CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
THE LINK
LUCA
Mindy left the penthouse mid-morning, and she has yet to return. Jules hasn’t checked in, and both their phones are going straight to voicemail. Something is wrong. I feel it in my gut. I’ve sent my men out to look for them, but I haven’t gotten a response.
I’m so distracted with finding my woman that I can’t even focus on what my lawyers are saying. Truth be told, I don’t really care. It’s their job to get me out of this mess. There’s plenty of evidence that corroborates that I had nothing to do with Matthew Besser’s disappearance. Of course, it’s all doctored evidence, but they don’t know that. And they’ll never be able to prove it.
My lawyer is talking about getting the charges dismissed when my phone rings. When I see it’s Mike calling, I instantly dismiss my attorneys and answer the phone.
“Did you find them?” For the first time in my adult life, I’m afraid.
“When we got to the park, a jogger was talking to the police. He had called an ambulance when he found Jules shot. Wedidn’t find any sign of Mindy, and the paramedics took Jules to Baylor Medical before we got there.”
“Fuck! I’m on my way.”
There’s no way to get my emotions under control. I’m not even going to waste the energy trying. Jules may be fighting for his life, and Mindy might be fighting for hers, so the silent killer is about to get incredibly loud.
As soon as I get to the elevator, I see Paolo striding toward me. I know that Mike called him as well. For once, he doesn’t say anything. His face is a mask of rage that probably reflects mine.
When we get to the lobby, Niro and Roman are waiting. I knew when I was charged with murder, my family would rally around me. But this is different; it’s not about protecting our assets. This is about protecting my woman, it’s not business, it’s personal.
No one says a word until we get into the SUV. Ro is behind the wheel, and I’m in the passenger seat while Paolo and Niro are in the back. There is another SUV with four of our men behind us.
“Did Ross Stewart do this?” Ro questions.
“No. Since I had to delay getting rid of him, I have had eyes on him. He hasn’t left his mommy’s house all day.” I scowl at the thought of Mindy’s ex.
“Then who are the suspects? Niro, what did you find out?” Ro glances in the rearview mirror.
“Mindy is clean. There isn’t much in her background…” Niro starts, but I interrupt.
“Nobody told you to investigate my woman. We’ll talk about that shit later.” I narrow my eyes at my cousin, but he just shrugs.
“You’re the hit man, and I’m the protector. Just like you do your job, I will always do mine,” Niro responds.
I don’t respond because I know he’s right, but it still pisses me off. Mindy is an innocent. Whatever is going on is because of me. I know that deep down in my soul.
“I felt a but coming on before you were so rudely interrupted,” Paolo says, smirking.
“Yeah, so Mindy is clean. But as you know, her husband…”
“Ex-husband,” I interrupt again.
Niro narrows his eyes before continuing, “Mindy’sex-husbandis dirty. Of course, not on the surface, but after some preliminary digging, I found the connection. Talia Gates is Mindy’s closest friend from what I can tell, and she’s been having an affair with Ross for his entire marriage. Jules also did a check-in before he was shot, saying Mindy was supposed to be meeting with Talia.”
“Do you think this Talia woman has Mindy? I met her briefly, and she seemed nervous, but I had her checked out previously, and nothing came up. Not the affair, not anything.”
“Yeah, well, next time let me do the checking. Whatever amateur you used missed it completely,” Niro says, scowling.
“You know me better than that. I didn’t use a fucking outsider. Vinny did the checking for me.” As the words leave my mouth, my brain starts working overtime. I can’t believe I missed it. I don’t miss anything. I have a pit in the bottom of my stomach.
Vinny has been hovering more than usual. I thought he was just trying to gain my trust so he could move up. I have been way more lenient because of Mindy. I still don’t speak to the men, but I’m not as paranoid or anxious. The silent killer has actually been silent since I met Mindy. That is until now.
“It’s fucking Vinny!” I seethe, seeing red.
