Page 109 of Mafia King: Matteo
“I can’t read a woman’s mind,” he replies, giving me a complex look.
“Well, you read mine very well, especially in bed.”
“That’s a talent I only share with you, my love.”
“Well, Mr. Grey. I suggest we get dressed. Where are we going?”
“Eisenhower Park. It’s not far. I doubt many people will be there when the forecast says the day will be filled with heavy snowfall. I assume it’s a secretive meeting.”
“I wonder what she wants.”
“I have no clue. I’ll be asking questions—you can bet on that.”
“It’s odd. The Morettis haven’t reached out before. Can we trust her?”
“We’ll find out.”
“I don’t know if it’s worth the risk. Why can’t she talk over the phone like normal people?”
He raises his eyebrows, mocking me.
“Oh, right. Fine, the park it is,” I say as I tug my boots over my socks.
Gio arrives and is sitting in the limo. Along with him is another guard and our driver, who also doubles as a guard.
Matteo said he wasn’t taking any chances. It could be a setup so the men can check out the park before we leave the armored limo.
The park is deemed safe. Only one woman is sitting on a park bench near a fountain. We approach her. She has a scarf around her face, and a winter hat adorns her head. Her black wool winter jacket covers her body. She’s wearing leather gloves and appears to have an adequate lifestyle. But I can’t make out the features of her face.
“Sit down casually,” the woman says softly but sternly. She looks straight ahead as if we’re here by chance.
“Who are you?” Matteo asks.
“I’m Lucinda, Gabriella Moretti’s twin sister.”
This meeting reeks of a conspiracy. The question is—who’s?
“Twin?” Matteo asks. “I confess there isn’t much information on your sister.”
“That’s true. You understand that. I don’t have much time. I keep moving around. This nightmare has to end.” She takes a breath and then continues. “When my sister was forced to marry Santino, I knew our lives were ruined. We live in his shadow, and we fear him. He’s ruthless. He has no morals.”
“Why are you here?” Matteo says tersely. His eyes survey the landscape for trouble as he pushes her to get to the point.
The driver and guard continue to canvas the area, but Gio sticks close to us. I know he has more than one weapon under his trench coat. After the near hit yesterday, he’s not taking unnecessary chances.
“I helped my sister have an affair with your father, Luciano. I delivered their love notes. She would come to visit me, and I’d slip her out the back door. She’d be picked up to meet your father. Usually, hotels and off-the-beaten-path eateries. They were like teenagers in love. She was happy.” She sighs. “I warned her she was playing with fire, but she didn’t care. Her children were grown and out of the house. And for a few hours a week, she escaped her cruel husband. I assume Santino grew suspicious and had her followed. I’m not sure. When I saw on the news that Luciano Borrelli was dead, I knew he had found out about the affair. It was too coincidental.”
She pauses and pulls numerous envelopes from her coat pocket. She hands them to Matteo, who sits next to her. I stand and pace before him.
“This is proof of their affair.”
“Why give this to me?” Matteo opens a letter cautiously and looks at it briefly before tucking it inside the envelope. He then shoves the notes into his coat pocket.
“I’m in danger. I can’t return to my home until Santino is dead. He has my sister drugged. He doesn’t allow her children to see her. If the drugs to sedate her don’t kill her, he will do it himself. She’s losing her will to live. We’re twins, and I feel her slipping away.” She falls quiet as if her sister is speaking to her.
“What is it that you want from me?” Matteo is still. I’m concerned he’s in pain as he sits beside her.
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend, Sun Tzu,” Lucinda states. “You are familiar with it.”
