It’s not busy, which is good, but there are two other workers inside.
“Yeah, but he hasn’t seen him for ages.” Lenny shrugs, I know this because I’m glaring at him through the review mirror.
He sees me and shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “What? You think he’s lying?”
Dante drops his head, shaking it.
“Yeah, Lenny. I think he’s lying.” I turn to face him. “Go inside and clear out the company. Then let us know. Okay?”
Maybe if I spell it out for him, he might get it right this time.
“Yeah sure. You got it, boss.” He is eager we just don’t know if he’s capable yet.
Surely, this job isn’t too difficult.
He hops out of the car, and we watch him go inside. I reach inside my suit jacket and pull out a set of black disposable gloves.
“We need to talk about something,” I say to Dante as I pull them on.
He reaches in his back pocket getting his own pair. “Yeah?”
“Lilliana.” I keep an eye on the door to the workshop.
“I think it’s a big mistake. She’s not one of us. We can’t trust her and especially coming from that slimeball. It’s a risk we don’t need. Add the Russian and it’s fucking not worth it.”
I can’t argue his points because he is right, except for one thing. “It’s done now.”
“She’s gonna run. What is stopping her from running to the cops for protection?”
This time I turn to him. “You think she wouldn’t have done that to get away from Nikolov already?”
He doesn’t answer.
“I get your concerns; they are not unfounded. But that doesn’t change the fact she will be my wife. And whether you like it or not, you have to show her the respect that comes with it.”
This is the part I hate. Having to remind my lifelong friend that no matter what we’ve been through, he needs to fall in line like everyone else.
“Of course. I’d never disrespect you in front of the family. I’ll play along.”
Two men walk out of the garage, ending our conversation. We watch as they both jump into a van and drive off, disappearing around the corner
That’s our cue.
I step out of the car, followed by Dante, and make our way to the garage door. A bell sounds when we enter, and a short stocky man turns toward us. The colour drains from his face, as recognition dawns. It’s one thing dealing with a soldier of the family, quite another when the boss comes calling personally.
“Do you know who I am?” I walk towards him, around the car up on the hoist.
He nods, eyes darting from Dante to me. Lenny steps behind him blocking access to the office door as Dante flanks the other side of me.
“I’m looking for your cousin, Billy. I hear you talk to him?” My eyes land on a messy, greasy heap of tools on the workbench by his side.
“Yeah.” His voice trembles. “He said to take the car and get Sarah to take out the money to cover it. He says it’s enough.”
“You mean Sarah his wife, that he left for that stripper? He wants me to take money from her and his kid?”
“Yeah. Money is money, am I right?” He shrugs looking around, trying to make light of the situation as he laughs it off.
My gloved fingers glide over a set of pliers and look up at him. “You don’t care about Sarah or your nephew?”