His eyes met mine in the rearview as I chuckled softly.
"That woman has everything to do with everything, it seems."
He didn't press me for an answer as I sank back into my seat.
I hadn't planned what to say to her, but I knew that I had to see her. She would probably tell me to fuck off, or her Dad may shoot me where I stood.
Fuck it.
The drive was long and tedious, and I was annoyed with the amount of traffic we were facing.
"Has there been an accident?" I asked, not bothering to disguise the impatience in my voice.
"No, just traffic, it seems. You know what it's like, rush hour. Everyone wants to get home to their warm houses and families."
I didn't know what that was like, until now. All I wanted to do was see Alice. I'd sworn to keep away from her, but I couldn't. I shouldn't have ever left.
"It's moving now, Lucas. Slowly but surely."
I nodded, deciding to check in at the office. Everything there seemed fine until then the receptionist mentioned Alice had called for me earlier that day.
"What did you tell her?" I demanded, anxiety growing in my stomach.
"That you were in Italy, Sir. She didn't leave a message—”
"Fuck." I muttered, ending the call as the bitch on the end of the phone tried to continue talking.
So Alice knew I was in Italy. She also knewwhyI was in Italy.
Fucking marvelous.
"Almost there now."
I nodded again, lost in thought. Now I wasn't so sure Alice would want to see me, especially thinking she was just my mistress.
The car slowed, and I noticed one of my men across the road. I crossed over to speak to them as Dean munched on a burger.
"Boss, nothing to report. Must be some family reunion as they've gone in there and not a peep since."
I watched as mayonnaise dripped down his chin, tutting as I turned back to the house. It was one in a row of houses, and it didn't look big enough to hold that many people.
"That one?" I pointed to it while he nodded.
"Yes, Boss."
"How many have you seen go in there?"
"The girl, her brother, and her parents went in first; then some dude came back with a pretty hot milf. He was holding flowers of some sort. That's it."
"Six of them. Hardly a family gathering."
He shrugged, looking back at his burger longingly.
"Eat your fucking burger. Wipe that shit off your chin. I need a gun."
He frowned as I lifted my eyebrow at him, making him reach into the glovebox.
He handed me a manila envelope before hastily wiping his chin.
