Page 106 of Don't Let Go
“I guess it’s better this way.” I rolled my neck and walked toward the door we entered through. “Come on. Let’s go see if Mr. Dickson wants to talk or kill me.”
“Great. My kind of road trip,” Tyler mocked, forcing a laugh.
As we left the ICU and walked toward the main exit Tyler hooked his arm with mine. “You’re not alone in this. I’ll be beside you always.”
For a brief second, I rested my head on his shoulder. “Thanks. I could use someone in my corner right now.”
The sun was blinding as we walked outside. Inside the car, I took a few seconds to collect my thoughts. After all, I could be driving to my death. I needed to think positively. I needed a clean slate. It was Paolo to blame. He betrayed the mob. He told Jacob to kill Tyler’s papà. He was the gum on the bottom of my shoe I couldn’t get rid of.
At times like these, I wished I had my papà. He’d have words of wisdom. He would’ve seen my behavior escalating and stopped me before I blew up. Right now, all I cared about was my mamma and my siblings’ safety. If that meant I had to die, then I had to die.
“Let me do all the talking, okay?” I pulled open the door to the warehouse. About ten men in business attire talked in hushed tones when we entered. They stopped as soon as they spotted us.
It was so quiet, the door closing with a soft click spooked me.
Mr. Dickson sat down his whiskey glass and waved me over. “Good to see you, Aurora. Have a seat.” He gestured to one of the two chairs in front of the men.
I nodded, doing as I was told. Tyler shadowed me, standing behind me when I sat.
Mr. Dickson stared at me for a good minute before looking at Tyler. “Please take a seat next to her.”
Tyler was reluctant, but after a beat, he settled down beside me. He kept bouncing his right leg nonstop as if he was pumping an air bed with his foot. I rested my hand on his knee, and he stopped the movement.
“You left quite a mess. Didn’t you?” Mr. Dickson said, pacing the room. The other men stood around us, and some leaned their shoulders against a nearby wall. I think if we moved too fast, they’d draw a gun quicker than we could say our last words.
“I didn’t mean—”
Mr. Dickson raised his hand, silencing my tongue. “Enough,” he said, motioning to a large black man to his left. “Michael here cleaned it up for you, and he uncovered something interesting. Do you know what that might be?”
I sucked in my teeth. I wasn’t sure if this was a trap or not. “About Paolo?” I dared to take a stab in the dark.
Mr. Dickson nodded. “Indeed. Michael, care to share?”
Michael turned his head to the side, popping his neck. “I was transporting Vincenzo’s body when I heard a phone. It was odd because I already discarded his cell. Turned out he had a second one, and it was blowing up. He and Paolo were late for a deal. Looked like it was with the Mexican cartel.”
Mr. Dickson patted Michael on the shoulder as if he was a dog who did a great service. “Know anything about the cartel, Aurora?”
Sweat beads formed on my forehead. I had to tell them the truth, but I didn’t know they were already onto the cartel. “Yes. Paolo and his cousins are with the cartel. Doing backhanded deals, it seemed like.”
“You assisted them?” Mr. Dickson asked, folding his arms across his chest and lifting an eyebrow.
“No!” I shouted too loudly. My voice echoed back against the empty space. I swallowed my fear and shook my head. “No,” I said softly.
The men around us shifted, not liking I raised my voice in alarm.
Mr. Dickson ran a hand over his chin. “Whatdoyou know?”
Tyler looked at me and his eyes were wide with horror. He must be scared shitless.
“Umm, Vincenzo showed up at my house not that long ago and said he needed my help. I went with him because he had a gun. He threatened to come inside if I refused and my sisters were home. He said Paolo claimed I was good for it, but I never did anything with Paolo. I didn’t even go on runs with him to supply his dealers.”
“Dealers?” Mr. Dickson asked, shoving his hands into his front pockets. “Paolo wasn’t assigned dealers. His job was minimal.”
I shrugged. “He told me he was a big part of the branch here. That he was trusted with a lot of responsibility. I didn’t ask questions.”
“Proceed,” Mr. Dickson ordered in a clipped tone.
“I didn’t want to go, but I went to get Vincenzo away from my sisters. He drove us out to what seemed like the middle of nowhere to an abandoned car shop with luxury cars.”
