Lo sets his work down and stands up, coming around the desk. “Is that so? Well, Terry, you have my undivided attention.”
Terry stutters a bit before speaking. “I want money.”
Lo laughs, low and menacing. “This isn’t a negotiation. You came here to give us information. Now give it to us.”
“Money first.” He looks like he is tweaking, which is more pronounced now that he is facing Lo.
Lo moves so quick that I would have jumped if I hadn’t seen him in action a million times. Within moments, he has the man against the wall. “I will ask you again. What information do you have?”
The man swallows hard. “Fillipo is still in town. I heard you were looking for him. Look, I’m just a homeless man looking to buy some food. I don’t want any trouble.”
I let out a sharp laugh. More like the man needs some more dope.
“Is that all?” Lo puts more pressure onto Terry.
“I overheard him. I camp out behind the bridal shop. They didn’t see me behind the dumpster. They were talking about some plan in place. I don’t know who the other man is, but he was on the taller side and wore suits, like you guys. He had blondish hair. I wish I could tell you more. The other man must have been Fillipo. The blondish man said his name before pushing him up against a wall. They whispered a bit. Then the man let him go then left. I followed Fillipo down the street and watched him walk into the set of apartments at the corner of 6thand West 20th. I think he is staying there.”
Lo looks at me, and I nod. It might not be anything, but we will be checking on it anyway. Lo lets the man go as I reach for my wallet.
“Here.” I shove a hundred dollars in his hands. “I really hope you use it on food.”
The man’s eyes shine as he nods feverously. “I will. I’m going to get food right now.”
I know the man is lying, but I can’t make him do the right thing. I press a button and a guard opens the door. “Escort him out the back.”
The guard nods as he takes the man.
“What do you think?” I ask Lo.
“What do we have to lose?”
∞∞∞
Hours later, I finally make it back home. It turns out the lead the man gave us was a dud. There was no evidence of Fillipo at the apartments indicated. We even checked some others in the area in case the man was confused. It was disappointing, but I knew it was unlikely. Fillipo has been missing for a while now. There have been no signs of him in the city. For all we know, he could be dead or in another country by now.
Fillipo was never smart though. After our show of power, I doubt he would leave so soon. Something in my gut says he’s still here.
I’m still reeling from my afternoon of hunting when I walk through the door and head straight for the shower. The water relaxes me enough to feel the exhaustion seep into my bones, my mind slowing down. When I get out I don’t even bother with a towel I just fall face first onto my bed and pass out. The smell of something delicious wafts to me from the kitchen pulling me from my slumber. I reach out for my alarm clock on my nightstand turning it towards me to find most of the day has passed.
“Babe, is that you?” I call out like an idiot.
“Of course. Unless you have some other insanely gorgeous woman making you your favorite homemade chicken alfredo for dinner.”
I round the corner and find her stirring something on the stove. My eyes never leave her. An image of her doing this fifty years from now enters my head. My heart swells at the domestic picture there.
“Never. I love your cooking. I could never trade that for something less.”
She gives me a “yeah right” smirk. “Dinner’s about done. I’ll make our plates and meet you at the table?”
I walk over to her, not able to handle it a moment longer. I lean in and kiss her neck where it meets her shoulder. I breathe in deeply. “Hello, gorgeous. When did you get here?”
She chuckles. “Hello, handsome. I got here about an hour ago, I hope it’s okay but I gave Dante the night off. I figured you could give me a ride home or I could stay here tonight. Did you have a good day?”
I sigh. “No, but it just got so much better. Especially if I get to hold you all night long.”
She chuckles then pushes me away. “Get us some drinks then go to the table, Romeo.”
I do as she demands, coming back to help her bring the plates in. As we dig into the food, I cannot help the moan that slips from my mouth. “I have missed your alfredo. I haven’t had a decent alfredo in years.”
