Page 63 of Stolen Kisses
“Mama, Uncle Dante said he has the Cartoon Network. I can watch anything I want at his house.” Flynn was so excited he jumped up and down as he talked.
I hugged him. This was the first I’d seen him awake since he got back.
I looked over at Dante and smiled. “Uncle Dante?”
“Has a nice ring to it.” He stood up, shirtless showing off that masterpiece body of his. “Makes me sound important or something.”
“You are,” I said, holding his gaze.
“Well, that’s good you think so. As my first official act as uncle I’m taking my kid with me. I’ve decided on the kidnapping route with you, if you don’t come willingly.”
“I’ll be coming.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” It felt like the first right decision I’d made.
Other than being with him of course.
I may have fled for my life and to protect Flynn, but coming back here I’d found him. Everything had been so awful, but he’d always been here. He was my something good.
Chapter 18
Dante
* * *
“Franco Deville, age thirty-nine, notable contracts with Pablo Ramirez and Ignacio Sanchez, part of the Sinaloa Cartel,” Gio said, reading off the details we’d just gotten from number two from the secret squad. “Arrested for the suspected murder of Donald Baker account and financial advisor fifteen years ago. Donald was the owner of Ford accountancy and investments. After evidence was found to be inconclusive Franco was released and Jason Parker was arrested for the murder. Jason had no M.O. for the murder, but an anonymous record placed him at the apartment at the time of murder. Franco Garcia was sentenced to consecutive life imprisonment for the murder of business partners, Rory Ackmean and Brian Macnara. Served two years of the sentence. Released from prison last week after evidence was found to be inconclusive. Fucking hell Dante, your girl is … she sure knows how to pick um, but shit not even Luc was this bad.”
I gave Gio a long hard stare. It wasn’t like I hadn’t come to that conclusion. If Maria was on the hunt for the worst guy she could be with she had definitely hit the fucking jackpot.
I glanced around at the pictures of desolation on the reception walls of Help the Homeless. Pictures of people living on the streets, pictures of people going through a genuinely rough time.
I remembered when I used to have nightmares of that happening to Maria when we were kids. Vira used to treat her so bad and back then I couldn’t do shit. Christina was worried about it too and I sensed Ma would have stepped in if that did happen.
It didn’t surprise me that Christina had chosen to work here while she was figuring out her next steps. I was just glad she didn’t waitress at the kind of bars and restaurants Maria worked at. It was dangerous, but then I knew danger was her.
She did really hit the fucking jackpot with Franco.
Gio and I were here to meet with the current manager of Help the Homeless. He was in a meeting, so we’d sat in the little waiting area.
We must have been here for about fifteen minutes when Number Two sent over the intel which I read and passed over to Gio, so he could have a look too. Just to see what we were up against.
“Ever just think about running off to an island somewhere and living out the rest of your life in a hut?” I smirked. I was just talking out of my ass. Saying something, because my mind was a mixture of all this emotional shit.
“No, Dante I don’t fucking think of shit like that, but I get it. I know why a person would do it. This is above us.” He frowned.
Just like everything else was above us,above me.
It was out of my league, out of my reach.
“I don’t know where to begin, but I think the best idea I have is to make sure whoever she saw following her doesn’t get to dear old Franco.”
“And how the fuck will you do that Dante?”
Great question.
“Eyes in the sky and guys on foot.” The secret squad and the next line of defense while we worked on investigating Christina’s stuff. The thing was I didn’t know if it should be the other way around.
