Page 75 of Wicked Truths

I slow down to turn down Arturo’s road. Unlike the Rossi estate, Arturo didn’t install a gate, so I drive down the long driveway toward the house.

There are plenty of security cameras all over the property, so you’d have to be an idiot to trespass. No one has tried thus far, but with tensions rising between the two mafia families, it’s only a matter of time before it actually happens.

Arturo needs to think about increasing personnel and implementing stronger security measures.

I park in front of the closed garage door that houses Joey’s cars and jog around the house to the back basement door.

Using my key, I let myself in before closing and locking the door back.

It’s quiet. Almost too quiet.

Did everyone leave already?

Did no one come here except Arturo, Joey, and the man I shot, Jax?

“Hey. It’s about damn time you got here.” Joey says as he takes the stairs two at a time. He stops a few feet from me.

“Where is everyone?” I ask, looking around at the empty basement.

This is our normal meet up and hang out spot after jobs, especially when shit is as fucked up as it is. I half expected it to be packed with standing room only, but all three couches are empty. Even thecushioned high back stools near the small bar are unoccupied.

“Most guys are still at the shipyard cleaning up or on delivery runs around town. Reed is on surveillance watching the Rossi place.”

He moves over to the couch and lays down as he sighs and throws an arm over his face.

“Dad and I have been on the phone nonstop, trying to get information from our informants. Although, he’s been getting more and more impatient the more calls we make with no information.”

“How can no one not know anything? Nothing at all. Sounds sketchy at best.”

“That’s what I said. I suggested we cancel practice in the morning and go door to door and get the information by force.”

“Your ideas are always risky, but right now, I’d do anything to get answers and keep your sister safe.”

I remember the cop that threatened me in the park and add, “But we might have a new complication to throw in the mix.”

“What now?” He says as he sits up.

“There’s a new class of officers that aren’t going to look the other way. He made it clear to pass that information on, so we need to try to lie as low as we can for a while.”

“That’s impossible! My sister just got kidnapped and we are just supposed to let them get away with it? No fucking way. They can kiss my ass.”

“We need to wait until the deliveries are done before getting revenge.”

“I’ll concede to that, but as soon as the deliveries are done, I’m getting answers.”

“Speaking of answers, have you tried talking to him since our conversation?” I nod towards the interrogation room door.

Joey shakes his head. “There’s no point. He hasn’t said two words to me. Besides, Dad seems to think one of us will remember him from one of the past jobs we’ve done. Do you know him? We couldn’t find a phone or wallet on him.”

“No, I don’t know him, and I don’t think we’ve seen him on a past job.” I think back to my conversation with Francesca. “Well, not really. He knows your sister.”

His eyes widen before narrowing on the door to the interrogation room. “How does he know her?”

“They were together on and off, very casually, while she was getting her degree.”

Joey yells as he stalks toward the door. “He touched my sister? I should cut off his fucking hands.”

I pull Joey back and shove him until he’s sitting on the couch. “You don’t want to do that because then he’d bleed out before we can get any information.”

---