“No.” Rafael’s voice held an edge. “Not yet.”
I sighed. “Well. . .Rafael will help her, but she’ll have no regrets.”
At least we hope not.
Another woman opened the door. “Hey, I’m Natalie. Gwen’s baby sister. Come on in.”
Natalie didn’t have to tell us she was Gwen’s sister. It was all over her face. Same dark brown skin. Same high cheekbones and big eyes that appeared to be holding a song, or maybe even a dream.
But there were some differences. Gwen had a super curly afro, while Natalie had long black hair tied up in a ponytail. And Natalie was shorter, yet she seemed to have a bold spunk about her. The words Dance, Pray, Fuck was written on the front of the t-shirt she wore.
“Hey, are you all coming in or not?” she asked.
“Sorry.”
She giggled. “It’s all good. Come get some breakfast. I was making eggs and bacon. Is anybody hungry?”
Louis nodded with an intensity that I had never seen. Even the Mouse’s face brightened at the sound of bacon. And Rafael clutched his stomach and groaned.
I bet we look like a group of zombies to her.
She opened her mouth and inched back. “O-kay. I’m getting you all something quick. We can do S.O.S.”
I began to walk in, but Louis stepped in front of me, almost knocking me out of the way.
“What’s S.O.S?” He followed her down a small hallway.
The rest of us piled in.
Her voice came off in the distance. “It’s Shit on Shingles. You’ve never had it? It’s a rendition of biscuits and sausage gravy—”
“Yeah. I want that,” Louis growled. “S.O.S. it is.”
We piled into their small living room, crowding the tiny space. A few more of my men appeared, and I ended up taking the Mouse and her guards into the kitchen area with Louis, as he continued to talk Natalie’s ear off.
Where is Rafael?
He’d escaped once we’d gotten inside.
I glanced over my shoulder and spotted Rafael talking to Gwen on her small balcony.
Okay. I’ll give Louis and Rafael some time. Everything will work out. Kazimir will call soon.
Louis had been sitting on a small barstool by the breakfast bar. Gwen stood by the stove, turning sizzling, long links of sausage. I gestured for the Mouse to sit next to me. Her guards stood behind her.
Natalie eyed her. “I have some clothes she can fit.”
Shocked, I nodded. “That would be good.”
“Just grab something from the bedroom.” She pointed in the direction. “It’s over there.”
Well. . .that was helpful.
I’d expected more fear to come from Gwen and her sister. If anything, they were helping us with the kidnapping.
Or maybe Gwen told Natalie a story.
The Mouse rose.
I whispered to her, “If you kill them, then we’re going to have a problem.”
“I won’t.” The Mouse went off with her guards to the bedroom.
Natalie placed another pot on the stove. The scent of simmering meat filled the air. My stomach growled.
“Wow. You all haven’t eaten in a minute.” She laughed.
No fear came from her. I gazed down taking in my appearance. I looked like I’d been fighting for the past twelve hours.
Haven’t I?
Still, I studied her.
Why isn’t she a little on edge with us?
“Where are you from again Natalie?” I asked.
“New Orleans. I moved to Paris with Gwen.”
“Why?”
“I came on a student visa. I’m studying dance. Gwen came for cooking, as you know.” She piled some more sausages on another pan.
I asked her more questions. She had no problem answering them. But when we got to her life in New Orleans, she avoided them. When I switched to asking her questions about Gwen’s time in New Orleans, she averted those too.
Interesting. It may not be important, but Louis should look into it.
I didn’t think the women were a danger, but they’d seen some things. Enough to not be worried, when a bunch of gangsters stood in their apartment early in the morning.
Natalie went into the bedroom, probably to show the Mouse what she could wear. The guards had left the room for a minute. That put me on edge. Who knew what the Mouse could say to her?
Don’t you do anything to Natalie.
But Natalie was out minutes later. She went to the bathroom, came out with something in her hand, took it to the bedroom, and then came back without it.
What was that?
I gestured to my men to check on what it was.
They went in and came out, shaking their heads and letting me know it wasn’t anything.
Hmmm. I’m still watching you, Mouse.
The rest of the time went by well. Natalie cooked. Louis talked her head off, asking her more and more about herself. Rafael and Gwen remained on the balcony. The Mouse returned in a rainbow t-shirt and jeans.
A baby cried.
We all paused.
Natalie giggled. “That’s my son, Benji. I’ll be right back.”
She rushed away.
I took the space in with this new information and leaned Louis’s way. “Two women and a baby in this tiny place? I’ll give Rafael a week and if this isn’t fixed, then let me know.”