“Like how I can see right down your top from here.”
I tug at my blouse, giving him a shove in the chest a moment later. “Perv.”
“You complaining?”
“I guess not. How long do you think we’ve got?”
“The rest of today, at least. He’ll open up the box and see that the negatives aren’t there. See the message from me instead.”
“Did he notice the seal was different?”
“That’s the thing. It’s not different. It’s the same.”
“Still can’t believe you kept it all these years.”
He shrugs. “Vito didn’t need it once I’d killed him. Don’s fault for not keeping track of how many he was giving out back then. Only got himself to blame.”
“What do you think he’ll do?”
“Same thing I’d do if I was cheated like that.” There’s a coldness to his voice that doesn’t scare me anymore. I know what’s behind it, why he has to hide his emotions away. I can respect that now. I’m doing the same. Best I can, anyway.
“Which is?”
“I’d send all my best men after the bastard who swindled me.”
“You think he will?”
“I’m counting on it. He’ll probably send Marco and he’s the only one who knows where the Don is hiding out. While he’s out here looking for me, the Don will be unprotected. I just need to get the address off Marco, get to the Don, and take him out.”
“Simple as that, huh?”
Simple as that. You ready for your part in this?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Good. Then I’ll drop you off at the grocery store. Be careful.”
“Always.”
We get up off the sofa and head out. Enzo drives me through the town to the other side of the square. We go past the cherry trees, the last of the blossom falling from them. It seems a lifetime since I was heading to work this way, thinking about nothing more than my upcoming date.
I had no idea how much world there was, how dark parts of it get. Nor did I know how much I could feel for someone, how my heart could swell every time I look at them, see the way their lips set hard when they’re thinking, the way his jaw juts out like he’s itching for a fight. He’s not. It’s all a shield. Behind it, is a hurting kid that only wanted to protect his sister.
We get to the grocery store ten minutes later. He drops me off and then leans out the window to look at me. “You can do this,” he says. “I believe in you.”
“Thanks.”
He drives off and I go inside. I pick up a few things and load them into my basket. It doesn’t take long. I get to the register and make small talk but my mind is elsewhere. I know what’s coming and I’m worried I’ll screw up. I hope not but Enzo is used to doing this kind of thing. I’m not. I hope I never get used to it.
I walk outside and Enzo isn’t there. Instead, a man is walking across the lot toward me. I get the feeling he’s looking for me. He’s not someone I recognize.
He’s wider than Enzo, his black suit stretched across his bulk. He’s got a red tie on that screams danger. I want to run from him but I refuse to give in to my fear. As Enzo said, I can do this.
As he gets closer, I can see acne scars on his face and a swollen nose that looks like it’s been broken more than once. He stops in front of me, blocking out the light, his face devoid of emotion. “Where’s Enzo?” he asks, his hand reaching inside his jacket.
“Gone,” I tell him, holding my grocery bag tight to my chest. Could I run inside? Would anyone help me? Or would I just get them killed as well?
“Bullshit. His car’s right there. You think I was born yesterday?”