Packing Heat(24)
“They did something with her computer,” Arturo said. “Our boys were monitoring her, and they found something weird.”
“Someone took her over. We couldn’t see what they were doing or saying, but it was the Spiders,” Ernesto added.
“How do you know?” Vince asked.
“It had to be them. Nobody else could do that.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“Who else would contact the girl like that?”
Vince glanced at me. I shook my head. “She’s not a threat,” I said. “I don’t care if they contacted her. She’s not stupid enough to talk to them.”
“She clearly is,” Arturo said. “I want her. I want to know what they said. I want to know what she knows.”
“No,” I said simply.
All three bosses looked at me.
“You can’t say no,” Arturo said slowly. “That’s not your place.”
“It is my place. I’m saying no.”
He cocked his head at me. Vince looked surprised.
I was standing up to the most violent, dangerous, and powerful man in the city.
“Why do you care about this girl?” Arturo asked me. “Why do you care what happens to her? She was a stranger to you.”
“She was a stranger,” I said, “but she isn’t now. I know she’s not involved with the Spiders. She’s just some innocent girl caught up in all this.”
“Doesn’t fucking matter,” Ernesto said. “She talked to them. We need to know what she knows.”
“Let me ask her.”
“No,” Arturo said. “I don’t think so.”
I was losing. I knew I was losing. I was on the verge of pushing my luck too far, and if that happened, I wouldn’t be able to do anything else for her.
The direct approach wasn’t working.
I glanced at Vince. He frowned at me.
Maybe I could try the political approach. Maybe I could try something else, something different.
I said the first thing that came to mind.
“I got her pregnant,” I said.
The men all stared at me. Nobody moved a muscle.
I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing. Why the hell did I say that? It wasn’t true. I didn’t even sleep with her.
But family meant something to the mafia. It was one of the few fucking things that really did.
“When?” Arturo asked me.
“I met her before, at the Spiller. She came in trying to talk some wise guys up, and I ended up taking her home.”
“Fat Jimmy said that was only a couple days ago,” Ernesto said.
“Wasn’t the first time we met,” I answered. “That was the second time.”
Ernesto looked at Arturo. “He’s lying.”
“He wouldn’t lie about something so fucking stupid,” Vince said, “so you watch your fucking mouth, old man.”
Arturo held up his hands. “Gentlemen, please. Rafa, is this really true?”
“She’s pregnant with my child, which is why I don’t want you people torturing her.”
Arturo sighed. “I understand that. This is very bad luck.”
“Let me talk to her. I’ll find out what she knows.”
“Arturo, you can’t believe this shit,” Ernesto said.
“Why would the boy push so hard, Ernesto? Because he got the girl pregnant. Don’t be so fucking dense.” Arturo looked back to me. “It’s admirable that you’re protecting her this way. You know, you were close to getting killed there, son.”
“I’m sure,” I said, forcing myself to smile.
“This changes things,” Arturo announced. “Rafa, you may talk to the girl. For now, we do nothing until we have more information.”
“Fucking bullshit,” Ernesto spat.
Arturo ignored him. “Go now before I change my mind.”
Vince and I stood up. “Thank you,” I said.
Vince nodded at the two men. Ernesto looked angry but said nothing.
We turned and left the room. The door shut behind us. Fat Jimmy was nowhere to be seen.
“You dumb fucking asshole,” Vince said softly.
I grinned at him. “You said to be political.”
“I didn’t tell you to lie to fucking Arturo like that.”
“What’s the big deal? This will blow over.”
“This won’t blow over. They’re angry about the Spiders, and she’s the only link. They’re going to want proof.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know how to prove it.”
Vince sighed and stared me straight in the eye. “You better get that girl pregnant, Rafa. You better do it fast.”
I watched as he turned and started walking.
I followed him, frowning to myself.