Page 81 of Forgotten Deeds

Pulling out of the parking lot, my burner phone rings. “Darius,” I answer.

“Change of plans. We’re training at my house this morning,” Romeo tells me.

“On my way,” I say, hanging up and turning my car around.

Flipping on a new episode of a true crime podcast, I’m all worked up all over again by the time I reach Romeo’s house—leaving bloody footprints at the scene will get you every damn time.

Arriving at Romeo’s, I clear security and walk to the front door, ringing the bell. The housekeeper greets me, escorting me to Romeo’s office. Thanking the woman, I knock on the door, and Romeo calls, “Enter.”

The boss is sitting behind his desk when I step inside. “We not lifting today?” I ask. He’s dressed in a sharp Italian suit.

“Ace’s Wild surveillance.” Frowning, he turns his computer monitor to where I can view the screen. It’s a video from the basement poker room, showing a full house with games in progress. A dealer steps into view, and I do a double take. My eyes must be playing tricks on me, but sadly, they’re not.

He stands. “Follow me upstairs.”

“Romeo—”

He silences me with a withering look.

We walk upstairs, entering the guest bedroom. Luca’s out of the hospital bed, seated in a chair next to a table with a laptop and various equipment and cords; across from him is Kat, hooked up to all those cords.

“Darius, I swear to God I didn’t know John Davis was running the poker room!” Kat says in a panic. “I was told it was a party, and they just needed an extra dealer.”

“Save it for the test,” Romeo says in a bored tone.

“Test?” She gulps.

“Lie detector test,” Luca explains.

“Just let me have a crack at it the old-fashioned way,” Sammy says, weaving a knife between his fingers. “Torture her until she cracks.”

“Fuck you,” I spit, stalking over to him.

Romeo holds up his hand, and I halt. “Both of you. Out,” he barks.

“Thanks a lot,” Sammy grumbles.

“Your fucking fault,” I tell him as we exit the room.

“Come on, let’s go work out,” Sammy says, slapping my back.

We walk to the basement, and I try not to think about what’s happening upstairs as I get my weights set up. “She telling the truth?” Sammy asks.

“If she’s not telling the truth, it’ll gut me; Kat’s more like a little sister to me than a cousin,” I admit.

“If she’s not telling the truth, I will have to gut her,” Sammy warns.

“We’ll cross that bridge if we get to it,” I decide.

Putting in earbuds—I need the distraction from the thoughts swirling in my head—I hit the treadmill, warming up before doing some interval sprints. I’m drenched with sweat by the time I turn off the machine and move over to weights. Just as I’m wrapping up my workout, the housekeeper calls for us.

We walk upstairs and knock on the bedroom door; Romeo beckons us to enter. Luca’s in bed, with Nicky giving him up the road. “If you’re well enough to get out of this bed and terrorize a woman, you’re well enough to start physical therapy,” she says, hands on hips.

“Where’s Kat?” I interrupt, trying not to panic at her absence.

“Tesoro, we need to talk business,” Romeo tells Nicky.

“Fine, but I’ll be back later,” she warns Luca. Giving Romeo a quick kiss, she walks out, closing the door behind her.

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