Miguel turns to face them, scowling, and mutters, “And here I thought we had something special.”
I like this man. Fighting my smile, I slap him on the shoulder. “It’s nothing personal, Miguel.”
Ling moves closer to Dino. Standing almost flush to his body, her lips move slowly, seductively, and Dino can’t tear his eyes off them. Sometimes, I wonder what she says to men to get them to look at her like that, but then I remember that it’s probably best that I don’t know. As I back away toward the stairs, I hear Miguel sigh. “I definitely need one of those.”
Taking the stairs two at a time, I find myself standing in front of Alejandra Gambino’s childhood bedroom. Before my mind can wander down places it shouldn’t, I knock. Shuffling on the other side of the door lets me know she’s awake. Opening the door, she mutters, “Dino, I can’t rest when you check up on me every two sec—” A look of surprise crosses her face when she realizes I am indeed not the asshole she calls a husband. “Oh. Hello. Are you lost?”
It’s official business now. Game face on. “Mrs. Gambino, I’ve been called here today because of the death of Raul Mendoza.”
Her guarded expression fails her, and sadness seeps through, showing immediate understanding. “Of course.” She shrugs lightly. “But how can I help you? You’re better off speaking to my sister Veronica.”
She smiles regretfully as she attempts to close the door in my face. But I’m quicker than her. I push my foot into the gap in the door and nudge it open, letting myself into her room. She makes an indignant noise before placing her hands on her hips. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave now, Mr. Carter. I already told you I don’t know anything.”
I choose to ignore the soft voice. Instead, I walk the length of her room, touching things as I go. From her pure white bed sheets, now a little rumpled from having her lie on them, to the aged white-and-gold furniture, it suits her. The tall bookcase stocked with well-read classics. They’d have to be well read. The spines of them are disintegrating. Interestingly enough, newer paperback copies of the falling apart hardbacks sit on a bottom shelf. I turn to her, pointing to the books. “Why do you have two sets of each?”
Startled by the question, she answers quietly, “The originals were my mother’s. I inherited them when she died. She’d read them so much. I didn’t want to destroy them, so I read the other copies.”
Makes sense. Smart, sensible girl.
The question seems to disarm Alejandra. Her body relaxes, and I preen inwardly. This is a tactic I use often. Get to know the person you’re questioning. “Your mom died when you were young?”
She doesn’t move. Blinking, her face turns morose. She tries to answer, but instead, mouths, “Yes.”
I pick up one of the older books and gently flick through, taking all the care possible. “Me too.” As I place the book down, I ask a question she isn’t expecting. “You dated Raul Mendoza in high school, right?”
Her brows rise. “Yes. Before I met Dino.”
I move the two steps toward her and gently take hold of her arm. “Please, sit. You look exhausted.”
She takes a step toward the bed before hesitating, shooting wide-eyed looks at the door. Pulling away, she lowers her voice in clear panic. “You need to leave, Mr. Carter.”
“Julius,” I prompt.
“Okay. You need to leave, Julius. Now.” When I make no move to leave, she steps forward and tries to pull me to the door. And I smile.
This little sparrow thinks she can move me?
She pulls and pulls and… nothing. Then she tries another tactic. Moving behind me, she places her small hands at the base of my back and pushes with all her might. Panting, she whispers a frantic, “If Dino finds you in here, he won’t be pleased. It’ll cause problems for me.”
I see.
Turning, I grab both her hands in one of my own and look down at her pointedly. “Dino won’t come up. Not until my partner Ling lets him go.”
Her face voids of expression, the fight knocked out of her. She mutters a tired, resolute, “Of course.” Letting go, she moves back toward her bed and sits in the middle of it, cross-legged, pulling a soft teddy bear into her lap. Stroking the fur of the bear, she looks down at it and asks a bored, “What do you want to know, Julius?”
I wait a moment, trying to find the words, but this little woman has my mind reeling. As I lean against the wall, I decide a straightforward question will get me a straightforward answer. “Did Dino murder Raul Mendoza?”
Her hand stroking the teddy stills. Slowly lifting her face to me, she asks a shocked, “I beg your pardon?”
My eyes narrow. She’s good. Not as good as me, but good. “I asked you if your husband killed Raul Mendoza.”
Her voice just above a whisper, she blanches. “Why would you ask me that?”
I refuse to play this game. I’d rather keep quiet and let her mind reel. After a moment’s silence, her brows furrow. “Is that what people think? That Dino did this?” I simply cross my arms over my chest. Hugging the bear close, she mutters, “No. It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be.”
“Your brother seems to think otherwise.”
At that, she looks up at me, eyes wide as saucers. “Miguel thinks Dino did this?”
“Isn’t it true that when Dino found out about you dating Raul, he made a scene at a family dinner?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“And that he started to show aggression toward Raul, a man he once liked?”
“Yes, that’s true but—”
“Where was your husband that night, Alejandra?”
Lost for words, she shakes her head. “No. He didn’t do this. Raul was my brother-in-law. Veronica and Raul loved each other very much. There’s no way Dino would kill him for such a weak reason.” Her response is feeble and sounds pathetic.
“I asked you a question, Alejandra.” Her eyes meet mine, and she swallows hard. I try again. “Where was Dino that night?”
Pulling the bear under her chin, she absently looks to the wall. She looks so childlike that I have to remind myself not to comfort her. We remain quiet in each other’s company until she utters a shaky, “He didn’t do it.” Then she swallows hard and whispers, “But what would happen if he did?”
Progress. Finally getting somewhere.
I huff out a breath. “It wouldn’t be pretty, Alejandra. I’m not the police. I just police the laws of the underground. If Dino was found guilty of murdering one of your father’s men unprovoked”—I look her in the eye and sock it to her—“he’d be killed.”
A noise leaves her, part choked, part sob. Lifting her shaking fingers to her lips, she utters, “An eye for an eye.” Eyes bright, she looks up at me. “And if… If I were to… What would happen if I—?”
I pin her with a stare. Unblinking, I respond, “If you were to lie to help your husband, I’d find out.” Her gaze intense, I add a cold, “And I’d kill you both.”
Liar.
This is not true.
No shit.
I’d have Ling kill her.
I never could hurt a woman. It’s just not in my nature.
A breathless, “Oh,” escapes her. Pupils like pinpricks, I see her fear as beads of sweat accumulate on her forehead.
But I see something more there. Her mind is working a mile a minute. The way her eyes dart side to side and she grips th
e bear impossibly tight, something’s gotta give.
Finally, after what seems like forever, she gives me an in. Her lip trembles as she relays something I have already heard from Miguel. “Dino is different.” And although her eyes fill with tears, she continues with a steady voice, “He loves me.”
If I had doubt of this, the display downstairs would’ve clued me in.
She looks up at me, her expression worn. “He loves me.” Only this time when she says it, despair laces her voice. The way she says it is as if it’s not a thing of beauty, but of misery.
A single tear trails her cheek, but she doesn’t give in to emotion. She lifts a hand and wipes it away. And I have to say I’m impressed. This small woman carries a fuckload of strength inside of her. A blind person could see that.
Knowing I only have moments before Dino comes to check on her, I step forward, close but still giving her space, and ask once more, “Where was Dino that night?”
The gods have finally heard my prayers.
I fight the urge to laugh hysterically and jump on my bed in pure joy.
The tears I shed are very real. But perhaps not for the reason Julius Carter believes.
I am so tired of this life.
Twenty-four-year-olds are not meant to feel like I do. They are meant to be carefree, happy and even careless.
Oh, what I would give to be a regular twenty-four-year-old.
What I would give, indeed.
I want that life. I want it so bad that I can feel the freedom on my tongue the very moment I say, “Dino did it.”
Julius pins me with a look of disbelief, but I don’t waver.
One small step closer to freedom.
I hold my bear tighter and whisper, “Dino killed Raul.”
And may God have mercy on my soul.
“We’ve got a situation.”
Ling looks up at me from her place by Dino’s side, her sticky toffee-apple smile dying a slow death. “Right.” Looking from me to Dino, she places an overly familiar hand on his forearm. “Would you excuse me? Business calls.”
His eyes devour her. “You never did get around to telling me why you’re here.”