Page 29 of Dark Encounter
I looked up at the building we were behind as we walked toward the front. "This place any good?"
"Let's check it out." He held the door open, and a pretty brunette rushed to greet us and gave us a table. We ate our breakfast in peace for a few minutes until all hell broke loose. Someone found the body. Good.
I wiped my mouth with my napkin and let out a contented sigh. "You done?"
"Yeah. That was incredible. We should come here more often."
"To kill someone or eat?" I got up and threw a fifty on the table.
"Both?" He snorted, and I popped him in the gut before walking toward the exit. "Hey, man. I'm really sorry about this morning. It was a dick thing to say to you. You know I loved your sister too. I wouldn't-"
"Shut up about it." I got in the car and glanced over at him. "Women don't survive in our world. My father's tried to tell me that a million times. I've listened until now."
"Who is she?" He pulled down the mirror above his head and checked his teeth.
"Just a girl I met in the city."
"Where?" He glanced over at me.
"None of your business." I turned out of the parking lot and headed back to the house as my phone rang. Unknown caller.
"Debt collector?" Kane chuckled.
"Right." I put the phone to my ear. "Erik Bertinelli."
"Erik." I knew the voice right away.
"Demetri DeMarco. How are you, man?" A smile played on the side of my mouth. Not many people understood the life I was forced to live, but the bastard on the phone did. He was the Underboss of the Castaletta Syndicate out of Chicago, and a mean mother fucker.
"I've been better." He cleared his throat. "We are headed into war with Cooper. I need to know if you and your old man are willing to stand beside us or if you're against us."
Straight to the chase. It's one of the many reasons I respected him.
"My father hates Terrance Cooper and has for years. I've no clue why, but it's irrelevant. We'll stand with you and Joe, of course."
"Good. We're working on a few new things up here. I'd love to have you come up and let me show you." He was offering me goodwill, a favor for standing beside him.
"New things like what? We have our fingers in just about everything at this point outside of drugs."
"And that's where your missing a great margin for your bank account, Erik. A new drug just hit the market, and the kids are going wild for it."
"Zandra?" I smiled as he huffed.
"Still come sometime soon."
"After your war maybe. I could use a break from this fucking place." I ran my fingers through my hair as my throat closed up.
"Something happened?" The concern in his voice was welcomed. He and Joe Castaletta had shown their respects when my mother died and a few months later when we found Delaney's body.
"No. I just need closure on this shit, and it's been ten years. It's still fucking with me, but whatever. I need to leave it in the past where it belongs."
"Or dig a little bit and figure out what the fuck happened. If someone killed my sister, Cat, there isn't much I wouldn't do to find out who."
"And what would you do when you found them, D? Blow their heads off? Would that bring Cat back?"
"No, but justice would be served. Don't fool yourself, old friend. It feels good to know that you've evened the score. Period."
"Right. Let me know when or if you need us."
