“Why?”
“Because of how she was killed,” I replied.
“I don’t understand. How was she killed?”
“Someone shot her,” I offered, not being too specific.
Her sister was dead. She didn’t need to know the details.
However, when Donatella whispered, “To the back of the head?” Marko’s head snapped to mine and I felt more than I knew. Something else was going on here. I took her hands in mine, “Donatella, how do you know that?”
“I don’t. I just assumed because my roommate and the school’s quarterback were killed the same way yesterday in my apartment.”
“What?” I asked as Marko and Enzo came closer all laughter gone.
“I was at the library working on a paper. When I left, two men wanted me to go with them. I said no and ran away from them. I headed home to find my apartment building surrounded by police and paramedics. They were wheeling Carrie and Bobby Ray out of the apartment when I arrived. The detective told me they were both shot to the back of the head. When you told me that Penny was shot, I assumed it was the same way,” Donatella said, then looked directly at me and asked, “What in the hell is going on, Mr. Valentinetti? Why are my sister and best friend dead? Why are men looking for me?”
Seeing the fear in her eyes, I didn’t like how it made me feel. No one should have to deal with this shit. Whatever was going on seemed to span several states. Donatella’s roommates were dead, my best friend was killed. The only link was the two of us. What was it about us that warranted our friends and family to drop like flies? Until I knew more, I didn’t know how to answer but I knew I needed to figure it out fast before more people died.
“What is going on here?”
Turning quickly, I said nothing as my brother Giovanni stood with his arms across his chest, pissed. Getting to my feet, I was about to say something when he spoke, “What part of no visitors didn’t you understand Lorenzo? Just because you are quarantined to the house doesn’t mean you can bring your life here, into my home.”
“Gio, it’s not what you think.”
“It never is with you.”
“This is Penny’s sister, Donatella.”
Gio sighed and relaxed, before he took a step forward. “My deepest condolences Ms. Stevens. If there is anything my family can do, please let me know.”
“Gio, two students were killed at Donatella’s school,” I informed my brother quickly looking at the young woman sitting on the couch, then looked up at my brother and added, “Just like Penny.”
“What do you mean?”
“My roommate and another student were shot to the back of the head in my apartment and two men were trying to get me to go with them. I ditched them and came here. What is going on?” Donatella asked.
“I don’t know Ms. Stevens but I will find out,” Gio smiled, then motioned, “If you both will follow me. The faster I get all the information the quicker I can make sense of this.”
I rolled my eyes as I followed Gio and Donatella to his office.
Fucking Lord and Master has spoken and we little sheep just prodded along doing his bidding.
God, I missed my apartment. I hoped the cleaning crew I hired could get the blood out of my rug.
I really liked that rug.
Taking a seat next to Donatella in front of Giovanni’s desk, I said nothing as Gio began asking the young woman questions. I don’t know why he thought I needed to be here for this. I had nothing to do with those two students’ death. I was under house arrest. I couldn’t take a piss without Marko and Enzo watching. Why Gio needed me here was beyond me.
Reaching for my phone, I had just clicked on one of my social media apps, when Gio damn near jumped across the desk, ripped my phone out of my hand and confiscated my phone.
“What the hell!”
Putting my phone in the top drawer of his desk, Gio sat back down and said, “Please continue, Ms. Stevens.”
“Like I was saying, I walked home from the library when two men approached me. They wanted me to go with them. They tried to grab me when I refused but I managed to get away. I headed straight home to find my apartment building surrounded by the police and paramedics. The lead detective told me that my roommate and another student were killed. Both of them shot to the back of the head.”
“And did you give a statement to the police?”