Page 68 of Caesar DeLuca
“You left? Why the hell would you… who’s with you?”
“It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come. I’m sorry for calling you.”
“Ariana, what the fuck is going on!?” I yell into the phone. The elevator reaches the floor underground and I rush out.
“Please just leave it alone. Don’t get involved.”
“Too late. I already am. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m on my way home. There’s no use stopping me. Stay away.”
Every word she speaks sounds cryptic, like she’s telling me one thing, but the real message is something else altogether.
My instincts never lie.
And as I hop in my Audi and hit the streets, I know something’s off. Even as she tells me nothing’s wrong.
“Ariana, I’m coming. I know you’re not alone. I know he has you.”
As if deciding the jig is up, there’s more rustling in the background. The phone’s snatched out of Ariana’s hand and Carisi comes on.
“Caesar, my friend,” he says in a fake cordial tone, “I’m sorry I missed you. I came by your casino, did you hear?”
“And rather than fight me, you kidnapped an innocent woman like the fucking fat slob coward you are.”
“Not just any innocent woman. This one was worth the trouble.”
“You release her right now or I’ll be skinning you alive!” I growl, my temper exploding. I slam on the gas and speed through the streets, cutting cars off left and right.
“That won’t be happening. Why would I release her when she’s got so much value to me?”
“You release her and we’ll handle this situation on our own.”
Carisi spends a moment thinking. “Tell you what. I’m taking her to that private little house she loves so much. You want to see her? Come alone. Come see if you’ve got what it takes to beat me once and for all. Something tells me I’ll come out on top.”
“Because you’re an underhanded slimeball, you fucking piece of shit!”
“You think I care so long as I win?”
He hangs up with a deep, boastful laugh. I slam my fist against the steering wheel and then command my smart system to dial Vasco.
“Caesar, where are you? I was speaking to Edgar and he said you’d left the casino in a hurry?—”
“I need you and the others to drive up to Lake Kittatinny. I’ll text you the exact address.”
“This about Carisi? Edgar was saying he was on the property.”
“I can’t say much yet. Just come to the lake and be ready. I want you within the area,” I answer mysteriously. “I’ll already be there.”
He fires off several other questions that go unanswered considering I’m already hanging up. I accelerate onto the highway and zone out to the monotonous scenery leaving the city. The glittering lights fade into the background. Soon it’s just me, the road, and the full moon chasing me up above.
The two hours feel both long and short at the same time. Long in the way I’m antsy to reach Ariana and get her the hell away from Carisi. Short in that I tune out of the moment and disappear into my head.
It’s halfway to midnight when I swing into the driveway of Ariana’s house. All of the lights are off except for the hall and den. I park, make sure I’m packing, and get out of the car to walk up the pathway. My fist connects with her front door in a quick, sharp knock.
Footsteps plod from the other side of the door, then stop, then start again.
I crane my neck for a peek at the window in the hall, even though it’s covered by the curtains. If I didn’t know any better, I’d guess there were two pairs of feet moving around.
