Page 58 of Deadly Target
Olivia suddenly rushed in, her eyes scanning the destruction when she pulled up short. “Oh my God, Victor.” She rushed to his side, dropping next to him as she surveyed the blood and Tracee’s limp body. “I got here as fast as I could. What the hell happened?”
How had she known he was here? “I came to investigate the stalker and ended up getting Tracee shot.”
“Nope,” Roman argued. “This whole situation is on me. My backup plan failed.”
“The stalker shot her?” Olivia asked.
“Coming through,” a man yelled and two EMTs entered with a gurney and med kit. Olivia drew Victor away as Roman filled them in on what happened and they went to work.
The two of them stepped into the large kitchen. Unless Tracee had changed her ways, Victor knew she’d never used it. Outside of making popcorn and pouring herself a glass of wine, she had everything delivered or went out. He rubbed his forehead. “This wasn’t a stalker,” he told Olivia. “I think this guy is tied in with the Fifty-seven Gang.”
Her jaw dropped. “This was a mob hit?”
“Yeah, it was, but unless I can talk to Tracee or we catch this asshole, I have no proof.”
She dug out her phone and held up a picture. “Maybe this will help.”
He stared at it, not quite understanding. “You’re going to have to walk me through this one. What am I looking at?”
“This woman met Alfie in an alley the other night. I think she was buying drugs from him, and he was blackmailing her.”
The obvious answer teased at him, but he didn’t want to believe it. “You don’t know that’s her.”
Olivia pressed her lips into a thin line and swiped at a couple more photos. “It’s not definitive evidence but look at these shoes.”
It was the picture the paparazzi had taken of him and Tracee at the hospital. She wore a pair of purple high heels. They resembled the shoes the woman in the first photo wore. “Go back to the other picture.”
And yup, there it was. The woman in the hood heading into the alley was wearing the same shoes. “Tracee was mixed up with Alfie?”
Roman’s FBI agent walked in, looking equal parts pissed and frustrated. “We can’t find him,” she said. “It’s like he disappeared into thin air.”
“Nadia Fernandez meet Victor Dupé and Olivia Fiorelli.” Roman motioned between them. “Guys, this is Nadia Fernandez, FBI. She’s one of the best.”
I’ve got friends everywhere, kind of like you.The words rang in Victor’s mind.They owe me favors.“I believe our hitman is Alfonso Barone, and he had an escape plan that involved someone inside this hotel helping him. We need to interview everyone, employees and guests, and figure out who did it, and if this guy was indeed him.”
Nadia snapped to attention. “I’m on it.”
“Get Polly and the others here to help,” Roman called after her. “I’m going to talk to hotel security.”
Olivia dialed her phone. “I’m calling Alfie. We have a system, a code. I don’t expect him to call me back, but let’s try it anyway.”
The EMTs hoisted Tracee onto the gurney and began wheeling her toward the door.
“Is she going to make it?” Victor asked.
One of them gave him a doubtful look. “We need to get her to the hospital, stat.”
That was all the answer he was going to get, and it was enough. She was in critical condition.
He turned to Olivia. “I want Alfonso Barone’s head on a platter, and I want it now. You know where he lives, right?”
Her throat constricted as she swallowed hard. “Yes, but…”
“You can’t possibly still want to protect him after this.”
“Of course not.” She looked hurt he would suggest such a thing. “I have no problem going after Alfie. It’s not that.”
He put his hands on his waist, frustration burning in his belly. “Then what the hell is it?”
“It’s me,” a voice said from the doorway.
Victor glanced over to see an older man rocking back on his heels while scanning the disaster in the room.
“Who is that?” Victor asked.
Olivia released an audible sigh. “That,” she said, “is my father.”
