I didn’t dare risk a look at it, not even when Rizzo went into the back to grab something. I waited until there was a lull and asked to use the bathroom.
“Don’t dawdle,” Rizzo told me, pinning me with those intense eyes of hers.
With that, I rushed into the bathroom to read the note, feeling my stomach drop.
Then, risking Rizzo’s wrath, I quickly powered up my phone and shot off a text to Massimo before shutting it down again, and tucking both things carefully back into my bra before going back to my shift.
If I thought it was difficult to focus before the note, it was damn near impossible after.
So I tripped and screwed up my way through the next few hours before an exasperated Rizzo threw a hand out, nearly hitting me in the process. “Go. Go take your break. I don’t know what’s wrong with you today, but you need to go and pull yourself together, or you won’t be able to come back.”
I’m pretty sure I even mumbled an apology to her before I rushed out.
“Hey, girlie, is everything—“ Traveler started, then stopped when she looked at my face. “No, I can see that it’s not. That explains it.”
“Explains what?” I asked, but Traveler simply pointed behind me.
Turning, I saw a blonde woman of my approximate shape and size sitting at a table with her hair pulled back like I kept it and a shirt that was nearly identical to my work one.
August sat a table away from her, giving me a nod.
“Go on. Hurry up,” Traveler said, ushering me toward the bathrooms.
I didn’t waste any time.
My heart felt like it was flip-flopping in my chest, and I had no idea if it had to do with the note, or seeing Massimo again for the first time.
All I knew was that when I pushed open the door, there he was with worry making his mismatching eyes all the more bright.
“What’s wrong? Are you alright?” he asked, moving forward toward me as I reached to pull out my note. “What’s this?”
“This was left for me. On the counter at work,” I added, words heavy with meaning. That it was risky. That it put me in danger. That someone who left it didn’t give a damn about that.
“Who is it from?” he asked, taking it from me.
“Well, I mean, it’s not signed. But it’s clearly from them.”
“Them, who?”
“Them. The Calgary Family,” I told him, watching as his gaze shot up to me, confirming something I’d always suspected.
That the Calgary Family was a big deal.
I mean, of course, I’d always suspected as such. It was what had gotten Cody killed in the first place, after all. He’d reached too high, tried to connect with someone just powerful enough that it meant Cody posed a threat. To the damn well-established, highly-organized, fearless mafia.
But I guess, over the years, I’d started to downplay how important they were in the criminal world.
“This is a threat,” he said, looking over at me again.
“It certainly sounds like one,” I agreed, nodding. “But also a demand.”
“To meet with you.”
“Yeah,” I said, stomach sloshing around ominously.
“You didn’t see who left this?”
“They must have been a ghost. There were a couple of Colin’s guys coming in for lunch, but I don’t remember seeing anyone. I mean, it’s busy at lunchtime. There is always a crush of people. It’s… it’s possible I just missed someone,” I said, second-guessing my memory.