Dark Heart (Dark Heart 1)

“Tony is a fuck up and a lunatic. He is not killing my dad. Where are they? What do you know about it? Tell me everything you fucking know.”

“I don’t know,” Alesso half moans. “I haven’t seen him, and the last thing he said is that he has to do it, Luca.”

“If he does it, he’ll get caught. You don’t think the FBI would know? Of course they will! That’ll be the end of your brother.”

“Just stop, Luca. Tony’s got the orders. It’s not his fault,” Leo says.

I grit my teeth so I don’t throttle him. “Who gave Tony the orders?”

“Some dude that’s right up underneath Roberto. They call him il diavolo.”

I roll my eyes. “The devil.” How original. “And what about Roberto? He was —” My stomach does a slow roll, followed by a nose-dive. “Jesus! Roberto came by last night.” Tears fill my eyes as the truth hits.

“Yeah, he gave your dad some notice. At least that’s what I heard. Told him if he tries to run, he’ll come take out your family. But that’s a lie, don’t worry. Tony wouldn’t do that shit. Nobody’s planning to.”

Little stars dance in my eyes. I slam my fist on the door. “Fuck! Where’s my mom and Soren!” I groan and rub my temple. “Fuck!”

“We took them to a hotel,” Leo says. “They’re safe.”

I can’t help the moan that comes from my throat. “Where’s my dad?”

“I don’t know,” Alesso says. “I told Tony we were gonna help you, keep you out of it.”

“I don’t want to be out! Goddammit! How could my dad do this!” I slap the dash so hard Alesso swerves.

“Whoa Luca!”

“I want to talk to Tony. I can talk to— Maybe I can talk to Arnoldi myself. You said he likes me. Maybe I can promise him something. Anything.”

I have maybe half a minute to consider what that might look like before Leo says, “I don’t think that’s how it works.” His voice is soft. Regretful.

I shake my head. “I’m going to talk to him.”

“You need to go to the hotel,” Alesso says. Be with your mom and Soren. Leo and me will see if there’s something we can do.”

I laugh darkly. Not a goddamn chance. “I want to know where Tony is, and where my dad is. I know you two know!”

Alesso’s eyes shift to the rearview mirror.

Leo leans forward again. “They’re going to that old ship-building place that used to be a warehouse and then got turned into a theater and stores. You know where I mean? Near the stock yard? Boarded-up place? Sorta like a warehouse.”

I nod, feeling dizzy.

“Luca, you can’t go in there,” Alesso says.

“Let us go and see what’s up,” Leo says. “We’ll sneak around and try to see.”

A thick swell of grief rises up from somewhere in my chest, but I shove it down.

“He can’t kill my dad.” My voice cracks, so I make it harder. “Tony is a stupid loser fuck. But I think that he wouldn’t really do it.” Fuck, my mind is racing. I feel sick.

“What did you tell my mom?” I ask no one in particular.

“Told her that your dad’s involved in some messed up shit and they need to leave the house. She didn’t say much. She was upset. I got them some food from the Wendy’s,” Leo tells me. “Since that’s the only burger Soren will eat.”

“Thank you,” I say numbly. “I’ll check on them, but I want you to come back and get me right after. I can sneak around, too. It’s my dad. I deserve to know. And…be there,” I add, making sure my voice sounds choked up.

“Whatever would help,” Alesso says smoothly. “I can try to talk to Tony. There has to be another way.”

I don’t know if he’s convincing himself, but he’s not convincing me.

“Yeah, there’s gotta be,” Leo says.

“I can’t believe I didn’t know.” I rub my temples, rub my forehead, hating myself, hating my dad more.

“You were graduating. Not your fault your dad’s a dumb shit.”

My throat aches as I start to tell Leo he’s not. Then I look down at myself and shut my eyes as I take a long breath.

“How’s your arm?” Alesso asks.

“It’s okay.”

“He’s been doing this shit for the FBI for at least two years,” he says quietly.

I want to scream at Aless, to jump out the door, rip my fucking hair out. Instead I close my eyes and lean my head against the headrest, prop my right hand underneath my left arm so it doesn’t hurt so much. I think of nothing. Just…nothing. Nothing’s what I know, what I can do, what I am. Everything is fucked now.

Before I know it, Alesso’s braking. We’re at the hotel.

“You can’t do shit about this,” Leo tells me. “It’s Arnoldi stuff. Don’t go crazy thinking you can do something to fix it, save the day. That’s how you do, but it won’t work this time.”