Page 178 of Bitter Poetry
“The very same,” Mateo says. “Do you still trust her?”
“Yes, I fucking trust her,” Leon says. “She has no reason to take her hatred of Ettore out on Carmela. If anything, she would be empathetic. She took some things up earlier today, then came in and chewed my ear out about Carmela’s wellbeing. She wanted me to add her as a contact on Carmela’s cell…”
He trails off.
“I don’t like where this is going,” I say. “My gut is telling me this is coincidental, but Carmela’s safety transcends gut feelings.”
“Agree,” Christian says.
“Fuck it!” Leon swipes a hand down his face. “Where is Cherry now?”
“On her shift. I put a discreet tail on her as soon as I got the report.”
“Good. Watch her for now. If we question her, supposing she is a threat, which I still don’t fucking believe, we will have lost the lead.”
“Back to my earlier point. Do we need to move Carmela?” I ask.
“I have an option for you,” Mateo says. “There’s an empty apartment in your building. It’s available for short- or long-term rental. We can set up a fake name to rent it under so there is nothing to connect it to you. If you’re good with that, I suggest we move her there promptly.”
“Let’s make it happen,” Leon says.
CHRISTIAN
“I need to go to her,” Dante says, rising. “I want extra security watching the lobby and access points.”
“Already on it,” Mateo says.
I get up, too.
“You heading off?” Dante asks me.
“Yeah.”
We go out together, neither of us speaking. It takes him until he enters the elevator lobby to realize I’m not going home.
He narrows his eyes at me.
“I’m coming up.”
“The fuck you’re coming up.”
“I’m coming up, and you can’t stop me.”
The elevator arrives with a happy ding, and we both get inside.
A tic thumps in his jaw. He stabs the button for his floor with violent intent and blows out a heavy breath. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks.” I roll my eyes. “Been a bit stressed, you know.”
“You should probably get some rest.”
I snicker. “Not falling for any of your brotherly concerns bullshit. I’m going to your apartment. Where Carmela is. Not a fucking chance I’m keeping my hands to myself.”
“Only thinking of your well-being, little brother.”
“Fuck off, Dante.”
He smiles, and his expression turns calculating. “Do you want to play a game?”
