“You forgot about your boyfriend that quickly did you?” He nodded, seeing it register in my eyes. “Now you follow yes? Rico’s father killed Val and your father killed him who better to lead Victor’s daughter on? Nobody. By Rico playing the doting boyfriend to the mobster's daughter we were able to push our product through the New York clubs and set your father up all in the same play. I told you it was brilliant.”
I swallowed as the truth finally became clear to me confirming my suspicions from the shootout at Temptations. Rico had never given a damn about me he only used me to get to my father to pay him back for murdering his dad. This whole fucking mess was my fault. If I hadn’t been so, na?ve to believe Rico’s bullshit neither one of these assholes would have been able to execute any of this.
“How does it feel to know the life you lived for the last year was a lie?” He asked taunting me. “Not too good I imagine.” He said as he wiped his hands on his pants. He pushed himself off the chair and gave me one long final look before he exited the warehouse this time for real. I heard the metal door slide closed and broke down, unable to hold back the sobs that racked my body. I prayed for an end, even if it meant the end of me.
“You have to eat something.” Aunt Gina said, placing a plate in front of me. I tore my eyes from my phone that I had been staring at for hours praying for it to ring and looked at the sandwich she had made for me. The idea of eating anything repulsed me and I gently shoved the dish away from me.
Gina sighed, pulling out the chair beside me and taking a seat. “She’s going to be okay Michael. Nikki is a strong girl you know that.”
I turned abruptly to meet Gina’s gaze. “I don’t care how tough she is, she shouldn’t be in this fucking situation.”
“My brother isn’t going to let anyone hurt his daughter.” She said trying to reassure me.
“Your brother? Right big bad Victor is going to come riding in and save the fucking day.” I pushed out my chair and rose to my feet. “While I sit here like a fucking dope, I should be doing something to bring her home safely since I am the reason she was taken in the first place.”
Burt placed his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t beat yourself up kid.”
“Burt’s right.” Nana said as she sat across from where I was with her gun placed neatly in her lap. “You’re not to blame for this even if you hadn’t left Nikki they still would’ve taken her. It’s what these men do. He would’ve probably just killed you and taken her anyway, especially if he wanted to hurt my son.”
“Ma’s right. This isn’t the first time our family has been compromised because of Victor’s career choice.” Gina agreed pouring me a shot of Sambuca. “Here this might calm your nerves.”
I sighed heavily reaching for the espresso cup she had poured the shot in when my phone started to ring. I grabbed the phone not even bothering to look at who was calling hoping it was Nikki.
“Hello?”
“We know where she is.” Jimmy said.
“She’s okay? How? Did you speak to her?” I fired off my questions holding my breath as I waited for him to answer me.
“Vic spoke to her. She’s shaken up, but she’s hanging in there. Listen, we’re at the airport…”
“Where is she? I’ll go to her.” I said, glancing around the kitchen in search of my keys.
“No, now listen. We tracked the call to a warehouse down on Water Street but Mike, Vic wants you to stay put.”
I didn’t give two fucks what Victor wanted I needed to get to Nikki. I disconnected the call and looked at Aunt Gina.
“Do you know where Water Street is?”
“Does a bear shit in the woods?” She said crossing her arms under her breasts. “Is that where she is?”
“Yes. I need to know how to get there.” I said finally locating my keys snatching them off the counter.
“Hold it right there.” Nana said, standing to her full four feet and eleven inches. “You’re not going by yourself.”
My eyes widened as I watched her check her gun, making sure it was loaded.
“Ma’s right. You’re not going alone, you’ll need backup.” She turned to Burt. “Be a dear and grab the rifle in the sunroom.”
“What? No!” I said running out of patience for these people. “I’m not going after some fucking gangster with the Golden Girls as my back up.”
“Who you calling a Golden Girl?” Burt said, puffing out his chest.
“I put the Club on your car this morning.” Nana said pointedly.
“Ma!”
“What? He looked a little flighty.” The old troll said innocently before turning back to me. “So either you take us or you walk.” She said pulling out a set of keys from her straw pocketbook.
“The little witch stole my keys!” Aunt Gina said sounding shocked as if anything her mother did surprised her anymore.
“Fine!” I shouted. “Just come on, let’s go!” I said, throwing my hands in the air giving up the losing battle I was fighting. I headed towards the door with Nana and her gun, Aunt Gina and her shovel and Burt holding a rifle the three clowns as my backup. Victor was going to fucking kill me.
Chapter Twenty Six