Page 1 of Sweet Union
CHAPTER1
Natalya
“What can you tell us about Romeo Greco?”
I shift in the cold, hard chair. After I called my dad for help, a detective showed up and took me to an interrogation room. I’ve sat here for the past half hour, unable to get rid of the chill throughout my body as I waited for the detective to return. The detective in question is a middle-aged woman named Detective Green, whose steely gaze intimidates me.
When she came back in, she stared at me for a moment before asking me that question.
Now, I’m thinking about what to say. “What about Romeo Greco?” I ask, knowing I need to be careful and bide my time until my dad can bail me out.
“Well, we raided his warehouse full of cocaine based on an anonymous tip. But instead of finding him, we found you. What’s a girl like you doing in a place like that?”
“It was a misunderstanding. I don’t work with or for Romeo. None of that cocaine was mine. He kidnapped me and brought me there.” Technically true. Yes, I went to him first to get him to stop this war between him and Luca, but he ended up taking me to his warehouse. I was just unlucky.
“He kidnapped you?” She sounds dubious.
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“I …” I trail off. How can I explain the war between Romeo and Luca without compromising my husband?
“Cat got your tongue, Mrs. Romano? Let me tell you what I know. I know you’re married to Luca Romano, a notorious Mafia leader. The problem is, we haven’t been able to get anything on him. I also know you’re the daughter of Aleksander Antonov, another notorious Mafia leader. And just like your husband, your father is squeaky clean. Nothing comes back to him.” She paused. “Now, you seem like a sweet girl.”
I bristle at this. “I’m not a girl, detective.”
“Fine. A woman. And from one woman to another, I’d hate to see you take the fall for the actions of men. Something is going on between you and Romeo Greco. I’m just not sure what. If you’d be willing to give up any information on Romeo, as well as your husband and father, you’ll have immunity. You won’t face any jail time, and you most certainly won’t go to prison.”
“All I have to do is give up the two men who mean the most to me in this world? You make it sound so easy.”
She squints at me. “You’d really give up your freedom for them? I would never give up my freedom for any man.”
“Do you have any men in your life you love?”
“No,” she says flatly.
“Well, I do. And I’d never give them up. Besides, you have it wrong. My husband and dad are good men.” They’ve done bad things, but they have love in their hearts. Detective Green just doesn’t need to know about all the bad things they’ve done.
“So you say. But if I were you, Mrs. Romano, I would seriously consider saving myself. Right now, you’re looking at many years in prison. So, it’s in your best interest to speak up. You’re not the one we’re looking for.”
“I’m not giving up my family, so I’ll be needing a lawyer.” I sit back in my seat, feeling defeated.
Detective Green sighs and stands up. “Fine.”
A commotion outside the room draws our attention. A moment later, the door opens, revealing my father, looking confident in his suit and tie.
“You’re going to let my daughter go this instant,” he says to Green.
“She hasn’t even had her hearing yet.”
“She doesn’t need one. My daughter is innocent of everything. It’s all been handled.”
Green crosses her arms. “Really.” She sounds like she wants to shake him.
“Yes.” He turns to me. “Now, Natalya. Come with me.”
I get up and follow him, not looking at Green. I don’t need to give her anything else to use against me.
