Packing Heat(36)

I got up and made some coffee. I didn’t know what time the girl normally woke up, but I figured I’d let her sleep in if she wanted.

I wasn’t happy that we were at the compound. I understood the logic behind it, and I trusted Vince’s plan, but I was not fucking happy at all. Ernesto’s boys could be in the room next door and I’d have no clue. I didn’t know who was loyal to Vince and who was loyal to Ernesto. The staff was a wild card, and I almost didn’t even trust our food.

But that was being a little too paranoid. The staff had never helped a boss, or at least not with killing someone. Arturo and whoever else paid the staff well for their loyalty.

Still, I couldn’t help but be a little angry. The piece of shit bosses wanted to torture this poor girl for information, even though I was positive she didn’t know shit. I had stuck my neck out of her because I couldn’t help myself. But Vince hadn’t needed to get involved like he had. I didn’t want to drag him down with me.

As I started drinking my first cup of coffee of the day, there was a soft knock at the door, and then a piece of paper slid under. I walked over and quickly opened the door, but I saw only a staff member walking down the hall.

I bent over and picked up the paper. It was a handwritten note from Arturo requesting my presence in his study as soon as I was awake.

I gritted my teeth and sighed. I was going to have to go. I couldn’t just ignore a summons from the boss like that, even if I really wanted to. I didn’t know what it was about, but he clearly knew I was staying in the mansion, and in which room.

I walked over to the kitchen table, grabbed a pen and some paper, and wrote Cassidy a quick note. I folded it and left it out next to the coffee so that she’d find it.

When I was finished, I quickly left the room. I needed a shower and probably a shave, but that shit could wait. I was too curious about what the big boss wanted to let it wait even a few minutes.

I traveled through the halls, oblivious to the power and wealth all around me. I’d walked through it all so many times that it no longer phased me. Still, I liked seeing the way other people reacted to it for the first time. Cassidy had stared around her like something was going to jump out of the wallpaper at her, or like she was about to trip and fall into a priceless statue.

Both of those scenarios weren’t all that unlikely, actually.

I found Arturo’s door and knocked once. After a second, I heard him call me in.

I opened the door and then closed it behind me. Arturo was sitting at his desk like usual, drinking coffee.

“Want a cup?” he asked as I approached.

“Please.”

He nodded at a side table. I walked over and poured myself some steaming black coffee from the carafe. I sat down in front of him and took a sip. Strong and dark and hot.

“How did you sleep?” Arturo asked.

“Like shit.”

“That’s a shame. I sleep like a baby these days.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“So am I. When I was your age, I used to stay up all night with worry. I was building this fucking mob back then, you know. Many men wanted me dead.”

“I wouldn’t sleep either if I were you.”

“No, you wouldn’t. You’re not me and you still don’t sleep. Why is that, Rafa?”

“I don’t know. I’m just not the fucking type to be relaxed, I guess.”

“That’s a real shame.” He leaned back, sipping his coffee.

“Did you call me here just to talk to me about sleep?”

“No,” he said. “Of course not.” He raised an eyebrow. “Got somewhere to be?”

“No,” I said, drinking my coffee. “Just on edge.”

“Understandably. Since Ernesto wants to kill you.”

“Fuck Ernesto.”

“Careful. He’s your superior.”

“I know, but fuck him anyway.”

Arturo grinned and laughed softly. “I like you. Always have. When Vince brought you up, I was proud of both of you.”

“Thank you,” I said, surprised. “I didn’t know you knew who I was.”

“I keep an eye on all the rising stars in my organization. Especially when they’re pissing off one of my oldest and most loyal bosses.”

“His goons deserved it,” I said.

“Probably.”

“So I’m not apologizing.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

“What are you asking me to do?”

“Tell me what the girl knows.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “She doesn’t know anything.”

“Unfortunately for you both, I don’t believe that.”

“Sir, I know it seems suspicious, but I wouldn’t risk my life for a girl who’s a danger to our organization.”