches her brother tightly.
They have a lot of love for each other, that’s plain to see. I understand it. I have that with my sister.
As soon as they separate, Dino steps forward and claims Alejandra, cinching an arm around her bony waist.
She looks ill next to him.
Her cheeks are sunken and pale. Her collarbone is much too pronounced. Her eyes look too big for her face; dark circles lay under them. Her ankles are stick thin. And from the way Miguel eyes her with worry then places a hand on her forehead, I can see something isn’t right.
Alejandra rolls her eyes, reaches up and removes her brother’s hand from her forehead before squeezing his hand and smiling at him. But this smile is different from the first. It’s forced.
But then she turns to her husband, looks him in the eye and smiles up at him. He reaches up to cup her cheeks, brushing his thumbs over the apples of them, speaking softly to her. Her hands cover his, and she closes her eyes, taking in the words. Leaning down, he captures her lips in a soft kiss, and she lifts herself into it.
It’s clear this is a couple in love.
And I feel as though I’m intruding on a private moment.
Well. This makes my job harder.
How am I going to get this woman to talk to me?
A loyal woman can be unwavering. If Dino Gambino is guilty of murder, I doubt Alejandra Gambino will be the person to confirm it. But I have to try.
Miguel looks over to where Ling and I stand, motioning us over. Ling slides her arm through mine, and we make our way over to the accused. Dino eyes me on the way over.
I know this game. I fucking invented this game.
Intimidation tactics don’t work on me, boy.
I level him with my gaze, pulling the same maneuver. First one to look away is a rotten egg. My lip twitches at his glare, but I catch it. Miguel clears his throat. “Dino. Alejandra. This is Julius Carter and Ling Nguyen. They’re guests of mine. They’ll be joining our meeting.”
Alejandra speaks, but I keep my eyes on Dino, who suddenly looks confused. “Nice to meet you. Both of you.”
Dino’s gaze flickers to Ling, hovering over her full, red lips. Ling smiles, revealing her white teeth. “You too, Mrs. Gambino.” Ling flutters her lashes, throwing what looks to be a shy smile to Dino, her sights locked on him. His lips lift into a small teasing grin.
Oh, shit.
I fight the roll of my eyes.
Goddamn it, Ling.
I’m sure Alejandra has noticed the way Ling and Dino are looking at each other. I sneak a look down to her and what I see makes my body still.
Alejandra Gambino, daughter of the ruthless Eduardo Castillo, wife of accused murderer Dino Gambino, looks up at me wide-eyed, a soft pink blush covering her cheeks. All I can do is watch as her lips part slightly. Blinking, her blush sharpens as her eyes fly to my chest. “I’m sorry. Have we met?”
Those words snap Dino and Ling’s bubble. Dino glowers at me. “You two have met before?”
Brown. Her eyes are a soft brown. Doe eyes. It figures. Soft, like the rest of her, the lilt of her voice and her shiny hair.
“No.” It pains me to do it, but I pull my gaze away from her to look up at her husband. “We haven’t.”
Her voice trembles. “You look so familiar.”
My eyes never leaving Dino, I smile tauntingly. “I guess I just have one of those faces.”
There’s something about a guy who tries so hard to be threatening that makes him just the opposite.
I don’t fear men like Dino. I put bullets in them.
Miguel cuts in with, “We’re still waiting on Mendoza and Di Marco. Please, join me for a drink.” Holding out his arm, Ling takes it eagerly while Alejandra politely declines. “Please excuse me. I’m a little out of sorts today. I think I’d like to rest.” Looking up at her husband, she adds, “I’ll be in my room if you need me.”
Dino’s brow creases as he looks at his wife in obvious concern. “You want me to come up?”
She waves him off. “I’ll be better after I’ve slept.” Stepping closer, she stands on her tiptoes and kisses his cheek. “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Alejandra looks up at Dino so lovingly that my chest aches, and I have to fight the urge to kick him in the balls. As Alejandra makes her way up the stairs, Ling removes herself from Miguel’s arm and attaches herself to Dino. “Tell me about yourself, Mr. Gambino.”
Wife forgotten, Dino lowers his voice and utters, “I’m more interested in you, Ms. Nguyen.” As they move toward the bar, Dino suddenly notices that n
either Miguel nor I are following. “Coming?”
Miguel nods. “I need to speak with Julius privately.” He looks down at the woman by Dino’s side. “Would you mind entertaining Ling for a few minutes?”
A slow smile spreads across Dino’s face. “No problem.”
As soon as they’re out of hearing distance, Miguel turns to me, and whispers, “Now’s your only chance. Up the stairs, third door on the right. Alejandra’s room. Make it quick. Dino will check on her soon.”
Looking past Miguel to where Ling and Dino stand, I notice Ling’s hand resting on Dino’s chest as she speaks to him. “Ling can hold him off.”
Miguel turns to face them, scowling, and mutters, “And here I thought we had something special.”
I like this man. Fighting my smile, I slap him on the shoulder. “It’s nothing personal, Miguel.”
Ling moves closer to Dino. Standing almost flush to his body, her lips move slowly, seductively, and Dino can’t tear his eyes off them. Sometimes, I wonder what she says to men to get them to look at her like that, but then I remember that it’s probably best that I don’t know. As I back away toward the stairs, I hear Miguel sigh. “I definitely need one of those.”
Taking the stairs two at a time, I find myself standing in front of Alejandra Gambino’s childhood bedroom. Before my mind can wander down places it shouldn’t, I knock. Shuffling on the other side of the door lets me know she’s awake. Opening the door, she mutters, “Dino, I can’t rest when you check up on me every two sec—” A look of surprise crosses her face when she realizes I am indeed not the asshole she calls a husband. “Oh. Hello. Are you lost?”
It’s official business now. Game face on. “Mrs. Gambino, I’ve been called here today because of the death of Raul Mendoza.”
Her guarded expression fails her, and sadness seeps through, showing immediate understanding. “Of course.” She shrugs lightly. “But how can I help you? You’re better off speaking to my sister Veronica.”
She smiles regretfully as she attempts to close the door in my face. But I’m quicker than her. I push my foot into the gap in the door and nudge it open, letting myself into her room. She makes an indignant noise before placing her hands on her hips. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave now, Mr. Carter. I already told you I don’t know anything.”
I choose to ignore the soft voice. Instead, I walk the length of her room, touching things as I go. From her pure white bed sheets, now a little rumpled from having her lie on them, to the aged white-and-gold furniture, it suits her. The tall bookcase stocked with well-read classics. They’d have to be well read. The spines of them are disintegrating. Interestingly enough, newer paperback copies of the falling apart hardbacks sit on a bottom shelf. I turn to her, pointing to the books. “Why do you have two sets of each?”
Startled by the question, she answers quietly, “The originals were my mother’s. I inherited them when she died. She’d read them so much. I didn’t want to destroy them, so I read the other copies.”
Makes sense. Smart, sensible girl.
The question seems to disarm Alejandra. Her body relaxes, and I preen inwardly. This is a tactic I use often. Get to know the person you’re questioning. “Your mom died when you were young?”
She doesn’t move. Blinking, her face turns morose. She tries to answer, but instead, mouths, “Yes.”
I pick up one of the older books and gently flick through, taking all the care possible. “Me too.” As I place the book down, I ask a question she isn’t expecting. “You dated Raul Mendoza in high school, right?”
Her brows rise. “Yes. Before I met Dino.”
I move the two steps toward her and gently take hold of her arm. “Please, sit. You look exhausted.”
She takes a step toward the bed before hesitating, shooting wide-eyed looks at the door. Pulling away, she lowers her voice in clear panic. “You need to leave, Mr. Carter.”
“Julius,” I prompt.
“Okay. You need to leave, Julius. Now.” When I make no move to leave, she steps forward and tries to pull me to the door. And I smile.
This little sparrow thinks she can move me?
She pulls and pulls and… nothing. Then she tries another tactic. Moving behind me, she places her small hands at the base of my back and pushes with all her might. Panting, she whispers a frantic, “If Dino finds you in here, he won’t be pleased. It’ll cause problems for me.”
I see.
Turning, I grab both her hands in one of my own and look down at her pointedly. “Dino won’t come up. Not until my partner Ling lets him go.”
Her face voids of expression, the fight knocked out of her. She mutters a tired, resolute, “Of course.” Letting go, she moves back toward her bed and sits in the middle of it, cross-legged, pulling a soft teddy bear into her lap. Stroking the fur of the bear, she looks down at it and asks a bored, “What do you want to know, Julius?”
I wait a moment, trying to find the words, but this little woman has my mind reeling. As I lean against the wall, I decide a straightforward question will get me a straightforward answer. “Did Dino murder Raul Mendoza?”
Her hand stroking the teddy stills. Slowly lifting her face to me, she asks a shocked, “I beg your pardon?”
My eyes narrow. She’s good. Not as good as me, but good. “I asked you if your husband killed Raul Mendoza.”
Her voice just above a whisper, she blanches. “Why would you ask me that?”
I refuse to play this game. I’d rather keep quiet and let her mind reel. After a moment’s silence, her brows furrow. “Is that what people think? That Dino did this?” I simply cross my arms over my chest. Hugging the bear close, she mutters, “No. It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be.”
“Your brother seems to think otherwise.”
At that, she looks up at me, eyes wide as saucers. “Miguel thinks Dino did this?”
“Isn’t it true that when Dino found out about you dating Raul, he made a scene at a family dinner?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“And that he started to show aggression toward Raul, a man he once liked?”
“Yes, that’s true but—”
“Where was your husband that night, Alejandra?”
Lost for words, she shakes her head. “No. He didn’t do this. Raul was my brother-in-law. Veronica and Raul loved each other very much. There’s no way Dino would kill him for such a weak reason.” Her response is feeble and sounds pathetic.
“I asked you a question, Alejandra.” Her eyes meet mine, and she swallows hard. I try again. “Where was Dino that night?”
Pulling the bear under her chin, she absently looks to the wall. She looks so childlike that I have to remind myself not to comfort her. We remain quiet in each other’s company until she utters a shaky, “He didn’t do it.” Then she swallows hard and whispers, “But what would happen if he did?”
Progress. Finally getting somewhere.
I huff out a breath. “It wouldn’t be pretty, Alejandra. I’m not the police. I just police the laws of the underground. If Dino was found guilty of murdering one of your father’s men unprovoked”—I look her in the eye and sock it to her—“he’d be killed.”
A noise leaves her, part choked, part sob. Lifting her shaking fingers to her lips, she utters, “An eye for an eye.” Eyes bright, she looks up at me. “And if… If I were to… What would happen if I—?”
I pin her with a stare. Unblinking, I respond, “If you were to lie to help your husband, I’d find out.” Her gaze intense, I add a cold, “And I’d kill you both.”
Liar.
This is not true.
No shit.
I’d have Ling kill her.
I never could hurt a woman. It’s just not in my nature.
A breathless, “Oh,” escapes her. Pupils like pinpricks, I see her fear as beads of sweat accumulate on her forehead.
But I see something more there. Her mind is working a mile a minute. The way her eyes dart side to side and she grips th
e bear impossibly tight, something’s gotta give.
Finally, after what seems like forever, she gives me an in. Her lip trembles as she relays something I have already heard from Miguel. “Dino is different.” And although her eyes fill with tears, she continues with a steady voice, “He loves me.”
If I had doubt of this, the display downstairs would’ve clued me in.
She looks up at me, her expression worn. “He loves me.” Only this time when she says it, despair laces her voice. The way she says it is as if it’s not a thing of beauty, but of misery.
A single tear trails her cheek, but she doesn’t give in to emotion. She lifts a hand and wipes it away. And I have to say I’m impressed. This small woman carries a fuckload of strength inside of her. A blind person could see that.
Knowing I only have moments before Dino comes to check on her, I step forward, close but still giving her space, and ask once more, “Where was Dino that night?”
The gods have finally heard my prayers.
I fight the urge to laugh hysterically and jump on my bed in pure joy.
The tears I shed are very real. But perhaps not for the reason Julius Carter believes.
I am so tired of this life.
Twenty-four-year-olds are not meant to feel like I do. They are meant to be carefree, happy and even careless.
Oh, what I would give to be a regular twenty-four-year-old.
What I would give, indeed.
I want that life. I want it so bad that I can feel the freedom on my tongue the very moment I say, “Dino did it.”
Julius pins me with a look of disbelief, but I don’t waver.
One small step closer to freedom.
I hold my bear tighter and whisper, “Dino killed Raul.”
And may God have mercy on my soul.
“We’ve got a situation.”
Ling looks up at me from her place by Dino’s side, her sticky toffee-apple smile dying a slow death. “Right.” Looking from me to Dino, she places an overly familiar hand on his forearm. “Would you excuse me? Business calls.”
His eyes devour her. “You never did get around to telling me why you’re here.”