“She persuaded me to show her the necklace.” I cringe when I notice it’s still curled up in her hand. Even when she was fighting me, she couldn’t bring herself to let go of it. “She pulled out a gun and tried to shoot me.”
“How did you kill her?”
“I didn’t kill her. We fought for the gun and it went off in her hand. She shot herself with it.”
“Good. Saves me the trouble of doing it. I’ll be there soon. Are you sure you’re safe?”
“As long as you haven’t got any other fake relatives waiting to pounce on me.”
“The Don’s got Imelda and Sarah. No one else in my family but them.”
“He hasn’t got Sarah, I mean if this woman was telling the truth that is.”
“What did she say?”
“Said Sarah’s gone for a sleepover.”
“You think she was lying?”
“I doubt it. She was making a big thing of wanting to see Sarah come home to find me dead and her mom missing. It was like she was getting off on it.”
“I’m sorry, Chloe. I shouldn’t have brought you into any of this. It’s my fault.”
“Yes. It is.” I look at the gun and I don’t want to hold it anymore. I put it down on the nearest cabinet, still staring at Sandra’s body. “She said she was called Sandra. Anyone you know?”
He goes silent for a moment. “Yes, I know Sandra Bernadetti. Used to be one of the Don’s hookers but had a penchant for acting. The famiglia started using her as a honey trap a few years back. Graduated to this kind of work. A real piece of shit. She got my… I mean she got the hooker for Blizzard.”
“What hooker?”
“Never mind, I’ll explain when I get there. Listen, trust me, Chloe. No one is going to mourn her except maybe the Don and his accountant.”
“That supposed to make me feel better?”
“It’s the truth. I told you I’d be honest with you, didn’t I?”
“You also said you’d tell me what the fuck is going on. Or did you forget that part?”
“I will as soon as I get there, I swear.”
“Why not tell me now?”
“It’ll be easier in person.”
“Sure it will. Or you’ll fuck off and I’ll never hear from you again.”
“Chloe, I’m going nowhere, you hear me? Me and you are going to sort this out and then we’re going to go on a date. A real, proper, All-American date. We’ll see a movie and eat too much popcorn. We’ll go out for burgers and fries with too much salt on.”
“Don’t lie to me, Enzo. Don’t promise me things you won’t give me. I can’t handle it right now.”
“When have I ever lied to you?”
“When you said you were just going to the vending machine and you’d be right back.”
“I’ll explain about that as well when I get there. You still got the gun?”
“It’s here.”
“Keep it close. Keep the doors locked until I get there. Can you do that?”